Cool Interior Designs Illustrate The Versatility Of A Mezzanine Floor

The idea of having a mezzanine space seems a bit obscure mostly because the mezzanine area is neither a separate floor like all the others nor a section of an existing floor. It’s somewhere in between and the definition is not exactly clear in terms of dimensions and positioning. So what is a mezzanine anyway? Well, it’s a low storey between two others in a building and although it’s usually placed between the ground and first floors that’s not always the case, hence the occasional confusion. Regardless of all that, mezzanine spaces offer endless design possibilities and we’re ready to show you a few of them right now.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

We’ll start with this loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect. It’s a fine example of just how versatile the whole idea of a mezzanine level can be. In this case, the mezzanine is an outdoor terrace/garden space with a glass roof that offers partial protection while still letting the sunlight through. It’s what a balcony would usually be but on a different (lower) level. The cool thing about this configuration is that this unusual mezzanine balcony remains connected to the living area below and kind of feels like a part of it which makes it quite cozy.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

When you only have 29 square meters of space to work with, you have to make the most out of every little corner. This apartment from Wroclaw, in Poland has everything all figured out. In total it has a floor area of only 29 square meters which is not a lot, not by any standards. To maximize this space, the designers at 3XA gave the apartment a semi-mezzanine, taking advantage of the 3.7 meter high ceiling to create a cozy sleeping area above the hallway and the bathroom.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

Spaces with high ceilings basically invite us to add an intermediate level just so we can maximize the usable space. That space would be the mezzanine and its role can be anything you want. This warehouse loft in San Francisco made its mezzanine into an extra lounge space with a platform full of bookshelves. The space remains open to the living area below and in a way it feels like it too is a part of that open floor plan. This loft was renovated by Edmonds + Lee Architects.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

You might think that adding a mezzanine level to an apartment would make the entire place feel small and cluttered but that’s not exactly true and it’s definitely not true if you give the mezzanine a fishnet floor. This way you’d turn the space into a great chill out area and the fishnet would serve as a sort of hammock. You could come up here to read a book, to take a nap or simply to relax. This home from Thailand designed by Integrated Field can be your source of inspiration.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

Most often than not, mezzanines are used as sleeping areas. The main reason for that is the fact that they’re very cozy due to the low ceiling height. It’s important to figure out the right placement for this space since it usually also implies that the area just below the mezzanine also has a semi-low ceiling. This apartment in Italy designed by Mauro and Matteo Soddu stacked the living and sleeping areas, taking advantage of the fact that they’re both cozy and welcoming.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

Sometimes a mezzanine level simply makes sense. Take this apartment in London for instance. It’s situated inside what used to be a church and its layout and overall design are unusual but not at all impractical or inefficient. Because of the building’s history and architecture, the apartment was designed with high ceilings and that gave the architects the perfect opportunity to squeeze in a surprisingly spacious mezzanine level, big enough to accommodate full bedrooms. This ingenious transformation was done by VORBILD Architecture.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

It’s important to use the height of a space in the best possible way and that doesn’t always mean a maximization of the usable floor space by adding a mezzanine level. Sometimes it’s better to just leave the space open vertically so it can feel airy and so it can be filled with natural light. This apartment in London designed by Darling Associates is a perfect example of how a balanced layout should look like. The apartment has double-height living and dining areas while at the same time featuring a spacious mezzanine floor.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

By introducing a mezzanine floor you get to free up a lot of ground floor space and the entire home can be organized in a completely different way. A very practical option is to leave all the social areas on the ground floor and to put the private ones upstairs. This way there’s a clear distinction between the two zones and the fact that the mezzanine has a low ceiling actually works out great since this area needs to be cozy anyway. This Malibu residence designed by Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados offers a pretty good representation of this distribution of functions.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

Another classic combo when it comes to spatial configurations involving mezzanine floors is displayed here. The kitchen and the bedroom are stacked and that works out well for them since neither requires a high ceiling. Further more, white is the main color and the overall design is minimalist plus the large openings in the living and dining area bring in tons of natural light and open up the whole house to its surroundings.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

There are many different ways to stack spaces and to maximize the functionality of a home by introducing a mezzanine floor. Keep in mind that the mezzanine remains open and semi-connected to the lower level which means there’s no total privacy in either of these areas. In that sense, placing the master bedroom up here might not be ideal. A guest area, on the other hand, could be a more suitable option.{found on Alexmaguire Photography}.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

Of course, the partial lack of privacy on the mezzanine floor is not really an issue when the apartment is so small you can only fit a tiny kitchen and a sofa on the ground floor. The maximization of every little space is crucial in that case. Take this flat for example. It’s small and narrow but also tall enough to accommodate a mezzanine bedroom.{found on coupdeville}.

loft in New York which was designed by Andrew Franz Architect.

The coo thing about mezzanines is that they remain open and they can be a part of the ground floor area while being on a whole different level. To save space you can connect the floors with a slender spiral staircase or even a ladder.