Inside Vanessa Carlton’s Stylish SoHo Loft In A Converted Factory | Open Door

Today Architectural Digest is welcomed downtown by Vanessa Carlton for a tour of her stylish and utilitarian SoHo loft. The one-time mercantile factory retains touches from it’s previous life, with stately brick walls and wooden columns framing rooms softened by deep couches and faux fur throws. Vanessa is passionate about preserving the planet and always seeks to repurpose items while decorating, like the reclaimed wood shelves in her living room or the old theater lights that hang above her kitchen island. And having recently released her sixth studio album “Love Is An Art,” it’s no surprise to find a pair of pianos ready and waiting for when inspiration strikes.
Want even more AD? Subscribe to the magazine and get a free tote ►► bit.ly/2H7oOSG
Still haven’t subscribed to Architectural Digest on KZbin? ►► bit.ly/2zl7s34
ABOUT ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
The leading international design authority, Architectural Digest features articles and videos of the best in architecture, style, culture, travel, and shopping.
Inside Vanessa Carlton’s Stylish SoHo Loft In A Converted Factory | Open Door

[@tammylou3539]

She finally made her way downtown!

[@anasandoval6698]

Ha!

[@robyndismon394]

Brilliant response. Are u a writer. If not u should be!😅🎇

[@ariafalco]

UR A GENIUS

[@sweetpotato8201]

oh God😆😂

[@therushindoll]

😂😂😂

[@hasitdawnedonyou]

I live in Europe and I don’t understand why people are saying this place looks empty? This place looks peaceful, not messy, and really nice. I’m happy for her

[@donnapeterson1945]

Agreed, I recently downsized from a big two story to a small ranch. No mortgage, got rid of over half our stuff. Decorating is minimal and do not feel the need to cover every inch with something.

[@hasitdawnedonyou]

@@donnapeterson1945 that's amazing, I'm happy for you. We should all live with things we love and live with less. This way we can balance our happiness and live more sustainably too 😊

[@Eli_B3000]

Empty in the sense that there is nothing in most of the drawers and cabinets (and closet) she opened, it's as if nobody lives there. I'm sure this is a second (or third) house for when they are in NYC, so that's understandable that most of their things would be at their main home.

[@fleurvnrcisse]

pls it looks simple but so chill- i want this kind of place-

[@Itsacamlife]

@@Eli_B3000 yes I was thinking that too! I understand being simple and just having less but it was empty..she has a daughter and you don’t see anything that are part of the house like toys or stuff that makes a home so I’m thinking like you...this must be her second home and I think she might lives in the Hampton??

[@angelaremetio6094]

It's a Vannesa Carlton kinda day for me. Saw her short documentary in Vice and checked her Instagram and now this after watching it. And all I can say is, she's really someone who doesn't want to be boxed, she went on to create something more meaningful despite what Hollywood calls success is. She's really creative, happy and I love her taste! ❤️

[@Raptormonkey]

She looks sad and lonely

[@strawberrygelato5741]

OMG same!

[@BTgla]

I watched the documentary as well!! Then this video was recommended to me.

[@lullabysanton2241]

Same here.. came from vice

[@swolleneyes]

+1

[@RyanStorey1231]

For those wondering why this place is so empty, I'll explain as a longtime fan: So she's owned this apartment since 2005. She gave a very similar tour of it on MTV Cribs back in 2006. However, she moved out once she got married in 2013 and bought a house in Nashville. But she still kept this apartment for whenever she visited New York, and she even still rents it out sometimes. But I think she and her family are staying here again temporarily because she posted something on Instagram that suggested that they had recently sold their house in Nashville and were looking to buy a new house.

[@WomanOnTopOnline]

She said in the video she was ‘single moming’, so perhaps she lived in Nashville and moved to NYC when she became single?

[@RyanStorey1231]

Aisha in United Kingdom - Nah, she's still married. Her husband's on her Instagram all the time. I think the single mom comment was a joke. Her husband must have been out of town or working somewhere. She's married to the lead singer of the indie-folk band Deer Tick.

