Houzz Tour: A Loft in Lithuania for a Fan of New York Style
An architect re-creates the look of an American loft in his Vilnius apartment — with some special added touches
“I can talk about my project till dawn or even the next evening,” architect Dalius Regelskis says. “It is both an apartment I share with my wife and a studio. In this interior, I gathered all the ideas I’ve long wanted to realize but for various reasons never had a chance to.” Inspired by New York loft style, Regelskis has long been on the lookout for a loft. He found a space he liked in a former industrial plant near the center of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, and has created in it a bright and functional home.
“The turning point was yet another trip to Crete — we have been spending our holidays there for eight years now,” Regelskis says. “Three years ago, we accidentally came across a tiny shop that sold original furniture made of old wood planks, shutters, doors and other wooden fragments. The store’s owner was traveling around abandoned villages searching for materials. I was absolutely fascinated. It all seemed so real and alive. In the end, I bought almost everything he had in the shop. But where could we store all these treasures? That’s how the space issue came up again.
Dressers, coffee table, dining table and chairs: Oikos
Dressers, coffee table, dining table and chairs: Oikos
“I was trying to find a loft to rent, since we couldn’t find one to buy. There were many offers, but all of them were just horrendous and really tasteless. I couldn’t set up an interior design studio in a place like that. Having already lost heart, I happened to come across a friend of mine who is an agent, and she suggested three options.
“The first two were completely uninteresting, but the third one ‘hooked’ me right away. First of all, I have always dreamed of having a ground-floor studio so that my clients would be able to enter straight from the street instead of wandering down hallways looking for the right door. It was also the only loft-style apartment that had windows on the lateral wall. As soon as I stepped inside, I could clearly imagine the whole interior: how I would install the staircase, where the kitchen would be. Obviously, we bought it.”
“The first two were completely uninteresting, but the third one ‘hooked’ me right away. First of all, I have always dreamed of having a ground-floor studio so that my clients would be able to enter straight from the street instead of wandering down hallways looking for the right door. It was also the only loft-style apartment that had windows on the lateral wall. As soon as I stepped inside, I could clearly imagine the whole interior: how I would install the staircase, where the kitchen would be. Obviously, we bought it.”
The space that inspired Regelskis so much was located on the ground floor of one of the wings of the former Vilnius radio equipment plant. In Soviet times, this influential factory occupied a huge area close to the center of the city. Today, it is transforming into an arts cluster where architects, artists, photographers and designers have been setting up their studios.
Two inconveniently placed concrete beams prevented Regelskis from fully realizing his plans, as it was impossible to remove or relocate them. “Having measured everything, I discovered that the space wasn’t high enough for the planned mezzanine — it was at least 70 centimeters [2 feet] too short. [The floor had been laid over sand], so it seemed like it would be possible to deepen the main space by about a meter [3 feet],” Regelskis says. “However, under a thin layer of sand we discovered concrete scraps and stones. I originally expected the process to last about two to three weeks, but as a result, the contractors were crushing and taking away more than 80 cubic meters [2,800 cubic feet] of this mixture. Thanks to this titanic work, the ceilings are now 5 meters [16 feet] high.”
Because the main space was deepened, the windowsills ended up being about 6 feet (1.8 meters) up. Regelskis placed cabinets, paintings and the TV underneath.
The sofa and chairs can be transformed. Pulling up the bottom of the sofa and lowering the backrest creates a spacious bed. The chairs can likewise be converted into full beds. Or, it’s possible to just leave the backrests in place and get comfortable in front of the TV with some snacks.
“I’d been looking for a textile that would match the unusual Cretan furniture for a pretty long time,” Regelskis says. “I was delighted when I found this Italian one, as its pattern is almost identical to the colorful wooden doors of the closet in the hall. The cushions are also my favorite combination of the color of light sand and a popular Cretan bright blue.”
A real Cretan door lies inside a unique glass coffee table, which is only 39 by 39 inches (1 by 1 meter) in size. The artist even left the lock in place.
Sofa and armchairs: Transformeriai, Meduma
“I’d been looking for a textile that would match the unusual Cretan furniture for a pretty long time,” Regelskis says. “I was delighted when I found this Italian one, as its pattern is almost identical to the colorful wooden doors of the closet in the hall. The cushions are also my favorite combination of the color of light sand and a popular Cretan bright blue.”
A real Cretan door lies inside a unique glass coffee table, which is only 39 by 39 inches (1 by 1 meter) in size. The artist even left the lock in place.
Sofa and armchairs: Transformeriai, Meduma
A table and chairs brought back from Crete and two basic dark cabinets, which fit perfectly into the space, form a cozy dining area under the mezzanine.
However, it is Regelskis’ painting that draws attention. Discussing the series he painted, he says, “Three years ago I came back from New York and brought back many works of art, all linked by one idea, which can be termed ‘One Way.’ The sign for one-way streets gave me an excuse to think about the life paths that everyone seeks for themselves. At the last exhibition in Vilnius almost all the works were sold, but I left this one, made downtown, for myself.”
