Makeover: New Life for an Old Loft

It’s not uncommon to find one of Boston’s 19th-century industrial buildings haphazardly segmented into apartments, and this loft-style unit stands as a prime example. While the apartment had an open layout with hardwood floors and plenty of potential, owners wanted a more contemporary look with an updated kitchen. A design team from Feinmann was brought in for the renovation.

Before: The space had been fitted for apartment living, with blond hardwood floors, a linear kitchen, and a lofted bedroom area, but it lacked modern finishes and, with a missing bedroom railing, it didn’t meet the safety needs of owners.

After: To up the safety factor and better define the spaces within the unit, stainless steel cables and a railing were installed between the bedroom and living space. Custom wood grain cabinetry and a metallic backsplash were fitted to the existing kitchen area, including the addition of paneled appliances. The new countertop is white Corian. To maintain an industrial feeling, a concrete micro-topped floor with multi-color undertones was added throughout the apartment.