ellearRVA's Profile

I agree with the suggestion of the IKEA Hemnes dresser. My friends have this dresser in their master and it looks much better than more common IKEA bedroom furniture (i.e. Malm). There's a reason when you're on a budget you stick to budget friendly outlets for furniture such as IKEA, craigslist and thrift shops!

In my opinion, simple white dinnerware is the best investment you can make. I have pieces from Target, IKEA, C&B, and thrift stores that are all simple white and while I know they are all from different stores they all go together as if they were a set. I will only ever buy white dinnerware!

I'm with @dogshouse! I'm 26 as well and would totally throw a party like this for my own birthday or just because!

This is really helpful as I'm currently fawning over this bed online! I previously had an similar style bed (it had a curved iron though on the headboard and footboard..circa 2002-ish). I craigslist'd it and got the Ikea Hopen frame two years ago which I love as well, although a pain to put together (major understatement!). Now I'm in the market to replace my current full size Hopen with a queen and new frame and after reading reviews I'm 99.9% sure this is what I'm coming home with. Gotta love AT for posts like this!

Really curious to see all these suggestions as my main hesitation with loft living has always been how the layout works against privacy/noise....

I second @Aninhas this is definitely my dream home. So much character! And to see it rescued and restored to its original glory...love it!

I agree-these are great suggestions for both college students and even recent grads (like myself) who aren't ready/don't have the money to spend on items that probably cost a months rent. Items like the Lack shelf (love that!) are great pieces for the interim. Noone expects them to last forever but they give you something nice at an affordable price until you are more settled.

@pier723 - I also have my tv/sofa set up the same way and it works well for me since I like to lay down and watch tv at night. I also like that it takes away the focus on the living room being for tv watching and allows me to configure my sofa and chairs in a way thats better for guests.

I think @shannonashley has a good suggestion with the bamboo roman shades to cut down on the light. As for noise blocking, my suggestion would be thick drapes of some kind.

Its funny because as much as I love the open floor plan of lofts, my main reason for never really considering them in my rental searches has been because of issues like this. Noise carries so much in lofts even with the addition of rugs, drapes, etc. But those additions do seem to help my friends who live in lofts.

I love seeing the IKEA Stockholm Rand rug in AT posts :) I have it as well in my living room so its nice to see how others style around such a bold rug!