Once we realized how differently each of our team members’ homes are, we thought it would be fun to share them! You can catch Victoria’s lake house here. Brooke’s apartment here. A peek into Andi’s kitchen here (we need to do a full tour of her first home soon!). And now, we bring you Derek’s loft! Enjoy!

Welcome to my industrial modern maximalist loft! My name is Derek Cooper and I’m the ProperTee Creative Director. 

When I accepted a position on the Chris Loves Julia team last summer, I knew it was time to start apartment hunting. Little did I know that I would stumble upon this hidden treasure of an apartment. Located in downtown Idaho Falls, this loft is directly above a Chinese restaurant (free whiffs of general tso chicken, yes please) and just a few blocks to the river walk (which hosts a weekly farmers market), I get plenty of downtown vibes, while still living in a relatively smaller town. It’s a win-win for me and my two puppies, Odin and Eames. 

Even though I’ve lived in a new apartment almost every year of my adult life, my style has remained relatively the same. Industrial modern with a hint of maximalism (okay, just load it all on, please!). Now that I live in a loft, I feel even more free to bring out the “industrial” side which has been a super fun change. I love black and mixing new with old and creating layers upon layers of coffee table books and decorative pieces. I also scour Facebook marketplace constantly for my next, one-of-a-kind piece. I’m not afraid to spend good money on things that I really love and know will be universal pieces that I can continue to use for years to come. 

Bookcase, Brass Boxes, Bike, Bike Holder, Mirror

Above is the entryway into my 950-square-foot space. From the moment you walk through the front door, you can start to see a lot of my favorite things on display and hopefully they tell you a bit about who I am as a person and my personality. My friends would describe me as a maximalist and a collector of things and lover of good aesthetics and good scents.

Rug, Flag, Headboard, Bed Frame, Duvet Cover, Shams, Throw Blanket, Nightstands, Sconces

My bedroom is hands down my favorite room. It’s an urban jungle of sorts that I can escape to when needed. It’s also the only room with windows (the only downside to this apartment) hence why a majority of the plants live in here as well. This awesome flag above my bed, serves as a daily reminder to live life for myself and not on other peoples terms. At the end of the day, I’m happiest when I’m 100% myself. 

Leather Lounge Chair, Side Table, Desk, Desk Chair, Terrarium, Disco Ball

Renovated lofts can come with some pretty interesting layouts and weird niches, so I decided to turn these niches into a “living wall” of sorts. With some simple pipe from Home Depot, I built the perfect rack for hanging plants and made this “empty space” have purpose. I also have a large ledge above the built-out closet that ended up being a perfect area for, wait for it, more plants. I’m a happy plant and puppy dad.  Also, I put a disco ball on the floor to bounce sparkles around the room. It makes me smile. 

Plant Shelves, Dresser, Black Planter, Hexagon Pot

These modern shelves were the perfect way to turn the opposite wall into a “gallery wall” of sorts, but with house plants. Don’t worry, not all of these plants are real. Faux plants are sprinkled in to make the whole thing a little more low maintenance–especially up high. They really can look almost as real and can also save you from falling off a ladder and breaking your leg during weekly watering sessions. 

I’m from Oregon originally, so that flag hangs above the shelves in the walkway. I love open shelves like these so I can show off my collection of favorite books and decor pieces. The different sizes of “cubbies” on these shelves make it fun to fit different sized items in each one. I also used black zip ties to keep these two book shelves “connected” for a more level and seamless look. 

Stools, Pots & Pans, Knife Set, Magnetic Knife Holder, Blendtec, Rug, Trash Can, Keruig, Hand Soap, AeroGarden

I love this kitchen and all of its high-end appliances that I didn’t have to pay for. Ha! The kitchen has been a super inspiring space to cook and makes me feel like a “professional” chef surrounded by so much stainless steel. I warmed it up by layering in some beautiful cutting boards, small appliances and other black, wood and brass accents. 

The kitchen is open to the living room, where my real love for layers shines. 

I flood my house with candles and light them every night, and at this point, I pretty much have a monthly budget for candles. It’s my favorite way to give myself some much needed self-care on the daily. TJ Maxx, I’m literally your #1 candle customer.

Rug, Sofa, Throw Pillows, Accent Chairs, Bench, End Table, Candle, Rattan Floor Lamp, Coffee Table, Frame TV, TV Stand, Lockers, Steer Head

This brick wall is begging to be turned into a gallery wall, right?, but until then, my frame tv and other large scale art hangs as a focal point. Also, lockers in an urban loft? Super cliche, I know, but it was the most practical and industrial way to add more storage into my small space.

As a maximalist, I maybe collect too many things, coffee table books being one of them. Before I had this beautiful coffee table, I would stack the top of my coffee table with books, and while I loved the look, it wasn’t functional. This coffee table gave me the same look but with a lot more free space on top. 

Thanks for visiting my loft. I hope you enjoyed the tour! Would love to answer any questions in the comments!

(Psst–My rooftop view is pretty rad. Check out the cutest smiley face up there.)

Sources

Entry: Bookcase, Brass Boxes, Bike, Bike Holder, Mirror

Bedroom: Rug, Flag, Headboard, Bed Frame, Duvet Cover, Shams, Throw Blanket, Nightstands, Sconces, Leather Lounge Chair, Side Table, Desk, Desk Chair, Terrarium, Disco Ball, Plant Shelves, Dresser, Black Planter, Hexagon Pot

Kitchen: Stools, Pots & Pans, Knife Set, Magnetic Knife Holder, Blendtec, Rug, Trash Can, Keruig, Hand Soap, AeroGarden

Living Room: Rug, Sofa, End Table, Throw Pillows, Rattan Floor Lamp, Coffee Table, Accent Chairs, Bench, Frame TV, TV Stand, Lockers, Steer Head