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Live/Work Lofts vs. Studio Apartments

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 10:27:55 GMT

Whether you’re thinking about live and work lofts or researching the differences between live-work lofts and studios, you’ve probably realized that there’s not a great deal of information out there. This is especially true if you’re living in Los Angeles, where some of the features vary from other major cities.

The key is to ensure that you understand the differences between a work-live loft and a studio in terms of space, function, and trends to see which one truly meets your needs.

3 Key Differences Between Live and Work Lofts vs. Studio Apartments

1. Live-Work Units Are Bigger Than Studio Apartments

In terms of size, live-work units win every time. Studios typically only consist of one main room that serves as the entire living space. While each studio is different, the lack of space often means it can only have one purpose.

That purpose is an affordable living space for singles or couples who don’t have much room or time for much else. What’s more, studios typically have a layout suited to the building they are housed in. This means studios are not typically configured for optimal living.

On the other hand, live-work lofts are generally much more spacious. A live-work loft, as the name suggests, is a space to live and work.

Typically, this unit style comprises both a workspace and residential area that can be configured to provide an optimal work-life balance for its inhabitants.

For entrepreneurs, start-ups, or savvy business minds, live-work units offer a unique opportunity to optimize space, productivity, and, most importantly, costs.

2. Function: Live-Work Units Are Meant for Working

Live-work lofts typically have a designated work space available. While a studio may just be large enough to fit a desk, it does not usually have a dedicated space for working.

Due to their style and size, lofts are designed for productive overachievers who want their space to embody their mission in life. The loft-style studio was once championed by painters, photographers, and creatives who needed an affordable location to live, work, and study.

In recent years, however, entrepreneurs, coders, and writers have, through the power of technology, found themselves in a modern world and in need of a modern live-work space.

As such, lofts have become a much sought-after alternative to studios in the urban jungle, given their affordability, functionality, style, and space. This is because of the unique advantages of:

Entertaining
Hosting
Living
Working from one centralized location

On the other hand, studios typically cater to couples and singles who want their own small, stylish, cozy space and who prefer to travel, work, socialize and live outside of the home.

3. Trends in Live-Work Units

Throughout the last decade, technology has been an ever-present force driving changes in how we live and work. This has included offering the current generations on planet Earth more tools to be productive, passionate, social, and informed than ever before.

Recent events have changed how we view work and critical technologies’ role in the workplace. As such, more and more people are opting for live-work lofts as opposed to traditional studio living. Live-work lofts have become a space for IT professionals, creatives, and business minds to streamline and enhance their work and work-life balance.

What’s more, it’s given individuals the unique opportunity to spend more time with loved ones and utilize their time in a far more flexible way.

From a design perspective, live work units offer a homely feel to your work space that enables you to be relaxed and confident and operate with a level of comfort that could never be found in traditional office spaces.

This is exemplified in recent live work loft interior designs where colors are often neutral, windows allow a maximum amount of natural light into your space, and scale is managed perfectly with sheek multifunctional furniture.

Look No Further

If you’re looking to rent a live-work loft in Los Angeles, check out our open-home office lofts where you’ll love to live, work, and play in some of the best locales available in L.A. Call T Loft Apartments today at 310-876-0150 to set up an appointment or check out our vacancies at tloftapartments.com .

What Are Apartment Amenities?

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 16:16:00 GMT

Your home is your castle but, when it comes to apartment buildings, you often have a little less choice in how your castle looks and feels.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure a prospective building has all the charm, facilities, and amenities you’ll need to enjoy your day-to-day life.

What are apartment amenities exactly? Which are the ones worth looking out for when shopping for a new rental?

1. In-Unit Amenities

In-unit amenities are, without doubt, the most important amenities to check out. Why? Well, in-unit amenities impact the quality, atmosphere, value, and overall enjoyment of your space. Therefore, you should be looking for quality in-unit amenities such as:

Finished concrete floors
Stainless steel appliances
In-unit washer and dryers
Balconies/private outdoor space
High-speed internet

Flooring

First, are the floors wooden or concrete? This is super important, as wooden floors can carry the echoes of footsteps, heels, or pets all across your floor or that of your neighbor, which can cause frustration in the long run.