However, it is Regelskis’ painting that draws attention. Discussing the series he painted, he says, “Three years ago I came back from New York and brought back many works of art, all linked by one idea, which can be termed ‘One Way.’ The sign for one-way streets gave me an excuse to think about the life paths that everyone seeks for themselves. At the last exhibition in Vilnius almost all the works were sold, but I left this one, made downtown, for myself.”
A huge challenge was obtaining the cast-iron columns Regelskis wanted to re-create the American loft style in full. “When I was in New York, I noticed how cool the old columns looked in contemporary apartments, bars and cafes. There are many left, so buying a few original columns would have been easy and relatively affordable,” Regelskis says. “However, when I found out how much shipping them to Lithuania would set me back, I was despondent.
“I had to find other ways to reach my dream. I asked specialists from the Kaunas iron factory to produce replicas for me, but I was disappointed there too. They didn’t have the necessary molds, so I would have had to hire a sculptor to make them based on my drawing. Again, it was too expensive, and I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to reproduce the right proportions.
“Finally, I bumped into a representative from a Chinese firm. At first they refused to produce fewer than 20 pieces, and I completely lost hope. However, after a while, they agreed to make four columns. I lost a lot of time with all this searching, so the delay due to the removal of sand, stones and concrete turned out to be useful. As a result, the columns were shipped to Lithuania just as the deepening work was finished. It was also a lot cheaper than shipping from the U.S.A. or producing them at the [Kaunas] factory.”
“I had to find other ways to reach my dream. I asked specialists from the Kaunas iron factory to produce replicas for me, but I was disappointed there too. They didn’t have the necessary molds, so I would have had to hire a sculptor to make them based on my drawing. Again, it was too expensive, and I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to reproduce the right proportions.
“Finally, I bumped into a representative from a Chinese firm. At first they refused to produce fewer than 20 pieces, and I completely lost hope. However, after a while, they agreed to make four columns. I lost a lot of time with all this searching, so the delay due to the removal of sand, stones and concrete turned out to be useful. As a result, the columns were shipped to Lithuania just as the deepening work was finished. It was also a lot cheaper than shipping from the U.S.A. or producing them at the [Kaunas] factory.”
“Functionality is always a priority for me,” Regelskis says. “I try to use every inch, but without ruining the space itself, especially one as interesting as this apartment. Staircases usually take up a lot of room, get in the way and force you to duck to get underneath. To avoid that, I decided to slot the staircase into the mezzanine. It has three sections: The lower part is equipped with drawers where we store, primarily, architecture magazines, then it smoothly transforms into a bar, and then it just hangs over a column. Still, all the steps are the same size, so you don’t notice any transitions when you go up.”
To minimize wear, such staircases should be made out of hardwood, but Regelskis didn’t want to use traditional Lithuanian oak. “I’m sick of oak in interiors,” he says. “So I decided to use ash wood. It has a very beautiful and unpredictable pattern — you never know exactly where those ‘waves’ are going to go.”
The underside of the staircase houses glass and mug hangers.
The underside of the staircase houses glass and mug hangers.
The kitchen is under the mezzanine, so it is quite dark. Nevertheless, Regelskis decided to paint the walls with matte black chalkboard paint. “Painting a niche a dark color visually expands the space and makes it seem deeper,” he says. “However, as a result, it became very dark in the kitchen. That’s why I chose the contrasting white, glossy surfaces for the fronts. I also added a bright-green accent that’s crucial for creating the right mood.”
Kitchen: based on Regelskis’ drawings; paint: Tikkurila
Kitchen: based on Regelskis’ drawings; paint: Tikkurila
“Have you noticed that we’re missing some basic appliances in the kitchen?” Regelskis asks. It’s hard to notice at first, but there’s no range, oven, exhaust fan or microwave. “Four years ago, my wife and I became not just vegans, but raw vegans. So we only use a powerful, good-quality blender that can crush nuts and a high-speed juicer that lets us juice greens and even make nut oil.”
The kitchen cabinet is deep — almost 2 feet (60 centimeters). To break the shelves into shorter segments, and therefore make them easier to use, Regelskis installed racks on the door, about 6 inches (15 centimeters) deep.
Regelskis even put the tiny space under the sink to use, mounting a narrow shelf for sponges and brushes that opens to a 45-degree angle. This is adapted from American designs: “We usually just cover it with a fake front here in Lithuania.”
On the floor next to the staircase sits a small, cast-iron basin produced by the same Chinese firm that made the columns. It does work, so if friends come over with their dogs, they can wash their pets’ paws in it. “The workers kept wondering why I would need cold water in this spot when they were working on the plumbing system,” he says with a laugh.
Turning to the rest of the space, he says, “Can you see the clock on the wall? It is made from one of the old cast-iron grids that surrounded the bottom of the trees on Gediminas Avenue in Soviet times. The street was named after Lenin at the time, but, strangely, there are no stars or any other [ideological] symbols in the pattern, just the beautiful flowers and leaves that are characteristic of Lithuanian ornament. When Egle and I were renting the apartment there, the boulevard was being rebuilt and all the grids were being destroyed. I couldn’t bear to watch, so I asked a friend to help me carry one of them, in four parts, to our place. The grids are very heavy, but we somehow managed to take it up to the fourth floor, and then even transported it from one rental apartment to another.
