What’s every man’s dream, home-wise? An incredible man cave! Luckily Tremauri’s wife, Shellery was excited to create one in their home’s bonus space just for him and their family. 

Loft spaces can be a gift and a curse. Though you’re happy to have the extra square footage, without a specific plan to utilize the space, it can quickly turn into an unintentional storage room or a wasted corner of your home. My client, Shellery sought BLB’s help with decorating their home and wanted to prioritize tackling the upstairs loft first.

When designing a bonus space, here are a few things to keep in mind:

THEME

Shellery had a lot of ideas for decorating the space. She wanted to make sure we included all of Tremauri’s favorite things: The Notorious BIG, JAY Z, NCA&T, UNC and 90s TV shows and movies. After painting the room black setting the mood for the watching movies and games on their new LCD TV, we selected various colorful artwork to frame throughout the room. We’d pull colors out of the infamous photo of Biggie wearing a Coogi sweater. This would be our theme for the space. Even if your loft doesn’t have a specific theme, try to select a look and feel that can guide you when purchasing furnishings and décor and interest you in using the space often.

COMFORT

Nothing makes a lounge-friendly space cozy like comfortable seating. The family already had a leather sectional sofa to put in the loft, but needed some furniture to complement it while not taking up too much space. We found a sleek mid-century modern media cabinet and coffee table, both in black and gold that would elevate the room. We also added several plush throw pillows and a black and white rug with an abstract design that would also modernize the entertainment area while providing additional comfort for those lounging on the sofa and floor.

INTERESTS

Lastly, don’t forget to include items that peak the owner and guests’ interest in the room. In addition to all of the 90s theme artwork, we wanted to ensure the space was multifunctional and meets the needs for every occasion. We added a refrigerator and bar cabinet for entertaining guests as well as weekend wind-downs for the couple. We also added a bookcase and the couple’s Peloton bike to the opposite side of the room to accommodate other activities they’d be using the loft for. Finally, we ensured all the furniture was kid-friendly and kept the floor space clear for days their toddler son, Eli is also using the space for playtime!

Finishing this project back in February couldn’t have been better timing. Soon after, COVID paralyzed everyone’s lives and forced us to work from home and shelter in place. With all the stress of the world happening outside, I’m glad we were able to create a comfortable and inviting space inside for the family to entertain, exercise and relax. Check it out:

I’m so grateful to Shellery and Tremauri for allowing me to help them transform their loft into a multifunctional bonus space for their family, one that meets all of their needs. Who wouldn’t want to hang out here for ESPN College Game Day or a late night Netflix binge? 

For more photos, check out my Portfolio and #ProjectCoogiSweater on Instagram.

Be Blessed,

ACG

Design Deets:

Paint – Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams

Sectional Sofa – Raleigh Discount Furniture

Coffee Table – Kirkland’s

Area Rug – Rugs USA 

Media Cabinet  – Wayfair

Bar Cabinet  – Wayfair

Shelving – HomeGoods

Artwork – Etsy, HomeGoods, Society 6 

Picture Frames – Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Target

Lighting – Wayfair 

Throw Pillows – HomeGoods, Marshalls

Professional Photography – Brandon Grate Photography