In-Unit Appliances

Next, checking for the standard of appliances, stainless steel should always be top of the list. Are there laundry washers and dryers in the unit? If you don't like spending your weekend at the laundrette, checking for this amenity can prevent a big upset further down the line.

Balcony

Finally, does the unit have a balcony? This is a must if you have a pet or if you want a private outdoor space where you can read, relax, or just get some fresh air after a long hard day.

Internet

If you’re planning to also work in the space, high-speed internet is a must. It’s also a factor if you do a lot of high-quality streaming or gaming. Check out which internet providers the building caters to and ensure they will meet your needs and your budget.

2. Transportation, Parking & Storage Amenities

How you travel to and from your residence will also impact the types of amenities you’ll want to look out for, including:

Safe bike storage
Charging stations for electric cars
Access to freeways and public transport
Being close to leisure and dining facilities

Bike Storage

Bike storage can be one of the top frustrations in any condo or loft building. It’s not ideal to leave your bike sitting around in your unit where it might get in the way. Making sure that your building provides safe storage for bikes is a must-have amenity.

Electric Car Charging Stations

If you have an electric car or you’re in the market for one, you’ll need a reliable spot close to home where you can charge it.

What’s more convenient than having charging stations provided by your building? Having this amenity on site can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Access to Freeways & Public Transportation

Whether it’s for work, weekend leisure, or getting to the airport, you might want to ensure your new building is close to easy transit routes by car, bike, or public transport.

Leisure & Dining

No matter how beautiful a building looks on the outside, frustration will quickly build when you realize how far away you are from basic necessities and entertainment such as grocery stores. Make sure your prospective building is situated close to fun and convenience! Look for close proximity to beaches, piers, restaurants, coffee shops, and every convenience that matters to you.

3. Pet-Friendly Amenities

Most would-be owners or tenants don’t know that many condo buildings allow pets. So, if you’ve got a furry friend or you’d like to get one in the near future, make sure that your potential building is pet-friendly before you sign the lease.

Even with a dog park nearby, you may also want to see if there are adequate relief areas close to the building and the area is safe for walking your pooch during the day and at night. The best pet-friendly buildings include amenities such as:

Dog-friendly lobby
Dogs allowed in elevators
Pleasant walking and relief areas nearby

4. Outdoor Amenities

Community amenities outdoors can be great for meeting neighbors, socializing, having picnics, or lying out in the sun with a book on warm summer evenings.

Social Outdoor Areas

The right building can provide fantastic common areas where you and your friends can spend the evening. Lots of apartment buildings provide party rooms, but outdoor socializing is a lot more fun. Look out for features such as:

Outside patio
Barbeque areas (with a BBQ included, of course)
Firepit
Comfortable seating

Outdoor amenities like these mean you’ll always have a safe and enjoyable outdoor space to enjoy alone or to meet friends and neighbors.

Pleasant Outdoor Landscaping & Decoration

The architecture around us can have a huge impact on our mood and quality and life. Make sure you’re coming home to a building that brightens your day by looking out for well-kept outdoor amenities, including:

Landscaped garden/walkways
Courtyard
Water features

Looking for a new space in L.A.? The T Lofts Apartments offer some of L.A.’s finest open-home office lofts with amenities you’ll love. Check out our vacancies and the apartment amenities we offer. If you like what you see, call us today to find out more at 310-876-0150.

Decor Inspiration for Your New Home Office

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:54:42 GMT

If you’ve transitioned to working from home, you’ll know how important it becomes to have a dedicated workspace so you can keep your work life and home life separated as much as possible.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a separate office space in your home, it’s important to take advantage of that and create an office environment where you can concentrate. Not only will you be able to focus better on your work, but you’ll create a better balance when stepping away for a break or shutting down for the day.

So, how can you create a home office that will look stylish and encourage you to sit down at your desk every day? Here are 12 home office ideas to get you started on decorating your new workspace.

1. The Perfect Layout

The first thing you should do is sketch out the perfect layout for the room. You want to make sure that you’ll be positioned with the best lighting and the least number of distractions for maximum efficiency during your work day. This will look different for everyone, depending on the size of the room and your individual preferences.