[@jam4448]

What has she been up to since her hit song back then? I'm a fan of her back then but I've never really kept up to date.

[@RyanStorey1231]

Jam - Well, the first album was a huge success. The next two not so much. Her second album Harmonium was much darker and was produced by her then-boyfriend Stephan Jenkins, the lead singer of Third Eyed Blind. The album flopped hard, though I think it's one of her best albums. After her third album also flopped and went through a terrible breakup, she left her label and contemplated leaving music entirely and getting into scoring (composing for film and TV). But she found her footing again when she went to England to make the record she always wanted to make, "Rabbits on the Run". She released it independently in 2011 and financed the production herself. It was a departure from the polished piano-pop tunes that she was known for and went for a more rustic indie folk sound combined with her amazing piano compositions. After that, she got married, suffered a miscarriage via ectopic pregnancy, had a daughter, then released her next album Liberman in 2015 - which had more of an electronic influence. She finally released her sixth album "Love Is An Art" this year to critical acclaim. The song "Miner's Canary" off that album is amazing. She still has a small but dedicated fan base, and she managed to get a lot of mileage out of having only one hit song. She's one of my favorite artists and she's really under appreciated both as a songwriter and as a pianist. I truly think she is one of the most gifted pianists of our time. She's worth checking out if you're into more low-key female singer-songwriters. But don't go in expecting any of her songs to be like A Thousand Miles because that's not indicative of her sound at all. In fact, she clearly can't stand it because she wrote it when she was 16 and has no emotional connection to it anymore.

[@VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM]

I don't think anyone would joke about being a single mom. Seems to make sense that they probably separated and sold the house and she's living alone in the loft now. They may get along and spend some time together especially with the kid together and for the sake of the kid. Not everyone breaks up like a nuke went off. Perhaps they are trying to make it work still but are separated. Who knows, but certainly nobody jokes about being a single mom.

[@SydneyYaeko]

To everyone saying the home doesn't look lived in, I just wanted to mention that Vanessa has been in this loft since at least 2006 when she and the space were featured in MTV Cribs and also 7 years ago on StyleLikeU. I think it's pretty cool that she's kept it all these years! And that it's grown in style with her. I think the reason why it seems so empty is because they either recently redesigned/renovated it or because it's not her main home. She did up until recently have a home in Nashville with her husband and daughter and I'm guessing that is where they spend most of their time since I don't see a lot of her daughter's belongings in this video. She may just use this as a working studio or a place to stay when she is in NYC. Anyway just wanted to throw this all out there for anyone who is interested. I really loved this house tour and the window into Vanessa's current style.

[@henrietta9206]

so is she single-moming or has a Hub....curious..

[@crystalb4178]

@Henrietta I think when she said she is single moming that she meant her husband was out of town because she is married.

[@andremuller8822]

In the story of a thousand miles on vice she said, she moved in with her parents during the pandemic...

[@_rogertaylors_car]

@@andremuller8822 She stayed with her parents cause Nashville doesn't take covid seriously.

[@nastar2749]

She's so artsy and all her stuff seems like they had alot history with them. Vanessa is that kind of girl who is not understand by many. She just lives her own way

[@darlenefoster3379]

I wasn't ready to leave when she kicked us out. I love that space.

[@sugboy]

Kudos to the editor and team for a better cut. Slow and soaking shots. Unlike before very fast with that weird transition. This is better. Keep it up! And yes a gorgeous loft!

[@kelvinalves6979]

Vanessa looks so young and pretty at 40. Also the loft became more beautiful each "makeover". I remember when she shown her apartment on MTV Cribs, back to 2005/06. Lovely.... Love her!

[@ACP.studentoftheworld]

One of the most unique Lofts I've ever seen. The design is gorgeous and the decor is amazing.

[@katiejo1095]

How many have you seen?

[@UlasMT]

you clearly haven't seen many.

[@TheSinglisa]

huh? she needs an interior designer. stat.

[@niwa957]

Right, nobody is living there for a reason. You believe she does?

[@_rogertaylors_car]

@@niwa957 She lives there since 2006, she moved to Nashville cause that's where her husband lives, and this year they moved to Rhode Island, Providence cause Nashville doesn't take covid seriously.

