Cape Town - The growing charm of an industrial feel in homes and retail space can be attributed to the trend in recent years of reclaiming and renovating warehouse and high-end factory space.
The characteristic exposed elements and basic fittings have morphed into a sought-after style. It is also a style that can be infused into any home, regardless of the inherent look, and blended in varying degrees.
Weylandts’ newest range, Industrial Revolution, features elements of reclaimed items with functional, yet form-sympathetic components, and a lot of light. They sum up the look in a nutshell: “Edgy, yet sophisticated, these pieces acknowledge their utilitarian heritage while adding a layer of comfort.
“There’s an abundance of sharp lines and a focus on humble, functional materials.”
Reclaiming and transforming
Getting the look in an existing home can be a lot of fun and is relatively easy as you can browse second-hand shops and recycle existing items to fashion a textured or raw appeal.
Original machinery and factory throw-outs make for ideal décor bases. Thrifting for metallic things and steel structures to create funky carcasses for table, chairs and kitchen surfaces can yield great finds. A wooden door or simple pine top can be stressed to look like a worn, high end table-top. The converse can also produce a fine industrial talking point: get hold of reclaimed tree roots and place a stainless steel top on it for a different take.
Offset the raw textures that combine to make the style tactile with bold and delicate textures. This highlights the functional by making the feminine and floral accents pop.
Part of the charm of using “found” elements is their use as something other than their original purpose.
A retro glass lampshade can make a great flower vase and glass bottles can be clustered into a mass lampshade. Old crates with nostalgia inspiring branding form great storage containers.
Katie Thompson of design firm Recreate, at 6 Stowe Street, Salt River, has made it her business to take functional pieces and turn them into décor items with a new function.
“I am inspired by the junk that people throw away – the overlooked gems that make their way to me via all avenues, from auctions to yard sales.”
She admires the sound craftsmanship of vintage items.
“Where consumers are drowning in mass-produced products, I am excited to be in the business of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.”
Artisanal art
one of the tools for getting the industrial look is using custom-made art and architectural elements. South Africa is filled with talented artisans who can craft accessories and features, which add not only signature elements but instill a home with personality. Shops and food stations benefit from the high trusses and custom floor to ceiling windows.
The décor heroes range from blacksmiths who can fashion individual home pieces made to size to talented up-cyclers who artfully regenerate pre-loved pieces. Wall art is one of the best ways to industrialise your room’s style. Vintage posters, overblown family photos printed in sepia on canvas, reclaimed steel items – all can boost the room.
Very vintage
Old school is cool with this genre. Create focal areas where collections of beloved items can be staged together to create a nostalgic feel. Think small items placed in a display cabinet, framed old copies of comics on a gallery wall or childhood toys laid out for the amusement of guests. To make a striking statement, mix periods when selecting older pieces.
Farm equipment, vintage bikes, old typewriters and sewing machines all have a place in the new industrial look, which centres around very bold accessorising. A fine balance between the popular minimalist look and allowing a vintage item to clutter the space is required but is often resolved thanks to high, airy ceilings and generous lighting.
Buffed and beautiful
Texture is one of the key ingredients to industrial styling. Tiles and paint techniques form the background to whatever you plan to install in your apartment.
Slate tiles offer a natural but edgy take on dark flooring space.
Black is still very much in vogue and there are many ways to introduce this blunt but beautiful hue into a residential home. An obvious way is to use black fittings – curtain rails, light fittings and furniture legs. Wrought iron detailing is a great way to install black accents in the detailed architectural features. Exposed brick walls and natural stone accents can also play up surface grains.
Distressed surfaces are another surefire way to generate sought after atmosphere. Large expanses left unfinished with a simple white wash or light varnish create a foil for sleek stainless products. New techniques of concreted floors when applied with a high gloss are fabulous natural light reflectors and open up a huge expanse with a dramatic base that allows for uninhibited furniture elements.
Light it up and play it down
The bleak atmosphere created by stark furnishings and scaled down interior can be emphasised by over-the-top lighting and well-applied natural lighting.
The downplay of soft furnishings is a characteristic industrial technique so natural light becomes an important factor in showcasing the elements of a room.
Alternative window dressing and natural fabrics all work together to capture the open plan, apartment vibe. Exposed roofing is another component in keeping the volume of space vital during the day. It also adds to the animation of wall texture, roof trusses, outdoor spill areas and furniture – all of which are so important in harnessing the look.
Exposing surfaces like raw brickwork, basic stairways and the mechanics of electrics and plumbing are good ways to get the look.
Brass piping and fireplaces with open flues ensure added interest and assist the light to bounce off the rounded and textured bare surfaces. This is particularly effective in restaurants where large numbers of people are expected.
Laird Adam of Diva Luce, specialist lighting company, says the lights themselves can play up a room’s industrial style.
“Indirect lighting can create a wash effect that plays up key pieces.”
One of the most striking distinguishing traits of industrial style is the naked look and this is particularly effective in lighting design. Adam also says the “wow” factor is on trend.
Samantha Hartshorne, Weekend Argus