Furniture on castors has become increasingly popular as industrial style interiors have grown in popularity. With a design inspired by the old trolleys found in 1940’s factories, these furniture pieces offer freedom and flexibility as you can move them around your space and place them exactly where they are needed.
Having the option to easily move the furniture around on wheels means you can configure your layout easily and quickly without the risk of damaging your floors. Balancing versatility and flexibility with functionality and modularity, these pieces are ideal for authentic converted industrial interiors or for interiors that are looking to emulate industrial style.
Industrial style metal cabinets on castors are useful for storage when you want to keep your belongings hidden away. Whether that is a cabinet that houses shelving behind large metal doors or a cabinet that has drawers, both these options offer flexible storage solutions whilst adding industrial charm to your home. By choosing a cabinet with mesh metal panels in the doors you can neatly display any items that you may wish to draw attention to.
Coffee tables are the ideal furniture choice for castors. Being able to move a coffee table around a space is practical as it allows for ease of cleaning but also gives a space more flexibility. The options are endless from industrial storage trunks with cup handles to the resilience and urban appeal of metal industrial archive drawers.
Shelving units on wheels are extremely practical. Their bold metal frames, wooden shelves and mesh metal drawers are a definite nod to the industrial style. These mobile furniture items are perfect if you are looking to create a rustic, industrial or loft living styled room.
Trolleys are also a great addition to any home and their versatility is what makes so attractive. Whether it’s for use as a side table, a bar cart or a small bookcase or a bedside table, these useful little units are extremely adaptable.
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Wood is an extremely popular option when it comes to flooring in residential properties. Not only is it attractive, durable, comfortable and versatile, but it provides the perfect balance between aesthetics, functionality and practicality.
Depending on the type of flooring that you opt for, you can add value to your home and make it more attractive at the same time. New flooring can, however, look out of place in an old building, jarring with the original features and character of the property. It’s important to choose something that compliments the existing building and doesn’t detract from the period of the property.
Havwoods is a renowned specialist when it comes to beautiful wood flooring design. The superior quality of the products on offer makes them a popular choice with interior designers and architects. Their flooring is often specified for use in restaurants and hotels as well as private residencies.
The Havwoods collection of weathered wood rustic surfaces can be used as flooring or as wall and ceiling cladding to add more visual interest and character to more historic buildings. Presented in both genuine and reproduction reclaimed planks, ranges like Vertical and Relik deliver an attractive, authentic and impressive surface for use throughout the home.
Relik, in particular, is well suited to use in old industrial buildings. Proudly displaying the marks and scars of its past, the Relik collection has a story to tell. Made from reclaimed wood sourced from authentic sources around the world, the timber is lovingly hand-repaired by skilled craftsmen and transformed into engineered planks.
The Vertical collection features a range of highly-textured, natural-effect surface designs that are easy to install. The colour palette varies from cool grey tones right through to characterful patinas for a distinct take on weathered wood designs.
For those more upmarket projects the Hand Grade flooring collection features extra-large planks finished with hardwax oil for a more hardwearing and durable finish.
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The award-winning Plural bathroom collection by VitrA was inspired by the heritage of communal bathing spaces and rituals. Working in collaboration with Milan-based American designer Terri Pecora, VitrA’s in-house design team sought to re-evaluate the way that we use the bathroom, transforming it into an informal living space.
“We wanted to create a new methodology that responds to the recent evolution of the bathroom ritual,” says Erdem Akan, Design Director, VitrA. “We focused on the time spent in the bathroom and our interaction within the space rather than the products. This led to reinterpreting the bathroom as a social hub.”
The design elements within the Plural range feature an organic shape and a neutral colour palette that is combined with an American Walnut wood finish to add a sense of warmth and domesticity to the collection. The pieces from the range can be used in multiple combinations to form a personalised and intimate setting.
Clever design enables the ceramic basins to be placed at various angles as an alternative to the conventional positioning by the wall, encouraging users to face each other and engage with their surroundings. The washbasins can also be mounted in an open bathroom space while retaining a clean and minimalistic look. The column basins can be fitted at free angles in the room instead of the more common 90° angle to the wall. The range also includes a mirror which can rotate between two basins.
The Plural collection has five key aspects:
1. Sinks can be positioned at different angles and not just looking straight on towards the wall.
2. In this space one can ‘hang out’ doing things not only associated with the common bathroom.
3. The elements of the collection work together in overlapping heights.
4. The collection is all about ‘experiencing’ multiple finishes and colours, and is not your ‘typical’ cold white bathroom.
5. The sinks can be set at angles and free standing.
Terri Pecora is originally from Los Angeles and studied at Art Center College of Design in southern California before finishing her academic work in Milan, Italy in 1990 at the Domus Academy. She has worked in a broad range of fields within the design sector including furniture design, bathroom products, stand design and retail interiors, eyewear and fashion accessories, and children’s products.
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The American comedian, television host, actress, writer, and producer has a well-documented interest in interior design and in 2015 she launched her lifestyle brand ED Ellen DeGeneres which includes apparel, shoes, accessories, pet, baby and home items.
