Are Tempe Lofts for You?

Tempe lofts are urban. They’re also contemporary and minimalistic. By all accounts, they’re very cool, but that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. Consider the following when determining whether or not a loft is right for you.

Location
Lofts were first popularized in older cities across the country following the industrial revolution when changes in industry left lots of empty warehouses or factories. These old buildings, usually located in city centers, were converted into open concept residences and office spaces known as “lofts.” Artists, in particular, loved the possibility of living and working in the same big space with lots of windows and light. The emergence of lofts helped revitalize these areas, and people adored the idea of living close to restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and nightlife.

The Lofts at Orchidhouse in Tempe are a prime example of loft living in the heart of the city. Built in 2003 within the Brickyard on Mill development, loft owners are literally steps away from Mill Ave. restaurants, banks, churches, shopping, and sports.

Tempe Urban Living, also known as Skye 15 Lofts, are located in downtown Tempe close to University Drive and Mill Avenue. This trendy loft development was built in 2007 and is within walking or biking distance to sports venues, the nightlife of Mill Avenue, cool eateries, and even Tempe Town Lake.

If living downtown is convenient and exciting to you, and the noise and traffic outside your window is merely music to your ears, then loft living might just be for you.

Design and Storage Space
Generally defined by large open spaces, lofts are all about design. When the original warehouses were converted, the ductwork, electrical conduit, plumbing, and the rafters were left exposed. Materials original to the space, like concrete and brick, were also kept.

Since Tempe is a relatively newer city without an abundance of old, abandoned factories, developers like Brownstone Residential, who built The Lofts at Orchidhouse, and Urban Edge, responsible for building Tempe Urban Living, recreated the look of the loft. High concrete ceilings, concrete pillars, and exposed ductwork and electrical conduit were incorporated into the design. Materials like brick, wood, stainless steel, and stone were used to highlight the industrial and rustic loft style.

And since most lofts look better with lots of open space, they don’t, as a rule, have tons of built-in storage. If you own a lot of stuff and like to store your things in traditional built-in closets and cabinets, you’ll have to be creative if you’re determined to own a loft. That means you may need to add shelving, use under-the-bed containers, storage ottomans and benches. You get the idea. Loft living centers around minimalism. The last thing you want is clutter.

Privacy
Traditional lofts are characterized by an absence of walls or very few walls, except in the bathrooms. Bedrooms, for example, might be separated from the rest of the living space by just one or two walls, or there may be no walls whatsoever. Loft dwellers might use modern divider screens or rolling walls that they move around to change the layout of their home. They also utilize furniture, rugs, lighting, and even flooring patterns to create rooms. While some builders have incorporated more walls into some of their lofts or even disappearing pocket doors, on the whole, it’s an open concept. If you’re creative and you’re non-traditional, and you love the idea of designing your own space, a loft is a dream-come-true.

Furniture
Lofts look best when decorated with furniture that compliments their industrial design. Think contemporary and edgy and there’s that word again … minimalistic. While you don’t have to stick to this particular style, keep in mind that a bold space calls for a bold statement. Traditional furniture may not work in a loft.

Size also matters. Grand spaces call for grand pieces of furniture. Small sofas and paintings that worked great in a home with low ceilings and cozy rooms, will get lost in your new, large space.

If you love the idea of living in a Tempe loft, contact us today. While there aren’t an abundance of lofts in Tempe, we’ll show you what’s available and help you determine if the loft life is right for you. Don’t see anything in Tempe that fits? Try looking for Scottsdale lofts too.

Though not guaranteed, information and statistics in this article have been acquired from sources believed to be reliable.