Lofts Vs. Traditional Apartments
Posted on December 3, 2007
Filed Under Apartment Living | 9 Comments
Do you desire a carefree sort of living situation in which immovable walls and preset distinctive rooms do not define your space for you? Do you feel the need to have every aspect of your life set into a pattern? Do you crave the wide-open floor plans of a loft style apartment, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing a full, panoramic view, or do you prefer the structured living style of a more traditional apartment? If you’re unsure of the direction that your living arrangements are heading, continue reading to hear the best (and worst) of loft-style and traditional apartments.
To sum it up, a traditional apartment has definitive rooms separated by floor-to-ceiling walls and accessible through doorways with or without a door. The square footage of such a home varies upon the number of rooms, such as a one or two bedroom with or without a den or office. Bathrooms are always separate and are not included in the overall square footage.
On the other hand, a classic loft-style apartment is one grand space with an average living space of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. High ceilings (with windows to match), worn wooden floors and exposed building elements such as brick, pipes, beams and duct-work with cavernous spaces beyond the reach of the average resident are just a few of the aspects that lure tenants to the city-life, industrial-chic abode.
The historic Soho district of New York City is the proud address of the creation of the loft apartment. Stuck with large manufacturing buildings that couldn’t support modern technology, the building owners of the 1950’s risked losing everything if these colossal buildings remained unoccupied. The art community of the area was struggling to find affordable studio space that was large enough to house their apparatus and spread it out so the atmosphere could compliment that necessary of an artist. The combined efforts lead to the loft-housing boom, as the artists couldn’t afford both an apartment and a studio to work. A series of pulleys and trap doors were installed to hide any domicile items of the resident when a nosey landlord would come around, as it was slightly illegal to live in such a building.
Even though the classic loft apartment is converted from an old manufacturing or warehouse building, more and more contractors are actually meeting the growing demand of loft apartments by creating these buildings from the ground up. These new-fangled reproductions are referred to as “hybrids”.
Both a traditional and loft apartment come in different shapes and attributes, with or without fireplaces and such details. Secured video entry, in-house fitness center and a pool are a just a few of the luxury items that may or may not come with your apartment, no matter which style you choose.
Watch the video related to loft apartment living
Learn what materials you need to make a living room in a loft in thisfree video clip. Expert: Denise Robinson Bio: Denise Robinson resides in Austin, Texas. She has designed sets for both TV and film for 12 years in California. Denise has used many flea market findings to cut overhead and budget cost for films. Filmmaker: Michelle Carter
Help answer the question about loft apartment living
When living in a city apartment, what is the point of a studio apartment?I mean im new to this, i've never heard of this kind of apartment b4. I've heard of Lofts and i actually think there cool looking. But if you live in a studio, then your bedroom is in the middle of the living room, kitchen, and its right next to the front door. Can you ever have people over? Do you live in one and what do you think of it?
About Author
Maria Hayden recommends that you visit http://www.lofts.com for more information on lofts.
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9 Responses to “Lofts Vs. Traditional Apartments”
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Your monthly bill will depend on the rates that your power company charges and how much electricity you use. It would be hard to determine either of these things for you without knowing more about the apartment, and about your habits. Wiring and appliances can play a roll in your power usage as well.
Here are some things you can do:
1) Call the power company you will be using and ask them about the usage of the previous tenant(s), or even over the last few years. Then you can average it yourself to see what makes the most sense for you.
2) Electric water heaters can cost a lot, see how efficient the one for your unit is, if you will be paying for electric hot water. Then plan your water usage accordingly, sometimes making small lifestyle changes (like limiting your showers to less time or only taking one a day; for example) can make huge differences in your utility bills.
3) A/C and other equipment that uses a lot of power should be used with limitations or within reason, to lower your bills. In a small apartment, if you don't live in an excessively hot area, window fans or large floor fans may be more energy efficient and cost effective. They may also work just as well, for the space you have. You'll have to decide this for yourself though. Another thing you can do to keep your apartment cool is to keep all of the windows closed during the day when it is hot, and open them at night when its cool out, and keep your curtains closed during the day to keep out extra heat.
4) Mini fluorescent bulbs may cost more at the store, but if you can use them in your unit, they really do make a difference on your bill. Most are warrantied for around 5 years, and they limit wattage usage. For example, a normal 60 wt output (which is all most people need in an area) can be recieved with 13 wts from a GE Energy Smart bulb (almost 1/5 the wattage of a standard bulb). I used to rent a 3-story, 5 bedroom house with very old (horsehair) wiring, and the first thing I did was change all of the light bulbs in the house to the GE mini fluorescent bulbs, knowing that between me and my roommate and all of our kids we'd have a lot of lights on all of the time and the bill would be really high. We never had a summer bill over $45, and that included running a washer and dryer for 10 people.
5) You can also talk with the power company and see if they offer budget plans/payment plans. Where your bill is the same every month, and then at the end of the year, if you've used more … you pay the difference and if you've used less they credit you and adjust the cycle. However, again this is based off previous tenant usage, as you haven't been living there so is they used a lot and you don't, your bill can be too high, and if they saved energy more then you do, then you could owe a lot at the end of the year. 2 ways around this, is to keep track of the bills when they come in, and pay a little extra, if you see that it isn't balancing out. (Keep in mind though that rates change and are higher in the winter, so if you have a credit, leave it alone … but if what you are paying isn't covering the bills every month, tip in more.) and keep track of your usage.
http://everythingaustinapartments.com/
Its a map of apartments all over town. You won't have any problem finding what you are looking for.
YOU had the right by law to test the AC prior to accepting the unit.
however, you are still in luck!
visit associatedcontent.com and read this article:
Landlord Tenancy Law for Kids Seeking Their First Apartment [or House or Bedroom in a House]
get back to me for any further help.
your mean this?
Both lofts and apartments can come furnished, semi furnished (utilities like stove and fridge) and unfurnished.
Lofts are living spaces over other living spaces, maybe a separate bathroom. An apartment is a living space, usually subdivided rooms. A loft can be loosely be referred to as an apartment, but not the other way around. An efficiency is a single room, like a loft, but not always over other living spaces. An efficiency is also a type of apartment.
Too much info:
A townhouse is a condo, in town. A condo can be in the country or in town and is usually owned by the person(s) living there, unless it's subleted. Sublet condos and apartments have to be approved by the apartment owners or condominium organization. A duplex is a subdivided structure with two apartments or condos in the building.
A high-rise is above six floors. Brownstones are reddish brown sandstone buildings.
A landlord owns the building and has rights to enter living spaces, depending on the local laws and the renters contract, at reasonable times. Every reasonable effort must be made by the landlord to notify said tenant of a visit for inspection or repair, again, depending on local laws. Rent stabilization contracts may be passed from one family member to another, only once.
T
Rent in most big cities can be really expensive. If you're single, then a studio is the cheapest way to live.
Yes, it's uncomfortable, but that's the price to pay for the luxury of living in the city.
I live in Toronto, and rents are sky-high in the downtown area. I live in a small one-bedroom. It's really small (not a studio though), but I wouldn't give up the size if it meant giving up my location. I love my neighborhood, and if I had to choose a studio to be able to live here I would.
It depends on your situation. If you have a family with kids, a private house is usually better. If you are single or just married with no kids, and you don't mind having close neighbors, a loft could be better. Its all personal preference.
An individual house is usually more expensive both in the purchase price and in the maintenance, but it is more valuable when you sell it also.