“I kept dreaming of designing a private house with a single tree in the courtyard and putting this beauty around it. Some might criticize my actions, but I just really wanted to save this tiny piece of history.
“I kept dreaming of designing a private house with a single tree in the courtyard and putting this beauty around it. Some might criticize my actions, but I just really wanted to save this tiny piece of history.
“The grid suited this loft’s urban interior, with its cast-iron columns, perfectly. The factory itself was built around the same time [as the grid], so everything came together really well. [The grid segments] open out like doors, and I put a dimmable light inside. In the evening, when we sometimes have guests over, we turn it on, and the soft rays of light breaking through the grid create a wonderful ambience.”
The living space is also an architecture studio. That is why there is a 9-foot 10-inch-long (3-meter-long) table next to the living room, with two workspaces (Regelskis works with decorator Greta Motiejūnienė). The substantial depth of the counter — 39 inches (1 meter) — allowed Regelskis to hide his archive underneath and to put a set of shelves on top. Everything is highly functional, just as he likes it.
Italian tiles measuring 31 by 31 inches (78 by 78 centimeters) cover the ground floor. Regelskis chose a natural stone with an uneven texture, reminiscent of concrete. The floors by the entrance are paved with light gray tiles, and the main living area, four steps below it, with dark ones. “I wanted to visually emphasize the depth of this space,” he says.
Tile: On Square, Emilceramica
Tile: On Square, Emilceramica
In the long, narrow space to the left of the entrance is a storage room equipped with shelves, a washing machine and a dryer. “The most interesting detail here is a door with a special entrance for the cat, just like in the movies,” Regelskis says. “I ordered it for our cat, Pupa. She is a British shorthair. By the way, ‘pupa’ can be translated as ‘bean’ — in Lithuania, this is a pet name people call little girls.”
Two bathrooms are, logically, located one above the other. The wall of the upstairs one, which the owners use, is formed of glass blocks. This material, typical of industrial architecture, lets daylight into the bathroom.
The side wall features five antique photographs from Regelskis’ personal collection: “These are my favorite places in this city, places where I grew up or lived or just enjoy walking around in. I also really like talking to my guests about what Vilnius was like 100 years ago and what it’s like now.”
The side wall features five antique photographs from Regelskis’ personal collection: “These are my favorite places in this city, places where I grew up or lived or just enjoy walking around in. I also really like talking to my guests about what Vilnius was like 100 years ago and what it’s like now.”
In the downstairs guest bathroom, one of the walls is taken up by family photos. “When we were renting apartments, a very prominent spot in the living room was invariably taken up by photos from various trips,” Regelskis says. “This apartment is so intense and so full that I barely found a place to put them up. The opposite wall has a huge mirror, so when you wash your hands, you can also see all the photographs. It is as though they are surrounding you.”
“It has been my and Egle’s dream to have two showers next to each other,” Regelskis says. “It is very handy — we get up at the same time and can go through our morning routines simultaneously.”
Thanks to a small, nearly always open window, the bathroom is well-ventilated and it’s almost never stuffy or too humid.
Bathroom equipment: Grohe
Thanks to a small, nearly always open window, the bathroom is well-ventilated and it’s almost never stuffy or too humid.
Bathroom equipment: Grohe
While the downstairs space is very full of colors and furniture, the private zone on the mezzanine is calm and reserved. Everything here builds on the contrast between the dark wooden floor and the white brick walls. To keep the textured surface, the brick was not polished, but simply painted white.
“We had to order the spruce planks for the mezzanine from Estonia. They are very wide, 24 centimeters [9½ inches]. They don’t produce this kind of plank in Lithuania,” Regelskis says.
Bed: Wicker, Subtila
“We had to order the spruce planks for the mezzanine from Estonia. They are very wide, 24 centimeters [9½ inches]. They don’t produce this kind of plank in Lithuania,” Regelskis says.
Bed: Wicker, Subtila
Regelskis set up a second work space for himself in a hidden corner next to the bedroom. It is private and cozy but also has the full, vivacious atmosphere that an artist might need.
Floor plans of the ground floor and mezzanine.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect, artist and teacher Dalius Regelskis; his wife, Egle Regelskis, dancer and head of a Lindy Hop studio; and their cat, Pupa
Location: Vilnius, Lithuania
SIze: Total size: 1,012 square feet (94 square meters); ground floor: 736 square feet (68.4 square meters); mezzanine: 276 square feet (25.6 square meters)
Architect: Dalius Regelskis of DGD / Dalius & Greta Design
Getting to the point of creating his own living space was a long journey for Regelskis — which is why he speaks so passionately about his project. “I’d been looking for the right place in Vilnius for a few years, but somehow all the houses [I looked at] were really narrow and elongated, with the main window in the rear. You ended up with a kind of unpleasant tunnel. I just didn’t know what to do. As a result, we decided we’d better rent an apartment in the center of the city. That’s how we lived for about seven years: first in an apartment on Gediminas Avenue [the main street in Vilnius], then we had to move to another one nearby.”