Hip décor transforms urban loft into ‘home’

Rocco is a hip, fashionable guy who bought a beautiful loft in the heart of the city. But shortly after doing so, he took off to Australia for a volleyball tournament and didn't come home for six years. He finally returned and was eager to move back into his condo, but after renting it out for so many years, it just didn't feel like "home" to him.

The beautiful, two-story space had soaring ceilings and a huge wall of windows, but the main floor contained a tiny kitchen, a lackluster living room and a barren office. And the bland, 1980s decorating scheme just wasn't a reflection of Rocco's urban style. He wanted a warm, inviting place in which to relax and entertain, so he asked me for an assist -- and I just couldn't say no to a fellow volleyball player. So I put together my own team and got set to give Rocco a funky place in which to hang his volleyball net.

I started by choosing a cool color scheme -- several gray-toned paints, stark black-and-white finishes and furnishings, and a mix of shimmering steel and rich wood accents.

I then divided the space into three zones: a kitchen, a living area and an office that can double as guest space if any of Rocco's friends come to visit from Down Under.

The kitchen was small and dated, so I redesigned it by painting and extending the existing cabinets, adding glass and pewter hardware, lengthening the dark quartz countertops and adding a dark table and white chairs to an existing island. For the finishing touch, I put up a backsplash of modern gray, white and black glass tiles. I then highlighted everything with an under-cabinet xenon fixture.

The living area was huge, with 19-foot ceilings and a wall of windows, but it lacked style. So I set up two stories' worth of scaffolding and changed things up. I put in a system of sliding translucent panels to give privacy and light control to the wall of windows, without sacrificing the great city view. I also put up a dramatic ceiling fan made of pewter and dark wood, which added artistry and airflow to the room.

I then spiced things up by removing a nonfunctional fireplace and creating a huge drywall box that houses a flat-screen TV on a movable arm. Next to this, I put in a new ethanol-burning, stainless steel fireplace that doesn't require any venting.

I also added new dark walnut cabinetry and a seating area that includes a huge gray sectional, a couple of white lounge chairs, a funky coffee table and a beautiful area rug.

I then got started on the office area. I extended the rich, dark cabinetry from the living room through the office space, set up a little office for Rocco, and installed a daybed that is a stylish couch by day and a comfy guest bed by night.

After adding a few more accents and accessories, including colorful artwork, ceramic vases and pillows in geometric patterns, Rocco's urban loft was complete.

This place was large on legroom but short on flair. So I transformed a big, empty box into a stylish and functional living, working and entertaining space that will make Rocco feel right at home -- at least until the travel bug hits again. Now that's divine.

Interior decorator Candice Olson is host of HGTV's "Divine Design." For more ideas or information visit www.divinedesign.tv. Her column is syndicated by Scripps Howard News Service.