Recently the word loft has been thrown around quite a bit when it comes to describing interiors. It's been assigned to anything from large converted warehouses, to modern developments with open upper stories, on down to regular flats boasting just slightly higher ceilings. I, however, prefer the more literal version – an actual lofted space.
The House Book by Terence Conran, 1976
When you take the proportion of a room down to serve only a limited function, you can effectively add an entire room just by attaching one piece of furniture to your wall. Think of it as a shelf. A large shelf that's big enough to hold people. Turn a shelf into a bed and you get an instant bedroom. Shelf into a couch – instant living room. A great thing about lofted spaces is that they're adaptable to virtually every ceiling height. A lofted bed can easily be achieved with only a few feet of clearance which leaves ample room underneath for a desk or couch – even with the shortest standard ceilings.
Inside Today's Home by Ray and Sarah Faulkner, 1975
Being one of the easiest ways to add usable space to a room, people have been adding lofts to their homes for thousands of years. Though the trend is not necessarily decade specific, this week we celebrate the 10 best lofted interiors from the 1970s and 80s.
The Bed and Bath Book by Terence Conran, 1978
Living for Today by Karen Fisher, 1972
Planning a Home by Sarah Faulkner, 1979
Living for Today by Karen Fisher, 1972
Very Small Living Spaces by Beth Franks, 1988
Living Places by Herbert H Wise & Jeffrey Weiss, 1976
