Comments
Sponsored Content
A Designer’s Masterclass on Contemporary Industrial Interiors
Read the inside story behind a designer's timeless, industrial-inspired interior, born from clever material choices
Sponsored Content
It’s no secret that the materials you select give your home its aesthetic, from contemporary to country or modern to mid-century. In this Pool Pavilion project in Melbourne, Victoria, a sophisticated industrial style was created through the use of richly grained timber, moody hues and Neolith’s Beton concrete-look sintered stone.
We spoke to one of the creators of this space, Gillianne Griffiths, creative director and principal designer at Studio Griffiths, to discover how she ushered dashing industrial drama into the interior – and to glean some expert tips in achieving this style.
We spoke to one of the creators of this space, Gillianne Griffiths, creative director and principal designer at Studio Griffiths, to discover how she ushered dashing industrial drama into the interior – and to glean some expert tips in achieving this style.
Choose Your Hero
The key ingredient for contemporary industrial-style interiors is, of course, any material with a raw, concrete look. This is the protagonist of most industrial material palettes and your first port of call if you wish to welcome this style into an interior.
The key ingredient for contemporary industrial-style interiors is, of course, any material with a raw, concrete look. This is the protagonist of most industrial material palettes and your first port of call if you wish to welcome this style into an interior.
For Griffiths’ Pool Pavilion project, the concrete-look hero of her materials palette needed to be versatile. But unlike concrete, the project called for a solid surface that retained its strength in ultra-thin profiles and was non-porous, low-maintenance, stain-resistant, scratch-resistant and UV-resistant.
The Fusion Collection of solid-stone surfaces from Neolith ticked every box for Griffiths’ project, and Beton’s grey tones infused the space with suave industrial style. “We chose it for its versatility, high performance, light surface, large format and concrete-like look. I selected Beton in a silk finish and used it everywhere – floors, walls, benchtops, floating bench seats and fireplace (in the bathrooms, kitchens and living area),” says Griffiths.
As an added bonus, the slabs are sustainably manufactured and the company, which is carbon-neutral, prides itself on working closely with designers to realise their visions.
The Fusion Collection of solid-stone surfaces from Neolith ticked every box for Griffiths’ project, and Beton’s grey tones infused the space with suave industrial style. “We chose it for its versatility, high performance, light surface, large format and concrete-like look. I selected Beton in a silk finish and used it everywhere – floors, walls, benchtops, floating bench seats and fireplace (in the bathrooms, kitchens and living area),” says Griffiths.
As an added bonus, the slabs are sustainably manufactured and the company, which is carbon-neutral, prides itself on working closely with designers to realise their visions.
Perfect Your Palette
It helps to select a maximum of three key colours or materials and repeat them en masse throughout your interior for cohesion and wow factor. Be ruthless in reducing the number of other materials in your palette to avoid detracting from the raw, textured nature of your finishes.
In the Pool Pavilion project, three main materials shine in the overall kitchen and living room scheme: Griffiths teamed Neolith’s stony-grey Beton surfaces with steely pops of black metal finishes and richly grained timber.
The timber cladding is repeated on the floor, walls and ceilings, while black fittings and furniture accents playing a supporting role. Meanwhile, Griffiths repeated Neolith’s moody Beton stone – the star performer in this space – in the benchtops, sink, splashback, open shelving, cabinet fronts, floating seat, fireplace surround, walls and flooring.
It helps to select a maximum of three key colours or materials and repeat them en masse throughout your interior for cohesion and wow factor. Be ruthless in reducing the number of other materials in your palette to avoid detracting from the raw, textured nature of your finishes.
In the Pool Pavilion project, three main materials shine in the overall kitchen and living room scheme: Griffiths teamed Neolith’s stony-grey Beton surfaces with steely pops of black metal finishes and richly grained timber.
The timber cladding is repeated on the floor, walls and ceilings, while black fittings and furniture accents playing a supporting role. Meanwhile, Griffiths repeated Neolith’s moody Beton stone – the star performer in this space – in the benchtops, sink, splashback, open shelving, cabinet fronts, floating seat, fireplace surround, walls and flooring.
In the bathroom, however, Beton is unrivalled and takes centrestage. Its versatility let Griffiths apply it to all surfaces, save the ceiling. The result? A dramatic, minimalist, industrial-inspired space clad almost entirely in Neolith, which resembles a room carved from a single monolith.
“The rich grey tones emulate contemporary industrial design. Showing restraint by not contrasting it with another material most certainly allows Neolith’s Beton to shine and create the moody vibe,” says Griffiths. “We love the colour and finish.”
“The rich grey tones emulate contemporary industrial design. Showing restraint by not contrasting it with another material most certainly allows Neolith’s Beton to shine and create the moody vibe,” says Griffiths. “We love the colour and finish.”
Go Big!