[@nardinadeleon]

I love that all her pieces have stories and are repurposed items. I love her home 😍 these bathrooms are insane!

[@angelwitprblmz]

she is so iconic. her music REMAINS incredible and i loved seeing her home

[@k.w.9601]

Vanessa, the metal circle on the wall in the bedroom, is just a cover for where the heating pipe went into the wall. Its like a fireplace flue...so they put the cover over it to keep the soot from falling into the room! Love your content! Friends in Ireland

[@leendecanck4723]

I was hoping someone would know and post what that thing was. I’m so happy not to be disappointed. Thank you.

[@AlyssaDetroit]

i thought it was a fire bell without the bell 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Jane2856]

This is one of my favourite spaces in this series. It looks so cozy and characterful in her home! I love the antiques and history in the home

[@ahmaddihsann7724]

At the beginning I thought she was gonna play A Thousand Miles looll

[@jam1736]

SAME! 😂

[@duygukuligc3599]

Yes 🤣

[@apoorvkhare1989]

Which song was it?

[@porterhutch]

alas, copy rights!

[@chiaraippoliti]

She’s probtired of playing that. Imagine.

[@FelixALochner]

When she said at 0:12 _"Welcome to New York, the best city in the world"_ -Vanessa Carlton, 2020. I felt that vibe in a architectural way. By the by, her variety of classy, creamy, dark neo-gothic, metallic, woody styles turn her SoHo apartment into a comfortable NYC dream home, I like it.

[@katiejo1095]

You mean her light and dark and metal.....

[@fionachan5112]

I remember when she did MTV Cribs in 2006 with the same apartment, she introduced Victor as her new puppy in the living room. It's so sad to hear he has passed on :( RIP little one.

[@_rogertaylors_car]

yeah

[@user-sf1id2br7i]

Ur a morron honestly

[@jamdonut7692]

@@user-sf1id2br7i You're* the moron

[@passiveagressive4983]

This is my vibe. Simple, low key and classic at the same time

[@makihill]

A Thousand Miles bag still comin in!!

[@chiaraippoliti]

And many other great songs like “White Houses”. Love that song.

[@PastorKemp]

she has a great understanding of light in spaces. love how she plays around with dark colors and their interactions with nature lighting. #goals

[@iwilitu6591]

I’m glad she’s doing well omg

[@Jeanster-fk7ww]

Vanessa Carlton has written so many timeless classics. I wish people appreciated more of her music aside from A thousand miles 🎶. Her songs are amazing ... my favorite album of hers is heroes & thieves.

[@ShantAndrikian]

This loft is so fun and unique!!

[@autumnwhitaker2979]

I LOVE her passion for repurposing.

[@roselynanto5623]

Her loft was so amazing,very clean, and relaxing or cozy like eveyone they talk or describe their things in AD.

[@JessicaNewton1023]

This is my dream space. I feel so connected to her pieces.

[@AliAs.Journal]

She is so cool and I love her place! Something about her face reminds me of Kristen Wiig, just random :D

[@redmondbandy3521]

I knew it wasn't just me

[@MichelleMorera]

Omg Vanessa looks amazing + her home looks so comfy I’m so glad she’s doing well!

[@mikedelgado5901]

She doesn't actually live here, She has a house in Nashville and she rents this loft out

[@MichelleMorera]

@@mikedelgado5901 that’s awesome! Either way, this place stills look super cozy & comfortable lol

[@liamryanwealthrichard3615]

@@mikedelgado5901 Hello , how 're you doing? How're you finessing with the global pandemic over there? I hope you don't mind that I write to you.. I’m a licensed account manager , I promote worthy investment plans, in the likes of Forex, our local digital currencies and also mentor the blockchain technology, ever came across the word forex??

[@beautifulrosemary6565]

I love how she takes joy in simple things like the vanity drawer. 💕

[@itscarlamcd3122]

Gorgeous loft, very well decorated. I love saturated color as well (it’s very calming). I like how she points out the architectural” details that’s just as interesting as your decor choices. 😊

[@sandraregalado6154]

I think this may be one of my favorite NYC House Tours. The space has so much character!..and coupled with her aesthetic touch, she created a gorgeous home!

