Loft style ceiling: style and workmanship

Elegant, but at the same time brutal style "loft" is an unusual and profitable solution. One of its undoubted advantages is the ability to use any building materials in the finishing works.

Rough decoration and furniture in an elegant style are combined in a modern and cozy interior. The main components of this design are ceilings and walls, decorated with a clumsy finish. Despite the contradictory combination of different materials, the ceiling in the style of "loft" is becoming more and more popular.

This unusual design was formed by chance and originates from the 30s of the last century in America. It was at this time that the Great Depression, which caused the bankruptcy of many factories and plants, allowed students and young and creative people to settle in empty rooms.In the absence of funds, but the wealth of creative energy, they reworked the factory premises into living rooms in their own way. Most often these were studios with the minimum amount of comfortable and necessary furniture and rough decoration of walls and ceilings. The most different variants of this style were presented and formed during this period.

The main features of the loft design include:

• high walls;
• raw ceilings and walls;
• wide windows;
• lack of partitions;
• nude communications.

The main feature of this style is the so-called “abandoned industrial zone” effect. Rooms for the style of "loft" should have a high ceiling or attic. It is preferable to choose concrete and metal from materials, and brickwork for the wall. A separate and significant place in the design is the design of the ceiling, it is best to process it in gray or white. In general, this style is characterized by poor color gamut.

Since this style has a rather limited range of colors and involves only the use of certain materials, it will be easy to opt for something specific. For processing the ceiling, you can use several materials.

• Concrete. Concrete coating is a classic solution for the ceiling in the style of "loft". In addition, it is also a fairly simple method of surface treatment.
• Stretch ceiling. To carry out the work of installing it yourself will be a problem without much skill. And still need to bear in mind that the suspended ceiling reduces the height of the room, which is an integral part of this style.

• Metal mesh. Its advantages are low cost and the fact that it can be fixed on its own easily and quickly.
• Ceiling tiles with different patterns. One of the most used materials.
• Decorative metal pipes and beams. They imitate real pipes and various communications. When choosing pipes, black is preferable to all other colors, and when choosing color boards it is best to opt for artificially aged ones.Wood products are best immediately covered with a water-repellent agent and a means of pests.

If only a few years ago, the concrete ceiling was considered ugly and was associated with rooms that require further processing, now the situation has changed and with a harmonious and well-planned design produces a quite pleasant and soothing effect. If the ceiling height does not exceed three meters, then it is best to make the treatment of the walls darker than the ceiling.

Concrete is well combined with glass, wood and brick trim. If the room to be decorated is small, then you should use the concrete pavement in places, for example, only on the ceiling or on some parts of it, not going to the walls.

It is possible to transfer the texture of a concrete ceiling using mixtures containing microcement, architectural concrete or decorative panels. It is best to stylize the room under the "loft" will help compositions of microcement and architectural concrete. As before each finishing work, you must first treat the surface, and then apply the concrete mix.

On request, you can make the concrete surface rough and rough, or grind to a smooth and matte finish. It is important to know that the polished and polished surface has several advantages, like:

• effect of "marble ceiling";
• long service life;
• the possibility of subsequent paint application.

Continuing the theme of surface polishing, it is important to know that this process is divided into several stages.

• Millingduring which a special milling machine identifies and cuts off large irregularities and bumps, this is the initial stage of polishing, so it leaves behind small irregularities.
• Grinding produced by a grinding machine, which finally smooths the surface and cuts off a small outer layer, the so-called cement milk.This process not only makes the ceiling smooth, but also allows the mixture to better grasp the surface.
• Applying the mixture. This stage most often involves applying a protective lacquer composition, but any other design idea of ​​your choice can be implemented.

There are special cases when the appearance of the ceiling leaves much to be desired, then stretch ceilings are used. The production of tensioning cloths is now well established, so it will not be a big problem to purchase it. For the design of the "loft" is best suited matte canvas in black, color of concrete or imitating metal.

In some cases, white glossy ceiling visually increases the space. This way to carry out yourself will be time consuming, so it is best to turn for help to a special team.

Bundles of wires from wiring on the ceiling or on the walls can be laid out in geometric shapes that will look neat and appropriate. The presence of air vents, which must be replaced with new ones, are welcome if the old ones become rusty or have lost their original appearance.

Special attention is given to lamps and chandeliers. It is best to hang the ceiling light bulbs or choose a chandelier in the style of minimalism. Several identical bulbs without ceiling lamps with black bullets will harmoniously fit into the interior.

You can install a hidden lighting around the perimeter of the rooms or a few lampshades in a row, which will create the effect of a wide space. Various LED inscriptions on the wall and small LED bulbs will look stylish.

In residential premises, it is better to process the ceiling zoned throughout the apartment. For example, in the kitchen to make a brickwork, in the living room concrete pavement. To divide the studio into zones will help beams, which will be different from the walls and ceiling color. Glass partitions will also cope well with this task. The ceiling in the bathroom due to the environment with high humidity is best treated with a concrete coating and protective lacquer than using wood or any other.

If there is a desire to process the ceiling with wooden planks, then they should be folded not close to each other, but through a short distance, which will create a “vintage” effect.The same wooden furniture decorated with metal elements will be perfectly combined with wooden planks on the ceiling. It must be remembered that light shades visually increase the space, and dark ones give the room refinement and restraint.

As a rule, the main task of the “loft” style is not to hide various irregularities and communications behind the decoration, but to “ennoble” them, to give them a more modern and neat look. It will be very easy to start repairs yourself, it is enough to clean the surface of the ceiling from all coatings and give it a slightly treated look.

Highlighting the ceiling will help get rid of the use of chandeliers, will make the room softer and more comfortable.

Bare communications and a grid on the ceiling will help to improve and give an interior effect.In studio apartments, the kitchen area can also be separated by a grid on the ceiling. The multicolored soft corner looks bright.

Heavy oak-colored wooden beams fill the room with a calm atmosphere. Minimalism and practicality are ideally combined in this interior.

In the next video, see a master class on decorative painting of concrete ceiling in the style of "loft".