10 Kitchens That Got Industrial Style Right
The industrial look is very popular in interior design, but it’s easy to get this style wrong. Here are 10 kitchens that are bang-on trend
Whether it’s a love of concrete, stainless steel, exposed beams, timber features or exposed brick, there are hundreds of ways to create your own industrial-style space within your home. The trick is in the combination of elements used, and finding a balance between those more professional fittings and fixtures, and what a home kitchen needs in order to look fabulous and be functional too.
It’s easy to go overboard and end up with a mismatch of too many features, which all compete with each other and create a visual mess. Take inspiration from these 10 kitchens that have not only got the mix of warm and soft features right, but have also played to the strengths of the space available while catering to the needs of the homeowners using the kitchens every day.
It’s easy to go overboard and end up with a mismatch of too many features, which all compete with each other and create a visual mess. Take inspiration from these 10 kitchens that have not only got the mix of warm and soft features right, but have also played to the strengths of the space available while catering to the needs of the homeowners using the kitchens every day.
2. Light and shade
To soften an industrial look, a whitewash applied over an exposed brick wall adds a brighter visual aesthetic and a richness of texture to a space. In this instance, exposed beams have been stained in a dark tone to complement the rippled white of the walls. This also contrasts with lighter timber veneer cabinetry and crisp, white benchtops.
Homage has been paid to the heritage of the building with the curved door and windows, providing clues to the historical value of the space. This is a great example of how to find a balance between new and old elements to create something special.
To soften an industrial look, a whitewash applied over an exposed brick wall adds a brighter visual aesthetic and a richness of texture to a space. In this instance, exposed beams have been stained in a dark tone to complement the rippled white of the walls. This also contrasts with lighter timber veneer cabinetry and crisp, white benchtops.
Homage has been paid to the heritage of the building with the curved door and windows, providing clues to the historical value of the space. This is a great example of how to find a balance between new and old elements to create something special.
3. Commercial grade
With an abundance of stainless steel creating the shiny, glossy look found most commonly in a commercial cook space, this domestic kitchen really needed something to ground it and create a visual balance to make it suitable for a home. The perfect answer was to install rich timber benchtops in a colour to match the textured, exposed brick wall.
While the stainless steel is typical of a commercial kitchen, the interesting black-and-white tiled floor is a cheeky nod to a chef’s outfit. Clearly, lots of thought was given to how the homeowner could access items inside the cabinets. The solution was to add easy-grip handles, plenty of drawers and open shelving.
With an abundance of stainless steel creating the shiny, glossy look found most commonly in a commercial cook space, this domestic kitchen really needed something to ground it and create a visual balance to make it suitable for a home. The perfect answer was to install rich timber benchtops in a colour to match the textured, exposed brick wall.
While the stainless steel is typical of a commercial kitchen, the interesting black-and-white tiled floor is a cheeky nod to a chef’s outfit. Clearly, lots of thought was given to how the homeowner could access items inside the cabinets. The solution was to add easy-grip handles, plenty of drawers and open shelving.
4. Earthy tones
This kitchen beautifully combines the earthy tones of natural timber on both the floor and the breakfast bar with exposed metal girders and a stunning long wall of deep, glossy cabinetry. The grey marble island benchtop brings a lighter note to the darker tones, while the more rustic elements in the kitchen add to the barn-like feel of the home. Although this kitchen incorporates a wealth of modern appliances, they have been cleverly chosen for their ability to integrate into the complexity of the design.
Essential ingredients for an industrial kitchen
This kitchen beautifully combines the earthy tones of natural timber on both the floor and the breakfast bar with exposed metal girders and a stunning long wall of deep, glossy cabinetry. The grey marble island benchtop brings a lighter note to the darker tones, while the more rustic elements in the kitchen add to the barn-like feel of the home. Although this kitchen incorporates a wealth of modern appliances, they have been cleverly chosen for their ability to integrate into the complexity of the design.
Essential ingredients for an industrial kitchen
5. Contemporary transformation
A former multi-storey car park has been transformed into modern, almost austere-looking, apartments that display an incredibly clean, industrial finish within the interiors. Very little colour is used in the design of this kitchen, and the abundance of stainless steel and concrete, as the two main materials used, ensures that the design conforms to the minimalist industrial aesthetic so obviously preferred.
High ceilings and the use of glass ensure the room is light, bright and airy, and this brings a much-needed spot of warmth into the home as well. The design plays on the use of angles to create interesting visual lines, which work with non-moveable structures, such as support beams, to make them feel as though they are a part of the visual design as much as they are functional.
A former multi-storey car park has been transformed into modern, almost austere-looking, apartments that display an incredibly clean, industrial finish within the interiors. Very little colour is used in the design of this kitchen, and the abundance of stainless steel and concrete, as the two main materials used, ensures that the design conforms to the minimalist industrial aesthetic so obviously preferred.
High ceilings and the use of glass ensure the room is light, bright and airy, and this brings a much-needed spot of warmth into the home as well. The design plays on the use of angles to create interesting visual lines, which work with non-moveable structures, such as support beams, to make them feel as though they are a part of the visual design as much as they are functional.
6. Rich timber grain
Although the cabinetry in this kitchen is characterised by dark timber tones and a sophisticated air, there are industrial touches thanks to a number of elements left exposed. Against the browns and reds of the brick wall sits exposed ducting for the rangehood, which snakes its way along the wall and into the cavity to do its job.
The beams on the ceiling have been stained in a deep tone to make them stand out as a feature. The ‘heaviness’ of the timber, however, is offset by an abundance of natural light, which pervades the space. Note the effectiveness of the simple, open cube pendant light that brings a much-needed quirkiness to this space.