Some people prefer lots of natural light, for example, which would mean positioning your desk near the window. Others might prefer to make sure they’re facing away from the door of the room so they can better concentrate.

If you’re planning on some new furniture for the room, now would also be a good time to take some measurements so you know what you’re working with. This is especially important in terms of adding new furniture to a small space so you can leave room to maneuver.

2. New Wallpaper or Paint

You might be looking at converting a spare guest room into your home office. If that’s the case, it’s likely that the room could do with a little sprucing up.

Start with your walls and decide if they’re in need of a lick of paint. This is one of the easiest home office ideas for brightening up a room, and you can choose a soothing color to promote focus and concentration or a pop of color to add some sparkle.

Alternatively, you might like a bright patterned wallpaper on an accent wall to individualize it more to your tastes. Creating a stylish home office this way will have you jumping out of bed and into your workspace with a lot more enthusiasm.

3. Comfy Desk Chair

Despite your best efforts, it’s easy to start working longer hours once you’re working from home. It’s also worth noting that not many people have a ready-made ergonomic workspace available in their home when transitioning to remote work.

However, since you’ll be spending hours at a time sitting in your home office, a comfortable desk chair is absolutely essential. Shop around online for a style that you like while also trying to make sure it will be good for your back and posture. You’ll find there are lots of desk chairs available for very reasonable prices too.

4. Organization Pieces

One of the most budget-friendly home office ideas is to purchase some organization pieces to keep your desk free of clutter. Having files and sticky notes piled up around you is not ideal, so look around for some home office organization pieces.

This could be as simple as stackable mail trays in bright colors to keep any papers you need organized and tucked away. Add in a pencil holder and a bulletin board for your calendar and schedules, and you’ll soon be clutter-free.

If you’ve got the space, it’s also well worth considering adding in some drawers, shelves, or a filing cabinet.

5. Houseplants

It can be difficult to make time to get out into nature when you’re working from home, even if it’s just for a walk around the block.

Houseplants are available for all budgets and tastes, and they can really brighten up your home office, especially if you pair them with stylish plant pots. If you don’t exactly have a green thumb, then stick to your strengths with a low-maintenance option such as a small cactus or philodendron. However, you might find that learning to tend to a couple of houseplants is also a great home project.

6. New Floor Rug

Another quick home office idea to spruce up your new workspace is to add in a new floor rug. This is especially useful if you don’t have a separate room for your home office and are creating more of an office nook. A floor rug is a good way to divide up the space and add a cozy touch to your desk area.

Again, it doesn’t need to break the bank. There are lots of low-cost rugs available, and the huge variety of colors, patterns, and sizes means there is something for every taste and space. Head over to websites like IKEA or the Home Depot to see what they have on offer.

7. Technology Accessories

Items such as your monitor might need to stay in one place, but your laptop and cables can easily be stored away in the drawers of a new desk or tucked away on a shelf. Plus, you can always add some other technology accessories to individualize your workspace to your taste, such as:

●   Patterned cordless mouse
●   Mouse pad
●   Electrical cable organizer sleeves
●   Laptop covers
●   Cordless phone chargers
●   USB coffee warmer
●   Cell phone holder
●   Stylish Bluetooth headphones

Since your technology and accessories are likely to live in your home office full-time, they are important accents to your overall home decor.

8. Desk Lamp

The right desk lamp can be the perfect finishing touch to your overall home office aesthetic. From sleek white cordless lamps to funkier colors and patterns, it’s another home office idea that can help to make the space truly your own. The other good news is that it’s another piece that is super budget-friendly if you’re looking for more of a mini-makeover than a full-blown revamp of your home office.

9. Bookshelves

Bookshelves are a great addition to any room. You can take your pick in terms of the type and color of the wood, and they can help make sure the room doesn’t feel too bare. The real advantage of bookshelves is what you put on them.

One of the better home office ideas out there is leveraging bookshelves to create a nice background for your video calls. You can add some of your favorite books, a scented candle, and a small houseplant for the perfect professional background for video calls with colleagues.

10. New Curtains

If you’ve got a window in your home office, new curtains or shades are not only a nice touch but could save you from being blinded by the sun at certain points in the day. Curtains or shades for the window are another item on this list that can be as cheap or expensive as you make it, especially if you already have a curtain rail mounted on the wall.

