Classic lofts with modern style that capture the charm of old New York
In today’s real estate parlance, any apartment with an open floorplan and high ceilings tends to be referred to as a loft. But, the real deal—old school commercial workspaces or artist’s studios with tall ceilings, exposed beams and bricks and few, if any, walls—is so much more. The lofts pictured here are as authentic as they get (super-luxurious finishings and furnishings, notwithstanding) and make clear why living in one is such an amazing score.
One major attraction of the old-school loft is its lack of walls. This 1,641 square-foot floor-through loft at 27 Leonard Street (on sale for $3.8 million) in Tribeca has just one bedroom, which means the rest of the space — with its 10-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and oversized windows — is all open awesomeness.
A classic loft takes its architectural features and spins them into design elements. In the case of this 1,800-square-foot apartment in Williamsburg’s Mill Building (for sale at $2.235 million), the wooden beams, wide-plank floors and red brick walls add an urban rustic chic to the place.
Built in 1862, this Tribeca loft at 144 Duane Street (renting for $27,500/month) was carefully renovated to preserve the character and details — cast iron columns! wide plank floors! oversized windows! — of the original space.
Pine columns, oak beams, and decorative ceilings give this 2,500-square-foot, three-bedroom in Chelsea, in a former printing factory at 145 West 17th Street and priced at $3.625 million, charm aplenty. Bonus: It has one more signature feature: an elevator that opens directly into the apartment.
Related:
If these (nonexistent) walls could talk: The drawbacks of moving into a loft
What makes a true loft and where to find them
Reel estate: Lena Dunham and her family's real life loft in Tiny Furniture
Ceilings so tall their air rights may require negotiation
