Main Project Inspiration – New York City Loft

Inspiration

For my final project I want to create something that fits my personal aesthetic but is also a useful item, therefore I settled on making a clothing rack to store clothes. I’m very passionate about clothes and currently don’t have a proper way to store all of them. I mainly want the rack to fit the aesthetic of my current bedroom, but be adaptable enough for me to bring it to wherever I will live after college. Before diving into this project, I sought inspiration from a wide array of visual and stylistic sources to help shape the aesthetic direction I wanted to pursue. My vision was rooted in the idea of blending urban and vintage elements—a juxtaposition that reflects both raw industrial energy and the charm of timeworn character. Specifically, I was drawn to the gritty elegance of the New York loft style: exposed materials, clean lines, and a sense of purposeful imperfection. This became the foundation for the clothing rack I set out to design.

Pinterest quickly became one of my primary tools for gathering ideas. Its highly visual interface allowed me to explore countless variations of furniture pieces, layouts, textures, and color schemes. I focused my research using targeted keywords such as “New York City Loft”, “urban furniture,” “vintage bedroom,” and “men’s industrial room decor.” These search terms opened up a rich collection of design inspiration, ranging from raw metal shelving units to handcrafted wooden racks with worn finishes. Each image I encountered helped me refine my concept, nudging me toward a clearer understanding of the materials, proportions, and atmosphere I wanted to convey through my work.

Among the many examples I came across, one particular piece stood out—a minimalist clothing rack constructed from sleek black metal piping. It closely aligned with my initial idea, evoking the industrial style I admired, but with a slightly more polished and sterile appearance than what I was after. While I appreciated its clean construction and practical functionality, I felt it lacked the warmth and character I wanted to bring into my space. It served as a useful reference point, nonetheless, prompting me to think critically about how I could balance form and function while really capturing the imperfections of living in a city.

Plans

Ultimately, I settled on making the clothing rack predominantly out of steel pipe to create a sturdy frame for the clothes. However, I want the piece to have multiple points of functionality, including a wire basket at the bottom to store folded sweaters, or potentially shoes. I also want an area for shelves as a part of the rack so that I can display knick-knacks and add more character to the piece. I would like the shelves to be made out of wood, which I will likely stain to a darker color because I believe that would match my aesthetic better. After doing research and sketching out my plans, I’m starting to get very excited to start my project and deal with whatever challenges I will face. Below is an image of my initial sketch.