Before and after: Manhattan loft makeover

This space was dark and somber before Vegas made her changes. She used a bright, white paint to lighten everything up, discarded the red textile that draped over the wall and traded the deep-toned carpet for a light gray pile rug.

The lamps look like modernist sculpture, heightening the loft's artistic credentials while maintaining a clean look.

One big change was swapping out the bed for a lower one, which the owner had in his other residence. That, and the lower end tables, "made it feel like there was a little more room," said Vegas

New bed linens gave the room a "fluffy, hotel feel," said added. "Buyers want to feel like they could live here."

NEXT: Baths reborn