[@ilovelife3328]

What an amazing spot! Vanessa looks great!

[@Hfhfhcjd]

I love her songs and this place is exactly how I imagine her home style to be through listening to her songs. It’s beautiful.

[@choochd]

She gives me quintessential Millennial, hipster vibes, but with money. I do love Vanessa, she has stayed true to herself and chosen a life that worked for her. And those royalty cheques will probably keep her comfortable for life.

[@MPG-ub5ke]

Ohhh I LOVE her style, all bohemian and a little bit gothic! Like how she repurposes everything from old warehouses etc.

[@littlekingking]

I absolutely love her and her awesome loft. I’ve been a huge fan of her since 2001! Thanks for sharing, VC!

[@mycenth22]

RIP Victor... :( It was a pleasure to see your sweet soul in her videos and through her lyrics... "Got my toes on my pup at the foot of my bed My heart always seems to know" -Nolita Fairytale

[@EboJ13]

Vanessa's home is so beautiful and charming. I really love what was done with the space. That tub! 🤩

[@TheMaiah13]

I love the hominess of this house...the brickwork, breadth of space, the rug colour, everything. Its very cozy, comfy.

[@theillustratedvagabond]

Love love love this whole place! That sofa! And you’re so right about the dimmer in the tub room. Mandatory.

[@Nae641]

For me a house becomes warm and loving is when personal things lying around, otherwise it feels like a showroom, though her personality is very inviting and her plants are very sweet!

[@Carlyon100]

The first words that come to mind are 'inviting big warm hug' to describe this space. It is the combination of natural materials, repurposed furnishings, the unpretentious elegance that lends to the soothing yet inspiring timeless quality of this home

[@seanmcguire7974]

I love when these kinds of places are renovated n repurposed for residential living. Has such a great look

[@21whichiswhich]

Love her home so full of characters and specially those repurposed things plus the plants.

[@derogatory69]

i feel like every episode someone has a dog that recently passed. what is it abt celebs that a pet dies and theyre like “😢😢😢 time to call architectural digest”

[@ForeignWarren]

😂😂😂

[@katiejo1095]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@hahahasck1351]

Omg i noticed that .... Kendall jenner Dakota Johnson liv tyler

[@philippapay4352]

I love her style and taste even when designing with someone else. She has found unique and old things and repurposed them so they can add depth and breadth to her home. It's lovely that she has pieces from places and people she knows or loves. It's a shared, real city home.

[@m.i.n.9000]

I saw this 3 years ago and to this day I perfectly remember this tour ❤ this house is perfect

[@annatube5123]

I didn't want the tour to endddd 😩 love lofts but love her style and aesthetic, its simple yet cozy 💛

[@DeLuxePlace]

Love the way she combined her desires! Lovely Open Door :)

[@MicaRayan]

She herself... look like a gallery curator. LOVE the bohemian atmosphere. She's so eloquent and it shows in her ethereal-thematic song!

[@janice5218]

Love all the textures. Love paint colors. Love for true comfort of the space.

[@jobreland3407]

I've seen a lot of places reviewed but Vanessa Carlton's place is my favorite. It fits my taste like a glove. Fantastic.

[@Caroline-sc2zt]

loved this, harmonium is one of my favorite albums

[@lutherjohnson8205]

I LOVE the exposed brick!

[@adrienbeaudry4077]

She is so humble and yet has a wonderful personality

[@cassandraralph5906]

Very interesting and beautiful home, everything is just plain simple and mostly repurposed, much used and lovingly maintained! A real home! Well done indeed!

[@Styledandorganized]

She’s a genius in so many different ways. The most underrated artist there is. What a musical icon and such a personality. You can tell she knows exactly who she is and what she likes and it’s unlike anyone else. Obsessed with her!

