Soho Loft Redesign

Andrew McLaughlin’s SoHo loft, featured in Elle Decor, is the envy of most New Yorkers with its high ceilings, lots of natural light, and spacious loft layout. But a facelift was urgently needed for the art collector and his girlfriend Larissa.

The upstairs bedroom was dark and cavernous, and the kitchen and bathrooms were dated and cramped. The couple’s newly purchased apartment was by no means representative of their stylish jet setting lifestyle.

Enter Décor Aid, the affordable interior design service that Andrew hired to oversee the intestinal renovation and interior design. Since he works from home, the space had to be both comfortable and functional.

And although they’re not great cooks, he and Larissa love casual get-togethers and wanted an open flow between the kitchen, dining room and living room. But Andrew’s biggest condition was that the design should house his most prized possession: Harper, his beloved 10-year-old bulldog.

Within eight months, the Décor Aid team set out to create a modern space that is both elegant and pet-friendly. The kitchen and bathrooms have been completely gutted and replaced with clean, streamlined designs guided by a black and white palette for drama and contrast.

Cement tiles were a budget purchase that gave the floors a graphic stamp while the rest of the floors were redone in wood. They added a large interior window to the bedroom to bring natural light into the desolate space. The floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the great room has been finished with cement and iron, and iron railings have been added to the stairs to give it an industrial feel.

When the couple started over, Décor Aid brought all the new furniture to outfit the room. They spoiled themselves with a specially made walnut bar as storage space as well as a stylish buffet and a bar for the guests.

A chandelier by Lindsey Adelman, Vitra’s Panton Dining Chairs and rugs from Tom Dixon’s collection for The Rug Company give the design a sophisticated, urban touch. And perhaps the most important investment was the section that was custom built and upholstered in sturdy Kravet fabric for Netflix binge watching with Harper.

“We love to watch TV and relax in front of the fireplace with Harper,” says McLaughlin. “The whole room is now inviting and worth living in.”