Houston Lofts are the latest style in Apartments

Posted on March 9, 2008
Filed Under Apartment Living | 9 Comments

Houston Lofts are the latest style in Apartments

You might have heard of the Houston lofts or the Dallas lofts. The main difference between a loft apartment and a normal apartment is the open layout. Lofts are basically open floor plans with very few walls or none at all demarcating your living, sleeping and dining areas. This kind of open floor plan gives the loft a chic appearance which a lot of residents enjoy today.

Generally loft apartments are actually older buildings that were used as commercial properties once upon a time. But in recent years, plenty of industrial and historic buildings which were unoccupied have now been transformed into fashionable Dallas lofts. Also the development of the Houston lofts has provided a boost to the local economies, rejuvenated city centers and breathed new life into ancient districts.

Lofts are buildings which usually have four to twelve storeys and ceilings which are often higher than normal. An extra feature of lofts is its big windows and its interiors are designed in such a way so as to provide maximum light from outside. A key feature of the Dallas lofts is their interior design and layout. Most of the Houston lofts too have floors made out of hardwood, walls of natural bricks and ceiling beams which are uncovered. A lot of stress is put on the fine points of hardware like lighting and fixtures.

Most of the Dallas lofts and Houston lofts are found close to business areas where entertainment and nightlife is at its best. Because of the urban locations, business people and professionals prefer a loft apartment on rent. It is also a great option for those who are very conscious about fashion and enthusiastic about art.

Whether it is the Houston lofts or the Dallas lofts or lofts any place else, lofts are becoming the in thing today. In fact it is turning out to be the most fashionable home style today. Let us see the different kinds of lofts available today. The true loft is spaces in old buildings that were initially factories or warehouses with huge windows and exposed brickwork, ducts and pipes and no room dividers.

Then you have the new true lofts that were built like the old warehouses because the demand for Dallas lofts and Houston lofts was more than the number of old warehouses and other industrial buildings available for conversion. And finally you have the soft loft which is a cross between a loft and the modern apartment taking the best from both. Soft lofts have rooms which are defined, less brick and flooring made from hardwood. A lot of soft lofts make use of bricks as a decorative feature rather than a building material.

Finding Houston lofts or the Dallas lofts for rent has now become a very simple task. You just have to go on the Internet and use your favorite search engine like Google and before you know it you will have found suitable accommodation for yourself whether it is one of the Dallas lofts or one of the Houston condos.

Watch the video related to loft apartment living

Learn how to decorate your loft living room by adding a tree 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

which is more desirable/advantageous, owning and living in a loft or owning and living in a house?
I am ready to dive into home ownership but can't decide if I want to live in a house (and deal with all the manual upkeep that comes with it) or live in a loft (and continue to feel like I'm living in an apartment setup).

About Author

If you are looking to rent one of the Dallas lofts or Houston lofts or lofts, apartments or condos in one of the other cities, visit us now before somebody else goes off with exactly what you were looking for!

Comments

9 Responses to “Houston Lofts are the latest style in Apartments”

  1. Sam H on March 9th, 2008 2:13 pm

    An apartment is generally a single-story rental unit in a building full of similar rental units. A flat is a British term for an apartment on one level (it's a flat unit).

    A condo is similar to an apartment, but it is owned by an individual (in California anyway – individual apartments can be owned in places like New York City).

    A townhouse is generally a rental unit that is about 2 to 4 units per building, where each unit is a two-story unit. There is generally a number of bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, and a living room, kitchen, and possibly a bathroom downstairs.

    A studio is a rental unit that has no separate bedroom. There may be a sleeping area that is off to the side or around a corner. But, there is no door to a separate room for sleeping in.

    A loft is a unit that has a sleeping area upstairs that is open to the rest of the unit. That is, you would take stairs to the bedroom. But, it has a landing at the top of the stairs that's part of the bedroom and that overlooks the bottom floor of the unit.

  2. A on March 9th, 2008 3:14 pm

    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.

  3. shannonlynae on March 9th, 2008 9:59 pm

    http://everythingaustinapartments.com/

    Its a map of apartments all over town. You won't have any problem finding what you are looking for.

  4. Ian M on March 10th, 2008 12:47 am
  5. MINA on March 10th, 2008 10:43 am

    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.

  6. Elena on March 10th, 2008 11:48 am

    your mean this?

  7. Kene on March 11th, 2008 11:34 am

    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.

  8. Serg on March 11th, 2008 12:14 pm

    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

  9. JA+JH on March 12th, 2008 3:16 pm

    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.

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