[@NoelleSimone77]

now i am proud of my micro bangs :) anyways, it's so refreshing to see a simple kinda like mixed industrial-ish style with refurbished furnitures and pieces, mnimimalist and so calming

[@liamryanwealthrichard3615]

Hello , how 're you doing? How're you finessing with the global pandemic over there? I hope you don't mind that I write to you.. I’m a licensed account manager , I promote worthy investment plans, in the likes of Forex, our local digital currencies and also mentor the blockchain technology, ever came across the word forex??

[@odd-one-out4409]

So glad she’s doing just fine. Love her style for sure.

[@suginami123]

I love it when someone understands scale size and proportion. No cluture but lots of interesting features including the brickwork and windows. And the views.

[@luizadias8180]

The most beautiful loft I have ever seen OMG

[@dropthatashe]

This looks like where she filmed white houses and I'm loving it.

[@slva811]

Omg I forgot all about that song!!! It was one of my favorites when I was younger. I’m going to listen to it now!

[@_rogertaylors_car]

If anyone's asking what is the song she's playing in 0:02, it's called Blue Pool, it's from her 5th album, Liberman. It's a wonderful song.

[@NamPhuongNguyen]

Wow love her personality and individuality ❤️❤️

[@fishsticks6969]

i like how she didn't wanted to fill the shelves and cupboards or anything like other celebrities do in their houses, just because AD was coming.

[@krysiunia]

AD stages the homes before taping so often the owners don’t even know about some of the decor until they show up for the tour.

[@kalilawatson5094]

Aww shes so great, down to earth, awkward and real. I love the vintage, rustic and repurposed look of her loft. See not everything has to be streamlined and contemporaneity, so much more life of this style and tells a story.

[@ashleyk3602]

I love this apartment so much, and the furniture is perfect for the space.

[@sarahk8758]

ugh such a dream to live in a loft like that here in nyc. i love all the older pieces and her design philosophy. also obsessed with the first bathroom--so serene!

[@arlenehutchinson9259]

Those windows are positively crying out for a window seat 💯

[@claudnerv]

When I have my own home, I'm gonna use her style as reference

[@larissaaleisee6994]

I love her place, I loved how it looked before and I love how it is now.

[@grumpyschnauzer]

I love this space! Awesome job creating a cozy home!

[@kasey1078]

I appreciated her shout-out to Milford PA. I’m glad she doesn’t forget where she came from 😁 I’m from there too

[@konalily]

What a lovely place! A part of me did wish that when she opened a wardrobe or medicine cabinet that it would be filled with things, it felt like she didn’t live there.

[@Sam-hp6ip]

my toughts exactly!

[@RyanStorey1231]

Longtime fan here, allow me to explain. So she's owned this apartment since 2005. She gave a very similar tour of it on MTV Cribs back in 2006. However, she moved out once she got married in 2013 and bought a house in Nashville. But she still kept this apartment for whenever she visited New York, and she even still rents it out sometimes. But I think she and her family are staying here again temporarily because she posted something on Instagram that suggested that they had recently sold their house in Nashville and were looking to buy a new house.

[@konalily]

Thanks for the update :) Awesome to see she’s got mad love from her fans. I could tell she was excited/passionate about these pieces with each room visited.

[@manuliioes]

My favorite apartment in the whole world! Every time I watch this video, I visualize exactly its vibe, I would live quietly there, I love its decoration and aesthetics!🤍

[@Miselayneous]

I loved every single inch of her home - Gorgeous!

[@savingday]

Gotta love that she painted the door black. Remember her lyrics, "I see a red door and I want to paint it black." That was back in 2006!

[@joannaa25]

I’m sorry but those are not her lyrics. Still a cool reference though!

[@dochappy26]

Yeah, that’s 'Paint It Black' by The Rolling Stones. She covered it, but it’s not her song. Good pickup, though.

[@1_viewer]

My dad has that utilitarian stool and counter in his garage. He was career military, in hangars til he retired.

[@MoorishBrooklyn]

Wonderful. Well done, well planned and thoughtful.

[@marzipan58]

This is the first time I see a house where the interiors actually appeal to me.

