Finding beauty in your surroundings is key to maintaining a happy home. But when you make your life and living as an artist, you must also be able to find inspiration there. While some artists may be inspired by vast swaths of blank canvas or the ultimate in simplicity, others prefer mementos of their lives, channeling memories, images, sights, and sounds that can then be a source of that elusive creative spark. The two lofts featured here, both from visualizer Galina Lavrishcheva, show what two very different types of artists might prefer. Each space deeply creative, but unique in its expression of that creativity.
The first space certainly adheres to the philosophy that more is more. On every surface is an image, a texture, or a color that could be a potential source of inspiration. The open loft is characterized by building materials that are far from the perfectly polished surfaces we are used to seing. Planks of wood dangle precariously from the ceiling and unpainted brick peeks out from behind reclaimed advertising signs. Even the tapestries look as though they had former lives that left them worn and dirty. But the result is a space that looks carefully undone. Clearly artistic and definitely on purpose.
One of the more notable elements of this wild and free artist loft is the creation of the ceiling storage space. A woven metal panel creates an overhead space for storage, but allows the stored items to be visible, letting even what amounts to a glorified closet become part of the apartment's personality.
While the second space certainly has its own artist feel, it is much cleaner in terms of its textures, materials, and even its colors. White, wood, and brick dominate the space. Even where things looks a little aged - as with the exposed ceiling beams - it lends a rustic charm rather than a dirty eyesore. The furniture is also cleaner, with low lying sofas, oversized floor lamps and a few items that could be sourced from Ikea. Is that the most creative place to find a coffee table? Perhaps not. But it is a place for a creative mind to go wild.
