Moving Into a New Space

Last April I moved to downtown Little Rock in what is called SoMa, or South Main area.  I was fortunate to find a great old building that had been converted to loft apartments in 2001.  The building was constructed in 1904 and was Little Rock High School until Central High was built in 1927.  It was known as Eastside Junior High until 1966 and then was used by the school district for various purposes after that, but was largely empty until 2001. 

I moved into a 4th floor one bedroom loft and was quickly at home.  The history of the building and the area was what I enjoyed the most about it, but the hardwood floors, huge windows, and high ceilings gave it great style.  The SoMa neighborhood has been in the process of a fantastic re-birth with new businesses opening, people moving in, and the crime that so plagued the area moving out.  It is close to 630, a main traffic artery in Little Rock, so it is easy to get around but yet SoMa retains the feel of small town Main Street that people love it for. 

Here some images of that one bedroom that started my new chapter in SoMa.  I have chosen to show images of it empty so it is easier to compare it to the new space...blank canvass to blank canvass.

So everything is perfect but my space seemed to get smaller as my life became more vibrant.  The one closet I had was no longer enough space and the kitchen shrunk.  Also as I began to do more photography projects I realized I lacked space for that too.  One day recently I happened to run into my landlords Mark Brown and Jill Judy at The Root Café having breakfast and they shared with me as they always did that there was a new space coming open soon on the first floor since I was always a huge promoter of my building.  A huge two bedroom?  Wouldn't hurt to go check it out since I always enjoyed looking at the lofts as they were remodeled.  What I was struck by was that it was so large and open in the living/kitchen/dinning space, it had a great foyer and hallway, two bedrooms with doors, plenty of cabinets and closets, and one full bath and one half bath.  But did I really want to move?  How could I not?  The entire process of telling them I wanted it, packing, and moving took about 10 days.  Whew!

I am moved in but still unpacking and finding homes for things, as well as trying to decide on what the space wants, and where the art should go.  I like to get out of boxes as soon as I can but it seems like the decorating takes a bit longer because you have to feel the space out.  It was of course a logical topic for this post and I look forward to sharing images and updates as things progress.  Over the next two weeks I want to share pieces that I moved and ones that I have gotten especially for the new space.  Once they all find their logical place I will shoot the space and post those images.  So this will be an ongoing piece about finding a new place, moving, sourcing pieces, decorating, and living in that place.  Happy to take you on the journey with me!

For now I want to share, and hope you enjoy, some before images of the new two bedroom so you can get an idea of it in its blank canvass mode.

The living area with open kitchen.  Instead of hardwood it has original tile floors with patches of stained concrete where old repairs had been made.

This bedroom will be the office and workspace.  It also has the half bath attached.

The alcove is going to be a great spot for a desk and storage

Instead of a tub this one has a walk-in shower and I love the floors

The smaller bedroom is going to be my bedroom.  I like the cozy size and it is across the hall from the full bath.

The foyer is a mix of plaster walls, block, and sheetrock.

The foyer/hallway is going to be a great area for art and it makes the space feel more like a condo or house rather than a loft.  Call me crazy but I like more definite spaces.

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  All of these images are courtesy of Brian Kelley/Imagine Photography/Brian's Style Guide and are protected by copyright law. None of these images may be used, edited, reproduced, transferred, published or distributed in any form or by any means whatsoever without prior written permission.