11. Standing Desk

Many people who work from home report that they end up spending more time sitting at their computer than they would when working from an office. While this is great for productivity, it’s not so great for your back or for your blood circulation. A standing desk is a great solution, and they come in really modern styles that make a beautiful addition to the aesthetic of the room.

12. Scent Diffuser

Although it’s important that your home office is decorated in a way that makes it easy to concentrate, it’s also important that it’s a relaxing environment. Messy, cluttered, or dark spaces can make it more difficult to focus and can be anxiety-inducing. Try adding some accessories that promote a calm mood in your workspace.

Scent diffusers are a great way to keep the room fresh and pleasant, especially when you walk in first thing in the morning. They’ll also make a nice accessory on your desk or bookshelves.

The Final Word

Everyone deserves to create a home office that works for them. Whether you’re working with a small budget or a small space or have lots of resources at your disposal, it’s surprisingly easy to completely change the mood and feel of your workspace with just a few of the home office ideas on this list. The key is to choose an aesthetic you like and prioritize whatever is most important to you, whether that’s a soothing tone, comfort, or maximum organization and efficiency. You’ll be more than happy to spend your day in your new home office!

If you’re looking for a live-work space in L.A., don’t forget to check out vacancies of The T Lofts Apartments on our website or give us a call at (310) 876-0150. You can choose from studios to 1-bedroom or 2-bedroom lofts and receive a Visa card to decorate your new home office on approved credit. Your new home—and life—awaits!

What to Look For in a Live-Work Unit

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 16:39:11 GMT

Whether you were already working remotely from your living room or you’ve only recently transitioned into it, you’ve probably realized that it can have its drawbacks as well as benefits. This is especially true if you’re living (and working) in a loft or apartment.

The key is to ensure that your live-work loft space is set up to make sure you can keep a healthy balance between your business and your home life. Here are some things to look out for if you want to rent a live-work loft in Los Angeles.

1. A Patio

When you rent a live-work space, it can be easy to get so caught up in your work that time speeds by and you haven’t been outside all day.

So, when looking to rent a live-work loft in Los Angeles, look out for those with a patio so you can easily take five minutes to enjoy the fresh air.

Patios are also handy for a little extra storage space if you have a bike so it’s not taking up space in your loft.

2. In-Unit Washer and Dryer

When you live and work in the same space, household tasks tend to get done in a more ad-hoc way throughout the day. In fact, it’s one of the benefits of live-work lofts: more time to get chores done instead of having them waiting for you when you get back from the office.

When your washer and dryer is right there, it takes away the need to spend time at a laundrette or down the hall in a laundry room. Plus, it can help save on laundry costs.

1. Fully Functional Kitchen Space

Another reason that a live-work space can be such a big time and money saver is spending less money on eating out for breakfast and lunch during the week. All you have to do is head to the kitchen to cook yourself something at home.

With that in mind, try to look out for kitchens with all the modern appliances you need when looking to rent a live-work loft in Los Angeles.

2. Good Infrastructure

Take some time to consider exactly what you’ll need to conduct business effectively in your live-work space. A good example is internet connectivity. If you're going to rent a live-work loft in Los Angeles, make sure the area is known for decent internet connections and reliable Wi-Fi.

3. Lively Locality

Think about what you would look for in an office location and in a home location and apply those same requirements to your live-work unit.

You’ll be spending the vast majority of your time in the area, so make sure there is lots to do and that it has all the facilities and amenities you like to have close to you. Depending on your preferences, that could include a nearby park, gym facilities, or a decent nightlife scene.

4. Room for Separation

Even with an open floor plan like a loft, it’s important to make sure you’ll be able to create a separation and balance between your work area and your home area as much as possible. When you want to switch off after your work day, it can be difficult to do if you blur the lines between where you work and where you relax.

If you’re looking to rent a live-work loft in Los Angeles, check out our open-home office lofts where you’ll love to live, work, and play in some of the best locales available in L.A. Call The T Loft Apartments today at 310-876-0150 to set up an appointment or check out our vacancies at tloftapartments.com .