Factory air - industrial structures remodeled into homes - Brief Article

Sunset, Nov, 1996 by Peter O. Whiteley

Retooled for contemporary living, an urban loft shifts gears

Industrial sprinkler systems were once fabricated in the 3,500-square-foot building that Anne and Rob Thomas now call home. Artists have long been attracted to such industrial structures, but now other professionals, like Anne and Rob - who are in public relations and advertising, respectively - are beginning to appreciate the spaciousness, rich texture, ample daylight, and slightly eccentric romance that these buildings offer.

The Thomases' loft is one of two live-work units created in a 60-year-old San Francisco factory. Each unit has two bedrooms, two baths, a single-car garage, and an airy main living space. The remodel celebrates the industrial character of the building by leaving the existing brick walls, wooden beams, and massive steel I-beams exposed while adding complementary elements such as oversize turnbuckles and threaded rods on stair railings, glass-shrouded billboard light fixtures, a commercial space heater, and a split-level floor of acid-stained concrete.

Both lofts have a 24- by 50-foot main space, which combines an open galley kitchen with living and dining areas. Crowning it is a new 8- by 18-foot peaked skylight that serves as the primary source of light. It can roll aside on a roof-mounted track to help ventilate the room on warm days.

The owners' furnishings mix industrial style with a sense of humor. The Thomases' glass-topped dining table rolls on stubby scaffolding. A large television hangs from an automotive block and tackle (visible against the rear wall in the photograph). Massive roll-around planters with palms allow them to reorganize the room for parties.

The design and conversion were done by Martin Building Company of San Francisco.

RELATED ARTICLE: tools

Two new hand tools from Sears will make some household chores a little easier. One is an automatic, self-sizing pair of locking pliers called the Craftsman Professional Auto Lock. You simply position them loosely around a nut, bolt, or pipe, and squeeze until the pliers lock. No extra handles or fine-tuning is required. The pliers are preset to deliver 500 pounds of gripping force, but you can increase or decrease the amount of force. They're available in two configurations: a 7-inch straight jaw ($20) and a 9-inch curved jaw ($25).

Have you ever tried to cut carpeting or thick rope with scissors or a utility knife? It's almost impossible with the former and dangerous with the latter. The Craftsman Professional Utility Cutters let you safely and accurately cut those tough customers, as well as wood trim, leather, vinyl and linoleum flooring, and plastics. The cutters have a razor-sharp blade that contacts a broad plastic anvil. (The blades and anvil are replaceable.)

The cutter comes in two blade sizes: a 2 1/2-inch blade ($20) and a 3 7/8-inch blade ($25). Replacement kits cost $9 and $10, respectively.

RELATED ARTICLE: INDULGENCES

To the manor, barking

"Going to the dogs" often has a negative connotation, but in the case of this stylish dog-house, it means nothing but the best. Norman B. Sandler Architects designed the palatial pooch abode for the annual Tuxes and Tails Celebrity and Pet Fashion Show and Auction, a fund-raising event for the Humane Society of Seattle/King County.

The 3-foot-square, 3 1/2-foot-tall structure took almost a full "dog year" (or about six weeks) to design and build. Loosely based on a classical pavilion, the doghouse sports a number of luxurious amenities, including an Indian hand-knotted rug inset in a granite floor, a removable copper roof, clear-story windows etched with the names of famous canine stars (including Benji, Lassie, Pluto, and Rin Tin Tin), faux-painted marble columns, a lighted interior, and two glass "phideaux" bowls handblown by Sandler. Local businesses donated the building materials.

This year's auction was a tail-wagging success: the doghouse went for $2,000. To learn more about the event, call (206) 641-0080.

the PROBLEM SOLVER

Storage between the studs

How do you take advantage of the free storage space often hidden under gypsum board? A company called InWall Creations has introduced a line of ready-made cabinets and accessories for the do-it-yourselfer to insert between studs. Just find the studs, cut out a rectangle of wallboard sized to your model, insert the unit, and secure it with screws. Made of oak, cherry, or paint-grade hardwood, the cabinets can be ordered unfinished or in natural semigloss stain. For a clean, finished look, use a molding strip to cover the rough edges of the cutout.

Most units are 14 inches wide, so they'll slip between standard wall studs spaced 16 inches on center. (The company also offers 20- and 24-inch-wide models, which require more installation, and an ironing station with a roll-up door.) Prices depend on size, wood, and finish: a 14- by 36-inch model costs $50 in unfinished oak, $70 finished, and $45 in paint-grade hardwood.

For a catalog, send $1 to Box 3699, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.

ART in the WESTERN HOME