ROOM AT THE TOP Creative ways to make the most of your loft space

FROM SOARING DOUBLE-HEIGHT SPACES TO CLEVER STORAGE CORNERS, CONVERTED ATTICS THESE DAYS HAVE LOFTY AMBITIONS

AGAINST THE GRAIN

Much of this new-build home in Egg, Austria, designed by Innauer Matt Architects, is clad in white fir – including this attic, which feels deceptively large, thanks to the mezzanine bedroom accessed by ladder. ‘It’s used by the family for working, reading, sleeping and storage,’ says practice founder Sven Matt. ‘The timber makes it feel cosy but clean.’ Most of the wood was sourced from a nearby forest; in the UK, C02 Timber sells similar British larch cladding, from £3.50m. Black-and-white accessories decorate the space, including a glass pendant (Caravaggio by Lightyears, £146, Skandium, is similar). Sheepskins are a great way to soften panelling – Toast sells different shades, from £110.

ALL WHITE

When interior designer leanne ford created ‘a clean, serene office’ in her attic, she painted everything white. ‘contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t make a room cold,’ she says. ‘the wood textures kept the space warm and inviting.’ neptune sells painted shiplap board, from £175 for 3.3sq m.

“I Love PAINTING A LOFT A dark shade – IT disguises AWKWARD CORNERS. extend THE COLOUR TO THE CEILING TO BLUR your Impression Of WHERE THE WALLS end” NATALIA MIYAR, interior designer, nataliamiyar.com

“When budgeting, allow for unknowns, as lofts and roof spaces can often hold surprises such as dry or Wet rot” COLIN ERRIDGE, senior architect, lyndongoode.com

GREY SCALE

Lofts in old buildings often have high ceilings and deep windows, which can be challenging to work with. At Heckfield Place, a Georgian house in Hampshire that is now a hotel, interior designer

Ben Thompson made the most of the original features when creating the Long Room suite, using calming colours. ‘We painted the beams a similar shade to the walls, which are finished in naturally pigmented lime plaster,’ he explains. ‘Contrasting colours would have made the space feel chopped up, but this creates a cocooning warmth.’ The other priority was the deep dormer windows. ‘One is furnished as a dressing area, while others have seat pads and piles of cushions to sink into,’ he says.

DARK STAR

Painting a loft bedroom black is a bold move, but that’s what Mulroy Architects did in this Essex home, which dates from the 1970s. Both the colour scheme and furnishings pay homage to this era. ‘The bespoke brass headboard creates a luxurious contrast to the walls,’ says project architect

Joe Peake. ‘As the walls are quite dark and the room looks onto a green space, we felt it was worth maximising the windows, so we installed a glass balustrade behind pocket doors. The doors slide back into the walls, so the whole room opens up to the elements.’ This is an impressive solution for spaces that don’t get much light, but bear in mind that it added £10,000 to this project bill.

“Lighting design is key To Making Loft spaces work. Bright Task Lights should BE COMPLEMENTED By Low Mood Lighting; Avoid downlighters on sloping WALLS” HENRY MILLER-ROBINSON, co-founder, kandhdesign.co.uk

IN THE FRAME

architects Space + Matter make the most of an odd space in this loft (top), with a bathroom and dressing room behind glass doors. ‘We wanted to retain the unusual roof angles, so used the metal frame to highlight them,’ says creative director alexandra orme. the doors cost around £10,000.

BOX CLEVER

In this loft room (above left), the sloping roof couldn’t be altered, so architect John Dyer-grimes installed three skylights to make it feel bigger. then he designed a wall of storage. ‘Find a great joiner who can come up with inventive ideas for shapes, special hinges and handle-free designs,’ he says.

BOOK CLUB

Brooklyn architects Para Project addressed the low ceilings in this New York loft (above) by installing large skylights to create a light-filled reading corner. ‘When the windows are open, they’re a bit like balconies,’ says principal Jon Lott. they also make a small space feel bright and spacious.

BATHROOM BLISS

Architects advise framing the best view when converting a loft, as in this bathroom (top), where the tub looks out onto a garden through a newly installed window at one end. By cladding the walls and beams in tongue-and-groove panelling, the space has been made full of interesting angles.

COLOUR STORY

Designers Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio created this space in an Arts and Crafts home (above left). As it gets lots of light, they could be creative with colour. ‘We went for Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue and Pink Ground (£45 for 2.5L).’ The pink makes it warmer and lighter.

ANGLE POISE

A storage space next to a bedroom was transformed by interior designer Emma Sims-hilditch into this en suite (above). ‘We decided to make the most of its angular shapes and used white subway tiles to reflect light,’ she says. A bespoke glass shower screen makes the room feel even brighter.

“Consider the position of windows to accentuate the sense of space. a view as you enter sets the feel of the room, be it a backdrop of treetops or an urban roofscape” JULIET QUINTERO, founder, Dallas-pierce-quintero, d-p-q.uk