The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
FACTORY RESET
Expose that stonework, strip back those floorboards and choose lights that show off the lightbulbs to revel in a raw and unrefined industrial look, suggests Jacqueline Wake Young
Are you an industrialist? Do you crave concrete and the sight of exposed ductwork? If the answer is “Ooh, yes”, then you are a New York minute away from embracing the loft lifestyle – which, by the way, can be achieved without actually living in a warehouse on the Lower
East Side.
If you can’t quite make up your mind, consider this – industrial has much in common with rustic, just in an urban setting.
If you like the raw, unfinished aesthetic of stone walls, bare wooden beams and wrought metal typical of a farmhouse style – know that it’s just a country cousin of “townie” industrial.
Both looks eschew embellishment and and even colour.
If you think of those exposed pipes in the ceiling as metal versions of rustic’s rough-hewn wooden beams you should start to get a feel for the industrial theme.
Form and function go hand-in-hand is an authenticity to the overall effect.
While certain types of homes do lend themselves to industrial decor better than others, it can be achieved anywhere.
Sequence is key in your decorating choices – look at the bones of the property before adding the frills. Could you expose some brickwork or strip back floors to get that unrefined feel?
Once you’ve created a suitable backdrop, bring in lighting and signature pieces. Think “factory” as you go along, choosing hardworking, utilitarian items in leather, metal and hard woods.
Remember that industrial verges on minimalist, so don’t over-stuff or clutter – if you do, the result will be less factory and more junk shop. excess and
– there