My Houzz: Pittsburgh Loft Living Gets a Hit of Artful Eclectic Style
Abundant art and carefully curated vintage furnishings make an open loft personable and warm
Pittsburgh native Stacy Weiss, owner of furniture retailer Weisshouse, had just sold her renovated house when she came across a converted loft space in the ultrahip neighborhood of Shadyside. "I was looking for a rental while trying to find something new to renovate," she explains. This open space with tall ceilings and whitewashed bricks checked off everything on her wish list and allowed her to carry over everything from her previous home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stacy Weiss
Location: Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Size: 1,500 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stacy Weiss
Location: Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Size: 1,500 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Oversize accessories, like this aptly named Grande Hand Bowl by Global Views, suit the expansive volume of the loft, while soft green botanicals ground the coffee table arrangement.
An intimate dining area is just off the living room. While Weiss has many favorite places where she shops for her home, she benefits from firsthand exposure to great finds. The vintage Dakota Jackson dining chairs were originally purchased for the store, but she loved them so much, she decided to keep them. Its wood-and-rod composition complements the form of the Eero Saarinen Tulip Table.
While a common challenge of loft living is creating an inviting environment, Weiss met this obstacle head on. "You really have to put lots of pieces in place so it doesn't seem cold," she states.
Rather than working with a wish list of items and furnishings, Weiss takes a more emotive approach to choosing what she brings home. By loving every piece that she buys and then finding a place for it, she has created a relaxed environment where just about everything has a story.
For example, Weiss' parents bought the leather chair and ottoman in the '70s. "I was young, and I thought it was so ugly," Weiss shares. "Eventually I fell in love with it." She inherited the set about 10 years ago and still hasn't lost appreciation for it.
Rather than working with a wish list of items and furnishings, Weiss takes a more emotive approach to choosing what she brings home. By loving every piece that she buys and then finding a place for it, she has created a relaxed environment where just about everything has a story.
For example, Weiss' parents bought the leather chair and ottoman in the '70s. "I was young, and I thought it was so ugly," Weiss shares. "Eventually I fell in love with it." She inherited the set about 10 years ago and still hasn't lost appreciation for it.
An avid collector, Weiss displays items in groups often unified by a common subject, like female figures.
By creating areas within an open plan, Weiss made the most of the 1,500 square feet. A vintage Turkish rug defines the seating area and creates a comfortable spot where she can relax or entertain. The series of self portraits by an artist named Liptiez, painted over a 20-year period, creates a contemplative backdrop.
Lamp: Noguchi Akari Floor Lamp, Weisshouse; armchairs: B&B Italia, Weisshouse
Lamp: Noguchi Akari Floor Lamp, Weisshouse; armchairs: B&B Italia, Weisshouse
Industrial meets vintage in the guest bedroom with this Speedrail bed from Area.
Maintaining consistency with the rest of the loft, Weiss brings the walls to life with vibrant and compelling art. The large-scale paintings balance the room's proportions and create movement among the furnishings.
Maintaining consistency with the rest of the loft, Weiss brings the walls to life with vibrant and compelling art. The large-scale paintings balance the room's proportions and create movement among the furnishings.
A great feature to the loft is a wall dividing the guest room from the main living space. Being open across the top means that natural light from the living area pours over the wall into the otherwise windowless room.
Much of Weiss' art collection comes from artists she knows or has worked with, and in many cases they are represented at Weisshouse. The large-format photograph shown here, by Chris Karavaugh, is a purchase from the local Mendelson Gallery. The scale of the piece stands up to the open volume, while tailored black armchairs and a vintage Karabagh rug round out the area.
Armchairs: Rietveld Chairs, Cassina
Much of Weiss' art collection comes from artists she knows or has worked with, and in many cases they are represented at Weisshouse. The large-format photograph shown here, by Chris Karavaugh, is a purchase from the local Mendelson Gallery. The scale of the piece stands up to the open volume, while tailored black armchairs and a vintage Karabagh rug round out the area.
Armchairs: Rietveld Chairs, Cassina
In the master bedroom, Weiss strikes a balance between serenity and eye-popping color.
As with the rest of the furnishings throughout the loft, Weiss carried these pieces over from her previous home and regrouped them, letting their arrangement be dictated by the new space. "At this stage I am not really looking for anything [new] in particular," she states. "When I respond to something, I usually end up keeping it forever."
Bed: custom by Cisco Brothers, Weisshouse; oversize poster: Ross Vintage Posters
As with the rest of the furnishings throughout the loft, Weiss carried these pieces over from her previous home and regrouped them, letting their arrangement be dictated by the new space. "At this stage I am not really looking for anything [new] in particular," she states. "When I respond to something, I usually end up keeping it forever."
