The 'Industrial Look'

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Industrial style interiors are not a new concept. Disused factory spaces have been converted into trendy warehouse style apartments,

Especially in New York, London and Manchester, for a very long time indeed. But we’ve seen an increasing demand for this interior trend in the last three years, spawn from our modern day ethos to reuse and upcycle.

The industrial trend allows you to strip back your interior to the bare bones and use what’s already there - a more conservative approach to using the fabric of the building. It’s about showcasing and celebrating the raw elements like exposed wires, beams and bulbs and raw, unfinished surfaces. Muted grey tones are used from mineral white to dark slate, with accents of unfinished materials like concrete, aluminium and metal. →



“It’s about showcasing and celebrating the raw elements”

We’re salvaging the industrial look for 2015, but it goes slightly more upmarket. The addition of innovation and technology gives it a more refined aesthetic. Industrial style pieces still use the raw materials but the manufacturing process means they are more ‘luxe’ than ‘low-spec’. Lowinfo has perfectly crafted concrete into their series of Kast basins and worktops. They’ve taken the tactile qualities inherent to concrete and used contemporary forms to create beautiful pieces like their Fox basin. Another personal favourite is Abate Zanetti’s Caen Lighting Hooks, resembling chain links. Set against dark grey tones and used in repetition, the Caen hooks are a more decadent tribute to the industrial look. Concrete flooring has developed so much that you could mistake it for wooden floorboards. Concreate Flooring has a superb range – the concrete has been poured, pressed and left to cure before being kilned. It is a striking, individual effect with ultra-durable qualities. →



7 Steps to the Industrial Look:
1. Strip the plaster off all or one wall and leave the brick exposed. Easy.
2. Keep furniture and accessories minimalistic and sparse.
3. Install black aluminium window frames.
4. Use concrete flooring. They now come in an incredible choice of colours and finishes.
5. Offset the raw walls and floors with feature items made of metal. Try polished metal worktops, stainless steel shelving or copper light fittings.
6. Use reclaimed tiles to make a feature wall or splash back. Smink Things do an incredible reclaimed tile-look wallpaper called After Lowry.
7. To avoid the scheme becoming too grey, use rose and orange tones to complement and accent this look.