Bringing Industry Home

Gone are the days of industrial living being the obligatory result of the conversion of dark, inner-city warehouses. Industrial design has become a style in it’s own right, with more homeowners taking on considerable renovation projects to craft their home in their own unique style.

With the ability to achieve much more from a property than ever before, people are drawing inspiration from raw and rustic industrial elements to create living spaces that fulfil their need for an appealing fusion of open space, unfinished interior finishes and structural elements, and a modern creativity that echoes their personality.

When it comes to creating the industrial look in your home there are a few key principals to work with, and understanding how they work together gives you the recipe to achieve an industrial warehouse look that will carry itself tastefully for years to come.

Finishes
Concrete, tile, exposed brick, wooden beams, and anything that emanates mechanics and manufacturing are perfect finishes to use when creating your look. Using large format tiles for floors creates a sense of depth and space, and exposed brick walls add to the dimensions of the space by carrying the eye from floor to ceiling like an uninterrupted vista. Work with the beauty of imperfection or the rigid cleanliness of sharp lines and smooth surfaces. You can go either way. Introduce wooden features such as reclaimed barn doors with metal castors, tall, raw-look windows, and open, metal staircases. Or concrete floors polished to a high-gloss finish paired with a sleek, metal kitchen bench and industrial seating. Whichever style you choose, be consistent and think of each main element as a strategic design focal point.

Kitchen
It’s said that the kitchen is the soul of a home, but a kitchen without soul will quickly become a room you’d rather not spend time in. Kitchen’s are a great space to get really creative. They needn’t follow the rules of bland bench tops and cabinetry, and it’s easy to create a functional kitchen that remains on style with the rest of your industrial-themed home. Consider opening your kitchen up to the rest of your house by eliminating the walls that confine it, and incorporate features such as stainless steel bench tops, industrial shelving, open cabinets with exposed kitchenware, a freestanding cooker, almost commercial in nature. Add in subway tiles or exposed brick from bench to ceiling, and low hanging pendant lights to add just the right amount of atmosphere. TileCloud’s Newport matt Small Subway tile in white with contrasting grout looks amazing in an industrial-inspired kitchen.

Soft Furnishings
When it comes to furnishings, you’re spoilt for choice. There’s been an influx of furniture and furnishing manufacturers embracing industrial styles. Simple designs that reflect the art of their creation. Style bedrooms with canopy-framed beds, monochromatic lighting, and ceiling to floor drapes. Warm the room with a floor rug that accentuates a themed colour element, or keep it simple and neutral. Freestanding work lamps lend themselves nicely to living areas, as do vintage wooden or metal trunks that can be used as storage or casual seating. Warehouse shelving works well, too, as it permits the main focal features of the room to coexist while remaining functional for living. Dress vintage or modern sofas and armchairs with cushions and throws in strong themed colours, and add colour with wall hangings that match the scale and size of their position. Layered against the industrial backdrop, bold colours bring a lively element to the design, and plants such as succulents add a natural aesthetic that marries wonderfully with any natural construction materials. Consider tying your theme colour to a subtle stand-out in your main finishes.

Exterior
Your exterior is just as important as your interior, and first impressions mean a great deal. Continue your style outdoors by tying in the same main elements that you’ve used inside. For example, if exposed brick and raw timber are prominent features indoors, continue this theme by cladding your exterior with unwashed brickwork and a repurposed barn door for your main entry. There are many materials you can look to when presenting the exterior of your home to the world; zincalume, timber, or concrete cladding are just some. Depending on the size of your home, these can all be really easy, cost effective, and maintenance-light ways to dress your exterior so that it carries your industrial look outdoors. Wide doorways opening out to entertaining areas with beamed roofing and comfortable seating. Iron railings and wooden steps keep things simple yet organised, and black windows camouflage against their backdrops with ease, yet stand out enough to serve their purpose and frame large open windows. A tiled entrance is a great way to create a seamless flow from outside to inside. TileCloud’s Windsor grey concrete look tile can be used both outdoors and indoors, and is a terrific way to connect both spaces.