Although the cabinetry in this kitchen is characterised by dark timber tones and a sophisticated air, there are industrial touches thanks to a number of elements left exposed. Against the browns and reds of the brick wall sits exposed ducting for the rangehood, which snakes its way along the wall and into the cavity to do its job.
The beams on the ceiling have been stained in a deep tone to make them stand out as a feature. The ‘heaviness’ of the timber, however, is offset by an abundance of natural light, which pervades the space. Note the effectiveness of the simple, open cube pendant light that brings a much-needed quirkiness to this space.
7. Serious home cook space
Here, commercial-style appliances set the scene for a semi-professional cooking and entertaining environment. A large range cooker in stainless steel features all the mod cons a serious home cook would need in order to cook up a storm. With a huge oven cavity and gas/teppanyaki cooktops, this kitchen is perfect when cooking for a crowd.
The matching oversized extraction rangehood takes care of steam and odours; and note the addition of the handy tap on the wall behind the cooker – no need to even leave the stove to fill up a pot. The eat-in table is characterised by interesting legs that resemble exposed pipes, and is matched by black and timber stools that look like factory cast-offs.
Here, commercial-style appliances set the scene for a semi-professional cooking and entertaining environment. A large range cooker in stainless steel features all the mod cons a serious home cook would need in order to cook up a storm. With a huge oven cavity and gas/teppanyaki cooktops, this kitchen is perfect when cooking for a crowd.
The matching oversized extraction rangehood takes care of steam and odours; and note the addition of the handy tap on the wall behind the cooker – no need to even leave the stove to fill up a pot. The eat-in table is characterised by interesting legs that resemble exposed pipes, and is matched by black and timber stools that look like factory cast-offs.
8. Modern industrial
This kitchen shows a slightly different approach to an industrial-style design, as it features lighter shades and an interesting use of a mirror effect on the rangehood, reflecting the adjoining spaces. The exposed structural beams, however, satisfy one of the main characteristics of the modern industrial style. Their offset triangular shapes contrast with the rounded pendant lights and handles on the built-in cabinetry.
Also note the leg of the cantilevered island bench, which appears to have been designed to match the triangle shape of the beams above. Simplicity is the key to the success of this design, which is most obvious in the sleek concrete-look island bench that features an under-mounted sink and a single mixer tap.
This kitchen shows a slightly different approach to an industrial-style design, as it features lighter shades and an interesting use of a mirror effect on the rangehood, reflecting the adjoining spaces. The exposed structural beams, however, satisfy one of the main characteristics of the modern industrial style. Their offset triangular shapes contrast with the rounded pendant lights and handles on the built-in cabinetry.
Also note the leg of the cantilevered island bench, which appears to have been designed to match the triangle shape of the beams above. Simplicity is the key to the success of this design, which is most obvious in the sleek concrete-look island bench that features an under-mounted sink and a single mixer tap.
9. Easy access
Open shelving is a key feature of an industrial/commercial space, as regularly used items need to be easily and quickly accessible during a busy service. When it comes to applying this to a domestic kitchen, designers must find a balance between open and closed spaces.
The kitchen pictured here is a great example of that balance: full-length open shelving along the brick splashback allows for easy access to, as well as the display of, functional items. The open stainless-steel shelving under the benchtop at the front of the kitchen strikes a balance with the closed-in stainless steel cupboards elsewhere in the kitchen. Timber benchtops (and shelving) help offset the clinical look of stainless steel by bringing some warmth into the room.
Open shelving is a key feature of an industrial/commercial space, as regularly used items need to be easily and quickly accessible during a busy service. When it comes to applying this to a domestic kitchen, designers must find a balance between open and closed spaces.
The kitchen pictured here is a great example of that balance: full-length open shelving along the brick splashback allows for easy access to, as well as the display of, functional items. The open stainless-steel shelving under the benchtop at the front of the kitchen strikes a balance with the closed-in stainless steel cupboards elsewhere in the kitchen. Timber benchtops (and shelving) help offset the clinical look of stainless steel by bringing some warmth into the room.
10. Stone and steel
This kitchen is characterised by its large footprint, but works brilliantly because of the attention paid to the design and layout. The stunning natural marble benchtops act as counterpoints to the gleaming stainless steel commercial elements, including a double sink and a highly-functional (and very groovy-looking) spray tap. The glossy grey cabinetry blends perfectly with the stainless steel. Also cleverly adding to the commerical kitchen theme are three industrial pendant lights hanging above the island.
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Do you like the industrial look in the kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
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Browse a gallery of industrial-style kitchens
This kitchen is characterised by its large footprint, but works brilliantly because of the attention paid to the design and layout. The stunning natural marble benchtops act as counterpoints to the gleaming stainless steel commercial elements, including a double sink and a highly-functional (and very groovy-looking) spray tap. The glossy grey cabinetry blends perfectly with the stainless steel. Also cleverly adding to the commerical kitchen theme are three industrial pendant lights hanging above the island.
TELL US
Do you like the industrial look in the kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
MORE
Browse a gallery of industrial-style kitchens
Clever design sees the layout of this kitchen take advantage of a G-shaped design, which provides a huge amount of bench space. This is particularly important when prepping and cooking meals for large numbers. The exposed brick wall is the main visual element with the cabinets, benchtops, floor and opposite walls in blacks, greys and whites complementing the rich reds and browns of the brick. Authenticity is enhanced with a chunky-style rangehood while a ‘restaurant’ ambiance is created with a range of casual seating.
So your style is industrial