Bed: custom by Cisco Brothers, Weisshouse; oversize poster: Ross Vintage Posters
A bedside table in the master bedroom is adorned with hyacinth clippings in antique chemist bottles. These small natural details counteract the geometry of the vintage mod lamp and contribute to the room's feminine appeal.
A sculptural dress form made by Weiss' ex-husband, artist Karl Mullen, marks the passage into the dressing area. Weiss also represents Mullen at Weisshouse and holds many of his paintings in her private collection.
Although the dressing area is out of the path of natural light, it doesn't lack brightness. Cadmium yellow accents echo from elsewhere in the bedroom, lightening the nook and tying it in with the rest of the space.
Although the dressing area is out of the path of natural light, it doesn't lack brightness. Cadmium yellow accents echo from elsewhere in the bedroom, lightening the nook and tying it in with the rest of the space.
This vintage Broyhill desk serves as a dressing table outside the master bath. Weiss found the chair at Tri-State Antiques, one of her favorite resources for unique items.
Lamp: Nautical Lights, Go Home
Lamp: Nautical Lights, Go Home
A doll gives an otherwise formal wingback chair a playful disposition. "Her name is Funny," Weiss says. She is an exact replica of a doll that Weiss carried as a young child. "I slept with the original into my teens until she disintegrated. My parents found this one at a flea market about 15 years ago," she says. Although Funny came with a relatively high price tag, Weiss' mother convinced her father to buy it anyway. Weiss says, laughing, "She twisted his arm — I think literally!"
In addition to giving the white chair a punch of color, Funny imbues the space with a personal connection that goes beyond careful selection. Reinforcing the sentimental connection is a prized crocheted throw, knitted for Weiss by her daughter.
Wingback chair: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
In addition to giving the white chair a punch of color, Funny imbues the space with a personal connection that goes beyond careful selection. Reinforcing the sentimental connection is a prized crocheted throw, knitted for Weiss by her daughter.
Wingback chair: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Clean lines and white slipcovered seating allow colorful accessories to take visual priority in this bedroom seating area.
Following a friend's suggestion, Weiss uses a painter's easel as a TV stand. This not only makes a statement, but it also allows the television to be placed just about anywhere.
Following a friend's suggestion, Weiss uses a painter's easel as a TV stand. This not only makes a statement, but it also allows the television to be placed just about anywhere.
Sunlight washes over the room through a vast bank of windows. The combination of furnishings offers the practicality of a living room but with privacy that only a bedroom can offer.
Bringing this corner of the room together is a one-of-a-kind rug by Pittsburgh artist Virgil Cantini. Both a painter and a sculptor, Cantini had traveled to Ecuador in 1969 to design a collection of rugs and have them woven. Weiss purchased this one, as well as some of his art, from his estate auction.
Slipcovered chair and sofa: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Bringing this corner of the room together is a one-of-a-kind rug by Pittsburgh artist Virgil Cantini. Both a painter and a sculptor, Cantini had traveled to Ecuador in 1969 to design a collection of rugs and have them woven. Weiss purchased this one, as well as some of his art, from his estate auction.
Slipcovered chair and sofa: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Showing an elegant layering of textures, white coral is displayed on top of a Chinese antique table. Similar tables are sold through Weisshouse; each piece is a handmade original.
Stacy Weiss takes a seat on her favorite spot in the loft. She says of her style, "I have been pretty consistent over time, although my eye has changed." She also credits the designers she works with: "We are always looking for new ideas. It is a very creative environment — it fuels my creative juices."
Weiss got her design start working for her family's business selling blinds. While the business at that time was primarily involved with rugs and window treatments, she has spent the last 30 years expanding the scope of it as a destination for new and vintage high-end furnishings, kitchens and sustainably sourced flooring materials.
Now two years later, her carefully curated loft is proof that there are times when bringing your work home definitely has its perks.
Your turn: Share your creative loft with us
Weiss got her design start working for her family's business selling blinds. While the business at that time was primarily involved with rugs and window treatments, she has spent the last 30 years expanding the scope of it as a destination for new and vintage high-end furnishings, kitchens and sustainably sourced flooring materials.
Now two years later, her carefully curated loft is proof that there are times when bringing your work home definitely has its perks.
Your turn: Share your creative loft with us
Weiss took advantage of the vast empty wall by creating a gallery display of art. Spanning the gamut of styles and origins, the pieces are hung asymmetrically, lending an organic feel. While the thought of fitting all of her artwork was initially daunting, this is now Weiss’ favorite spot in her home. “I somehow managed to fit it in and actually add to it from time to time,” she says.
Sofa: Charles Series, B&B Italia