[@nonsequitur9332]

i love her personality; she's so kooky in the funniest way

[@robertoXCX]

She's got serious Tori Amos energy

[@DarcieGlam]

Really beautiful loft - I love her taste. Great job with the filming, we got to see and take in everything.

[@SnJ316]

I love the feel of this house.

[@scottsmith5557]

She has created a beautiful flat . She should move in .

[@MTMF.london]

@@rmonson5002 The wardrobe from Pennsylvania is empty too and the bookcases are in need of books.

[@phong5475]

The sofa cushions are terrible, color pallete is lacking. This flat is simple not in a good way, it feels unfinished. The brick walls doesn't add much to the space, like you can't let them do all the work, it needs more furniture and decoration pieces. The kitchen looks great though.

[@justlikekay]

Another person commented Vanessa had this space since 2006 but she also has a home in Nashville. Which explains why this doesnt look like it's lived in.

[@alexandra6864]

@@rmonson5002 so now people have to show what they keep in their medicine cabinet for a architectural digest video?

[@innab123]

I was just reading more about her and it looks like this loft is usually available for rent (previously $17k/month and $15.5k right now). “The 40-year-old singer, who bought the unit for $1.82 million in 2004 and has rented it out to tenants on and off since the summer 2014, is spending more time in LA.”

[@hvideos2832]

Personally this isn't my kind of style, but I have to say, it looks beautiful! She's done a great job of it and she seems happy with it! Good on her!

[@WandiLu]

I really love this space. Such a vibe.

[@RigSquad]

Wow I Like her even more now. That’s an impressive and unique place to call home. I love the fact that she points out the texture, repurposing, and the dimmers! Every light should be dimmable IMO ❤️ she also looks amazing what a beautiful talented person love the bangs!

[@annonymous1615]

I feel like this is exactly what I’d expect her home to look like.

[@aakar88]

For everyone who knows her for 1000 Miles check out her other work. She is brilliant.

[@queenraven007]

yes! i love Heroes and Thieves and White Rabbits on the Run, funny how she actually doesn't like A Thousand Miles

[@katiejo1095]

Really?

[@inzaghi4114]

White houses and Nolita Fairytale are other great songs (:

[@agatha559]

Vintage yet modern and amazing I’m so in love with it

[@user-ew9rn2jn7f]

Awesome home! Such an inspiration!!!

[@philmarquez8707]

A simple life with amazing love of music and dance. She's just a normal person just like the rest of us. 💘

[@esikazemese]

"I see a red door and I want to paint it black"

[@_rogertaylors_car]

Nice 😂

[@liamryanwealthrichard3615]

Hello , how 're you doing? How're you finessing with the global pandemic over there? I hope you don't mind that I write to you.. I’m a licensed account manager , I promote worthy investment plans, in the likes of Forex, our local digital currencies and also mentor the blockchain technology, ever came across the word forex??

[@startos26]

This is the most favourite kitchen of mine so far out of architectural digest episodes

[@Biboche23]

beautiful and simple yet comfy. IT really represents her so much i feel. unique in her own way. For everyone who complains about the space being empty she's had this forever for like 15+ yrs and has renovated over the yars but also lives between nashville and nyc since she got married so that explains why not everything is in her loft

[@_rogertaylors_car]

I just remembered Nolita Fairytale, gotta watch it bye

[@mikkosrussos]

It’s pronounced “luh-dite” - just in case anyone was doubting themselves

[@janetipoo]

hahaha thank you! I was wondering 😅

[@katiejo1095]

Thanks to the guy who dosen't get sarcasm 🙃

[@theillustratedvagabond]

Lol, thank you. I’ll cease my language snob google search and just enjoy the rest of the episode now :-)

[@sashac7002]

Hahaha. I was looking for this.

[@minigiant8998]

it's actually pronounced lədˌīt.

[@jad1079]

Love those brick walls. What a great space!

[@patriciaegan7244]

Hi Vanessa, I love your loft! Also, I love your idea about taking pictures of the same thing in sequence and making a moving picture sequence to hang on the wall!

[@aliveasalways]

Vanessa Carlton's entire aesthetics just shines through in this space ❤️❤️