The "Big" Loft That Inspired My Love For Loft Living

 If you were alive in the 80’s, chances are you know and love the 1988 movie "Big" starring Tom Hanks. If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, it was a classic coming-of-age story about a 13 year old young boy who makes a wish to be big, and then wakes up the next morning as an adult to find that his wish has come true. One of the most memorable scenes from the movie was when Hanks' character, Josh Baskin, first sees his new apartment - a spacious loft in Manhattan.

The loft was perfect for Josh’s juxtaposition as a child in an adult’s body as it was big, open, and full of fun possibilities. The exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and large windows gave the space a sense of grownup urban-chic, while the pinball machine and iconic trampoline maintained a level of childlike playfulness.

As an 8-year-old I was instantly fascinated with the loft in "Big." Growing up in cookie-cutter suburbia, I was immediately drawn to its open layout, unique industrial features and endless creative possibilities. I knew that one day I wanted to live in a space like that. 

25 years later, I finally got my chance to live the California loft lifestyle when I moved into a downtown Santa Ana loft in Artist Village. My loft had some of the same design open concept features as the penthouse in "Big," but it also had its own unique attributes such as a glass stairwell and a custom oversized wooden bookshelf.

Living in my downtown loft was an amazing experience. I loved the flexible floorplan and the high ceilings within the space but also all my home had to offer outside its walls. I enjoyed the fact that my loft was located in the heart of the city, so I was always within walking distance to everything I needed or places I wanted to go. In addition to convenience, the neighborhood also provided a sense of community for all the creative, artsy and entrepreneurial types of people who inhabited the lofts. The community featured a ton of events like farmer’s markets, art walks and live music which added to the enjoyment of loft living.

In addition to providing a vibrant lifestyle, my loft also proved to be a solid investment. Like most lofts, my condo was located within an upcoming area of the city and as the community grew, so did my equity. In four years of ownership my loft appreciated by over 20%. I was able to take the proceeds from the sale of that loft and move into a bigger, stylish live/work condo in Costa Mesa, which is another upcoming neighborhood. In just a little over two years my new loft has already appreciated over $200,000 and has a high ceiling for additional value.

To recap, here are some of the reasons why I love urban lofts:

• They offer an open and flexible floor plan.

• They have high Walk Scores, typically located near restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

• They offer a great sense of community, and oftentimes host creative community events such as art walks.

• They are typically a great option for first time home buyers as they typically offer strong appreciation 

By the way, if you’re wondering whatever happened to The Soho Loft located at 85 Grand Street from the movie Big – it was recently on the market in 2017 and sold for $9.75 million. The buyer was “Lip Sync Battle” executive producer Casey Patterson. The loft boasting 14-foot ceilings and 18 windows was renovated prior to the sale by architect Andrew Berman who gave it an open layout and an updated kitchen.

Whether you've been dreaming of living in a loft since you were 8 like me, or you just recently came to appreciate loft living, CaliforniaLofts can help you find your new digs. Start your loft search here today!