Loft living in Old City

On a sign outside the building, and on the glass doors, an illustration of a woman in a petticoat and large hoopskirt frame nods to the fashion origins of a charming Old City loft building.

Inside, renter Isabel Schloss, 33, cherishes her one-bedroom apartment — “It’s the perfect size for me,” she said — and the community she’s found.

“I love this building because it has so much history and character,” Schloss said. “Not to mention the people who live here, who I’ve loved getting to know and befriend.”

The building sits on Arch Street with shops nearby, and her apartment has a view of the sky and trees outside.

“I especially love the sunshine that comes in through my windows, and whenever there’s fireworks, you can see them right out the window,” said Schloss, who grew up in Bucks County.

She’s lived in the Hoopskirt Factory Lofts for three years, and she loves to frequent neighborhood spots like pet store Anima, cafes like Coffee Zeit and Café Couleur, and vintage shop Snail.

Inside, Schloss’ cheeky loft apartment is filled with self-referential witticisms and shades of pink and green. Her pink Target desk features a pink rolling chair, and a small pink globe sits on its corner.

Her gallery wall is centered on a large, round mirror and graphic pop prints. Statement pillows adorn the couch below. In the kitchen, the appliances are light pink: a heart-shaped pot, a tea kettle.

She even has framed Pantone color blocks printed and hung as a tribute to her signature color; the blush-toned shades are labeled “La Vie En Rose” and “Vice.”

Schloss describes herself as “very maximalist” in her design.

“I like bright colors. There’s not necessarily a rhyme or a reason,” she said. “If I see something that I like, I’m going to get it and find a place for it.”

In the living room, her large, almost-to-ceiling windows look out over the skyline. A brown oversized leather chair with matching footstool sits by the window, often occupied by her Chihuahua, Pumpkin, who wears a pink collar.

The large wooden beams above add original character to the loft. A gold and light pink standing lamp is placed next to her wooden TV stand, and small vases of dried flowers, an orchid, and a Lego flower sit nearby.

The small loft area above the kitchen is mostly used for storage and has a wooden bookshelf below and ladder leading up to it, with a window into the kitchen and a small bar space with two barstools.

The small galley kitchen features a wood ceiling and wood cabinets, giving it the feeling of a ship. Pink appliances brighten up the space. In the bathroom, cheetahs on the shower curtain and other pop art give an irreverent and playful feel.

Schloss is an assistant principal at a charter school in North Philadelphia and previously has worked as a special-education teacher and for Teach for America.

“I love working in schools and with kids,” she said. “But it’s nice being able to come back here and have this be my safe, happy place to turn off my brain.”

Her bedroom, accented by a rich, dark green velvet bed frame, is packed with hanging racks and dressers of clothes, but she makes the small space work.

Leading into the hallway, a large shoe rack displays her collection: “A lot of these are hand-me-downs from my mom. I inherited that love of shoes from her,” she said, pointing out pairs of Valentino and Dolce & Gabana heels, Chanel loafers, and her favorite: Crocs Brooklyn wedges.

“I’m a huge shoe nerd, especially heels,” she said. “Even if I don’t even wear them that often, I like to look at them.”

Much of her eclectic artwork comes from her travels or from her parents’ trips: Prints of birds from a shop in Dublin hang by the window, prints of bugs from her parents’ travels in Italy hang on an interior wall.

She has art prints and sculptural items, like her Staffordshire dogs from U.K. artist Amy Hastings, which she finds on Etsy. Schloss shops vendors like Marshall’s or Society6 but also frequents local flea markets and art markets like the Manayunk Arts Festival.

Her area rug, with colorful wildflowers and insects depicted, is from Rifle Paper Co. Her velvet green Joybird statement couch is accented with pillows from Jonathan Adler, as well as Pumpkin’s toys, like her Chewy Vuitton. She also has an area for crafting near her desk.

“I do a lot of diamond painting,” Schloss said. This involves placing jewels in a paint-by-numbers pattern to create bright, glittery images that she then hangs or gifts.

She keeps adding to her growing gallery wall, so the look will change from month to month and year to year.

“I like collecting things; I like holding onto things; I like my tchotchkes,” she said. “Every item that I have has a little memory attached to it.”

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