Room of the Day: Industrial Loft Goes Glam in Atlanta
Stunning chandeliers, a faux metal wall and sleek furniture add refinement to this loft’s great room
“Make it look like a magazine cover” was the one request interior designer MaRae Simone received from her client when discussing the renovation of her loft’s great room. The loft is in a former cotton mill built in the late 1800s, and Simone wanted to add sophistication without losing the space’s industrial vibe. She left the original brick walls exposed while incorporating refined furniture, fabrics and accessories.
The large sectional was purchased at By Design Furniture and was originally covered in what Simone calls “a very mundane shade of gray.” But looking past the fabric color, the designer appreciated the piece’s alluring lines. “I was drawn to the beauty of its curves and the softness that it could bring to a cold industrial space,” she says. The sectional is now covered in a cream-tone fabric from Designtex. “It’s just the right color, texture and shape to help anchor the entire room.”
The gold drum stool can be used as an end table or extra seating in a pinch. “Some people don’t like to mix metals, but I’m all for it,” Simone says. “I don’t like for everything to match.”
The gold drum stool can be used as an end table or extra seating in a pinch. “Some people don’t like to mix metals, but I’m all for it,” Simone says. “I don’t like for everything to match.”
The homeowner owned this midcentury-inspired chair and ottoman from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams before the remodel, having reupholstered it once before in leather. Simone felt it would complement the sectional better if it was returned to its original off-white canvas, with the addition of black piping to add a bit of contrast. “It’s so understated yet beautiful,” she says. “It allows the other furnishings in the room to be the center of attention. Sometimes the best place to be is in the shadows.” Two petrified wood stumps serve as occasional tables.
The chrome and dark walnut coffee table is topped with a collection of stylish accessories, including silver candleholders, driftwood and a decorative bowl. But it’s the chunk of sliced agate that steals the show. Simone found the piece at Phoenix and Dragon in Atlanta.
“I have always had a fascination, borderline obsession, with beautiful rocks,” she says. “Part of the thrill for me as a designer is never knowing what I am going to find. I remember the exact moment I laid eyes on this absolutely stunningly piece of agate — it made my knees buckle.” The agate adds multiple colors and a unique texture to the room.
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“I have always had a fascination, borderline obsession, with beautiful rocks,” she says. “Part of the thrill for me as a designer is never knowing what I am going to find. I remember the exact moment I laid eyes on this absolutely stunningly piece of agate — it made my knees buckle.” The agate adds multiple colors and a unique texture to the room.
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Great Room at Glance
Who lives here: Single professional woman
Location: Atlanta
Size: About 1,000 square feet (about 93 square meters)
Designer: MaRae Simone Interiors
The condo is in a former cotton mill from the late 19th century that was nearly destroyed by fire in 199. Only the exterior brick walls were left standing. The timber ceiling and concrete floors were added after the fire, during the building’s condo conversion.
To make the wall perpendicular to the brick wall have a more industrial feel, Simone covered it in a wallpaper that mimics the look of metal. “The plaster wall next to the brick wall just didn’t have enough character,” she says. “A new paint color wouldn’t do — it needed something more dramatic.”
To up the drama factor even more, Simone covered one of the timber beams in sheetrock, to which she anchored two steel chains attached to a large metal mirror. The trio of stunning chandeliers was designed by Christopher Moulder.