For an industrial aesthetic to make a style statement, think big. The large format of the slabs from Neolith’s Fusion Collection proved irresistible for Griffiths and helped the designer achieve her vision of seamless detailing.
Neolith slabs are available in sizes of 3200 x 1600 millimetres or 3200 x 1500 millimetres, which made it easy for Griffiths to clad vast areas with the lightweight, stone-look surface – with the benefit of grout-free detailing and seamless joins.
For an industrial aesthetic to make a style statement, think big. The large format of the slabs from Neolith’s Fusion Collection proved irresistible for Griffiths and helped the designer achieve her vision of seamless detailing.
Neolith slabs are available in sizes of 3200 x 1600 millimetres or 3200 x 1500 millimetres, which made it easy for Griffiths to clad vast areas with the lightweight, stone-look surface – with the benefit of grout-free detailing and seamless joins.
Beauty Is in the Details
As well as clothing entire planes of the Pool Pavilion’s interior with Beton, Griffiths also used it for small, intricately designed surfaces, including joinery. “Its large format and thin surface capabilities minimise grout lines for seamless detailing; we incorporated it as a cabinetry face due to its thin surface, for a seamless and brutal look,” she says.
Beton slabs come in silk or riverwashed finishes and thicknesses of three, six, 12 and 20 millimetres. This means joinery, furniture, floors and walls can be transformed into industrial-style havens without encroaching on space, similar to what was achieved here in the Pool Pavilion.
As well as clothing entire planes of the Pool Pavilion’s interior with Beton, Griffiths also used it for small, intricately designed surfaces, including joinery. “Its large format and thin surface capabilities minimise grout lines for seamless detailing; we incorporated it as a cabinetry face due to its thin surface, for a seamless and brutal look,” she says.
Beton slabs come in silk or riverwashed finishes and thicknesses of three, six, 12 and 20 millimetres. This means joinery, furniture, floors and walls can be transformed into industrial-style havens without encroaching on space, similar to what was achieved here in the Pool Pavilion.
The ultra-thin three- and six-millimetre thicknesses are suitable for walls, furniture and cabinetry; while flooring – indoors and out – requires a minimum thickness of six millimetres. For kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanity tops, Neolith recommends slabs in either a 12- or 20-millimetre thickness, which cuts a bold profile.
All stone from Neolith’s Fusion Collection, including Beton, is easy to clean, partly because the large formats minimise the need for grout, but also due to hygienic technology that prevents the growth of bacteria.
All stone from Neolith’s Fusion Collection, including Beton, is easy to clean, partly because the large formats minimise the need for grout, but also due to hygienic technology that prevents the growth of bacteria.
Form Follows Function
It would be remiss to suggest that industrial style was solely about form or appearance. This movement harks back to factories and warehouses, evoking the functional role of design.
Neolith’s Fusion Collection fits neatly into this design ethos as it comprises high-performance stone in a wide range of naturally inspired colours and appearances, all renowned for their low-maintenance strength and durability.
Griffiths used Beton’s robustness to advance the functionality of her design. The beautiful elongated floating bench seat is fabricated from Neolith’s Beton and is strong enough to seat several people; the fireplace surround withstands extreme heat; the kitchen benchtops and splashbacks endure sharp objects, spills and acids with stain-free grace; and the walls and flooring in the bathroom are tough enough for everyday living.
It would be remiss to suggest that industrial style was solely about form or appearance. This movement harks back to factories and warehouses, evoking the functional role of design.
Neolith’s Fusion Collection fits neatly into this design ethos as it comprises high-performance stone in a wide range of naturally inspired colours and appearances, all renowned for their low-maintenance strength and durability.
Griffiths used Beton’s robustness to advance the functionality of her design. The beautiful elongated floating bench seat is fabricated from Neolith’s Beton and is strong enough to seat several people; the fireplace surround withstands extreme heat; the kitchen benchtops and splashbacks endure sharp objects, spills and acids with stain-free grace; and the walls and flooring in the bathroom are tough enough for everyday living.
“It’s versatile, scratch-resistant, heat-resistant and stain-resistant,” says Griffiths, who also offers this golden nugget: “It helps to use a stonemason familiar with Neolith, so our installation was not problematic. What I love most about Neolith is that it can be used for any purpose, anywhere (interior and exterior). It’s not porous like natural stone, therefore making it pretty much maintenance-free and an absolute joy!”
More: To find out more about Beton and other models in Neolith’s Fusion Collection, visit the Neolith website.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Taking sintered stone to new heights, Neolith is inspired by nature. A revolutionary and innovative architectural... Read More
Taking sintered stone to new heights, Neolith is inspired by nature. A revolutionary and innovative architectural... Read More
More Stories from This Brand
How to Design a Healthy, Sustainable Kitchen
Going green in your kitchen is better for you, the environment and your hip pocket – and it’s easier than you may think
Full Story