Let there be closet. Oh, and light(s).

Glorious, glorious storage. 

This is the Stolmen series from Ikea.  I didn't like any of the predesigned configurations so I put together something that I thought would work well.  It ALMOST did.  See the tower on the right?  Yeah, that's supposed to be above the shirts but the wall brackets were installed too low to fit it.  And then I had to put the connectors for the shelves on an angle as the brackets mount the poles to close to the wall to allow for the shelves and drawers to fit the way they're supposed to.  Despite this, I'm fairly pleased with the Stolmen series.  It's sturdy, easy to customize and, while frustrating as hell to put together, once the posts are installed where they need to be, it's not exceedingly difficult to figure out the rest.  And, yes, I had help installing the posts and drawers.  The rest I did on my own.

I also hired The Fixer (Jay!) to install the chandeliers and drill into the brick to install the drapery hardware.  First world problem... my Restoration Hardware rod is two inches too short for the window on the wall behind the bed.  I ordered a longer one.  The rod just barely worked for the window behind the sofa.

The chandeliers actually work fairly well in the space.  Definitely adds some feminine elements to what is a masculine space with the exposed post and beam and brick.

A few photos of the loft...

The loft has felt like home since the day I moved in.  The entire loft has fantastic light thanks to four massive windows. At first I wondered if I might be tempted to paint the brick out but after living with it, there is no chance of that.  I love the patina it's developed over the years.  The floors are the original fir and are in great shape.  Again, you can tell they're original.  There's dings and gouges from having been used as a warehouse but they are warm and interesting.

If you are vaguely OCD and disinterested in measuring, might I suggest a gallery wall to keep you occupied for hours ever so slightly straightening picture frames. This was my first attempt.

Everything is just slightly crooked. 

The bedroom is a bit dire as there is no closet.  It's coming Monday.  This week shall be spent swearing and deriding my own lack of handiness.

Bolstered by the moderate success of the first gallery wall, I attempted a second, larger one. It turned out somewhat better, likely because there's more space between the pieces.  I desperately need shelving for my books.  I'm thinking about ordering something from Yube Cube.

Smudge, post lily consumption and requisite 36 hours at the veterinary clinic to ensure his kidneys weren't going to fail.  He's fine.  His opinion of not one but two car rides, medication to force vomiting, IV and being served food that isn't his favourite?  Bull shit!

Everything is so perfectly symmetrical. It's lovely. Against the piller between the two windows that define the living and dining areas, I stuffed my desk. The art is waiting on Jay to come and drill holes into my brick. I don't trust my own mad skillz to do it myself. Also, I don't think I have a masonry bit.

This place is perfect as it is. My serial renovator days are over.   Do you know how nice it is to walk in and have your home tell you to sit and relax and enjoy verses presenting with a lengthy and expensive laundry list of work to be done?  Aside from getting some light fixtures up and throwing a couple of long and low bookshelves under the windows in the living and dining room, there's absolutely nothing to do. And I love it that way.