Jeff Schaffrick’s loft used to be a lumber warehouse in the early 1900s. Now, it’s an open space where he lives, works and hosts parties, including visitors for the Oct. 10 Castleberry Hill Loft Tour.
“For entertaining, it’s perfect,” he says. “We can use all three or four levels … if you count the rooftop terrace as another level. There will be people on every level.”
Schaffrick made some tweaks to the industrial space, with entertaining in mind, when he moved from Cobb County to Castleberry Hill. The intown Atlanta neighborhood, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has early 20th-century warehouses turned into residential lofts.
In the open kitchen, Schaffrick commissioned metal artist Derrick Spivey to create the curved bar, made of brushed steel with the word “Indulge” carved into the bar front. The stainless steel top juts in and out, over a collection of metal bar stools and contemporary red swivel stools.
“We didn’t want to just have a cookie-cutter bar top,” Schaffrick said.
Snapshot
Resident: Jeff Schaffrick, who works in software development
Location: Atlanta's Castleberry Hill neighborhood
Size: 2,500 square feet, two bedrooms, two baths
Year built/bought: 1905/2004
Architectural style: Industrial loft
Favorite architectural elements: Original brick walls, exposed beams, 33-foot ceilings, a steel spiral staircase and unusual angles. For example, the gallery hallway narrows as it approaches the front door, and the stairwell widens from floors one to two.
Design consultants: CSI Kitchen and Bath; Derrick Spivey/Spivey's Creations
Renovations: New designer kitchen with custom Leicht cabinetry, quartz counters, glass back splash and the 20-foot stainless steel bar. Bamboo flooring added to the second and third levels.
Interior design style: Contemporary
Favorite interior design elements: Splashes of vibrant color through artwork, album covers and furniture.
Favorite piece of furniture: A white leather contemporary sofa, which has convertible arms and back rests that allow it to function as a sofa, lounge or even a bed.
Favorite collections: Schaffrick's '70s and '80s vinyl record collection. The albums — 161 of them — are displayed on one side of a 25-foot hallway that leads from the front entrance to the main living space, with contemporary art on the other wall.
Favorite outdoor elements: The rooftop terrace (technically a fourth level) offers skyline views. "It's a great area to look at the skyline at night," he said. In addition, the ground-floor private courtyard has a custom fountain and sitting area that rests upon an original steel warehouse door. The whole area can be open to the main living space, via a roll-up garage door and set of French doors. "In the spring and fall, I have the French doors and garage door open pretty much all the time," he said.
Resources: Most furniture from By Design Furniture, which has locations in Midtown Atlanta and Norcross.
See the photo gallery of the Castleberry Hill loft here.
