Demand soars for industrial kitchens. Are we on the brink of a new Industrial Revolution?
We’ve seen decades of white gloss, clean lines and near-clinical levels of minimalism in kitchen design. But the tide’s a-turning, my friends. And industrial style kitchens are sweeping back in! But they are back in with a twist. An elegant and luxurious twist.
But why are industrial kitchens firmly back on the wish-list? We think it’s partly that we’ve become fatigued with those uber-sterile looking kitchens. That we’re over having kitchen spaces that look like they’ve been forensically cleaned. Or maybe, just maybe, we’re ready to ditch that samey-samey look of stark white kitchens that everybody has. Because of this, we’re ready to inject some warmth and a healthy dose of personality back in.
Does urban have to mean big, bad and ugly?
But first, let me dispel an urban myth. This new take on industrial kitchens does not mean big, brutal and ugly. We’re not asking you to entirely give up your clean lines. No! Not at all! Because this industrial revolution in the kitchen doesn’t mean the end of one era and the beginning of a new. In fact, it’s less a clash of two looks and more like a marriage of two different eras. The big and the brutal meet the elegant and the dainty and live happily ever after. It’s a bit like Beauty and the Beast, but in the kitchen, if you catch my drift!
…meet the new industrial style kitchens
So what does the modern version of an industrial kitchen look like? Well, it’s not just about a look. It’s about a feel too. Because, once you’ve decided to ditch those sleek uniform lines, you can really go wild with the colours and the textures. In fact, you should go wild as the new urban kitchen style is a multi-sensory experience. Yes, it’s big, bold and hard. But, at the same time, it’s also warm, colourful and super tactile. The very best of industrial kitchen design should be both a delight to look at and also to touch.
We achieved exactly that in our fabulous kitchen redesign in Bearwood, Birmingham, with a bold combination of copper and graphite. We enhanced the graphite painted cabinetry with a one-of-a-kind oxidised copper drawer set as a show-piece below the hob. A Trillium Dekton worktop, which looks like rusted metal, works beautifully alongside the copper handles, sink and tap. And the piece de resistance? We added in an exposed brick splashback to really give a bit of old-fashioned factory-style warmth and texture. As a result, we really nailed the urban industrial trend. A delight to look at? Tick! A delight to touch? Tick again!
…can industrial style kitchens work for everyone and every home?
If you’re lucky enough to live in a converted warehouse or old watermill, this is your go-to kitchen decor. The industrial kitchen design is the perfect look to respect your building’s industrial heritage. And, if you have double-height ceilings, charming old bricks and enormous factory windows, you can absolutely go to town on the finish. Your space will positively glow with poured concrete floors, over-sized factory-style pendant lighting and big, bold copper features. So, go hard on the dark, moody textures. Don’t be shy with the bricks, the cement and the austere metals. Go big and go hard, or go home.
But is it too big and too bold a look for homes with less heritage?
Can we make industrial style kitchens work in less historically significant buildings? In homes without centuries of history? Yes, we can! Because this, my friend, is where we can get really clever. This is where we can create that sweet spot where industrial kitchens meet their elegant urban cousins. At The Gallery Fitted Kitchens, we use our decades of design and build experience to create the perfect kitchen for your space. We can combine a more pared-down modern look with some industrial accents to suit your home.
Our clients in Lower Gornal were delighted with our unique take on urban kitchen styling for their home. Their beautiful Shaker kitchen boasts painted urban graphite cabinetry and Dekton worktops.
We layered up the industrial look by adding in an exposed brick wall with surface-mounted metal pipework. And then we brought it all together with the addition of an industrial-inspired chain pendant light over the breakfast bar. Slightly distressed-look suede bar stools complete the look. This perfect marriage of modern urban luxury and industrial character gave them all the functionality they wanted. Plus, it really allowed them to inject a great deal of personality and character to their stunning new kitchen.
…how to banish the industrial gloom with colour
Worried that all these big, hard industrial features will look overly heavy and dark? Fear not! We’re not suggesting that you turn your kitchen into a gloomy Victorian workhouse! On the contrary, we’re going to inject big bursts of bold, bright colour as the perfect companion to your brick, copper and concrete. Those copper accents and factory-inspired distressed finishes can be invigorated with bold splashes of red, yellow or mustard. Because one of the truly great things about urban kitchen decor is that these big, bold looks just love big, bold pops of colour!
…and now for the style bit
You’re still here? We’ve sold you on the New Industrial Revolution? You’re ready to let us go big and bold on your new fitted kitchen? Then let’s talk about the styling. Let’s talk about vintage-looking breakfast bars. Let’s talk about enormous statement pendant lights to add a hint of the factory vibe. And then let’s add a hint of urban softness with distressed-leather bar stools that look like they’ve been there forever.
And, while we’re at it, let’s talk about how far you’ll go. Because the industrial kitchen design doesn’t have to stop in the kitchen. Why not inject some personality into the utility room? Let’s embrace this #urban decor trend and run with it.