“If I had not been a comedian and TV show host, I would have been an interior designer because I love everything about it,” says Ellen. “I’ve always been drawn to interior design because I think it’s so important to live in a space that brings you joy and makes you feel comfortable. You should always be surrounded by things you love.”
At the end of last year, Ellen launched a new lighting collection for Generation Lighting. The partnership originated from their shared passion for interior design and an appreciation for relaxed mid-century and rustic modern designs. The products are influenced by some of Ellen's favourite, world-renowned artists and feature signature details that are inspired by Ellen's own treasured pieces throughout her homes.
“Generally my design influences are from sculptors and artists like Alberto Giacometti and Jean Royère,” says Ellen. “You can see hints of their styles in the collection, but there’s something in it for everyone. Whether it’s a bohemian-style table lamp or a minimalist chandelier, every piece is well made, beautiful, playful and will quite literally light up your life.”
Explaining why she specifically chose to work with Generation Lighting, Ellen explains: “Lighting was something we hadn’t yet explored in our collections and it’s something that can change a whole space. I love Generation Lighting because they’re great collaborators and understand function and design. You know you’ve met the right partners when you lose track of time talking about sconces.”
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Parkside is a design-led tile specification company that has been a trusted tile source to the UK contract market for decades. It recently announced the launch of Sequel by Alusid, a new sustainable tile range that was shown for the first time at Clerkenwell Design Week.
Brian Linnington, Commercial Managing Director at Parkside says: "The Sequel range is unbeatable in terms of its aesthetic and sustainability credentials, so we’re delighted to be sharing Alusid’s ground-breaking approach to ceramics with our audience of architects and designers."
Alusid was founded in 2015 as the result of a research project at the University of Central Lancashire. Professor David Binns and Dr Alasdair Bremner set out to explore ways in which low-value waste substances could be repurposed. Through the technique of sintering (binding materials together by applying heat and/or pressure), they developed a process through which low-value materials and by-products could be transformed into beautiful architectural surfaces.
Sequel is Alusid’s first batch-produced product range and is made from 98% recycled material. By turning unwanted manufacturing materials into a range of beautiful coloured tiles for interiors, Alusid has created the most sustainable and waste-efficient tiles on the market.
Using the innovative production process, Sequel tiles are made at the brand’s manufacturing base in Preston from materials including shards of glass from kerbside collections, broken sanitary ware, and glaze waste from ceramic manufacture.
The Sequel range is available in three colours – Greenwich Green, Shoreditch Blue and Paddington Pink – and three tile sizes – square (100x100mm), metro (200x100mm) and large metro (300x75mm) – making them the ideal material for sustainability-conscious architects and designers.
Dr Alasdair Bremner, co-founder of Alusid says: "We’re very excited to be launching the Sequel tile range with Parkside, and very proud of the sustainable process we’ve pioneered to create it. Our goal is to expand Alusid’s production capacity – without sacrificing our crafted quality or compromising our commitment to recycling and recyclability. Our partnership with Parkside is a big step towards achieving that."
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It was autumn 2017, when the award-winning Nordic design studio Northern Lighting announced that it would be bringing all of its existing products, and any new products that will be produced and distributed, under the umbrella of its pioneering new lifestyle brand Northern. After 12 years, the Norwegian company had decided that expanding its offering to include furniture and interior accessories in its trademark style was a natural progression.
The new brand was developed over two years by CEO and co-founder Ove Rogne with creative direction from designers Morten Skjærpe Knarrum and Jonas Norheim, the duo behind the Morten & Jonas design studio. A team of 16 creative designers from seven different countries were briefed to address the demand for understated luxury and the consumer need for multifunctional designs, but with a Nordic approach in mind. The result is a collection that combines beauty with functionality, using natural materials and genuine craftsmanship.
The debut collection includes products by designers such as Mario Tsai, Gridy, Cecilia Xinyu Zhang, Kyla McCallum, Vera & Kyte, Elina Ulvio, Stine Aas, Mattias Stenberg, Ann Kristin Einarsen, Johan Lindsten, Johanna Forsberg and Sami Kallio.
It is characterised by classic forms and streamlined multipurpose designs. Smoked wood, twilight colours and strong silhouettes create subdued moods, while subtle geometries and classic sensibilities add an elegant touch.
Photography by Chris Tonnesen
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The story of ex.t starts in 1945 with an Italian entrepreneur named Giulio Tanini. Since 2010, Tanini’s granddaughters, Ingrid and Azzurra, have been keeping the original spirit alive through ex.t, the latest evolution of the family history that has spanned three generations.
Since the company’s inception, that challenge has remained the same: “to promote an idea of the bathroom as a dynamic and stylish living space, transforming itself continuously along with your home.”
The product portfolio combines global design trends with a local craft heritage to create modular, versatile and functional bathroom furniture that really stands out from the crowd.
The company originated in Tuscany where its artisan roots were born, and Florence is the creative hub where Ex.t products are born. Working in collaboration with international designers and skilled Tuscan artisans the company continues the Made in Italy tradition.
The roster of acclaimed and emerging designers ensures that ex.t retains a fresh approach, using innovative techniques and refined materials. Designers who have worked with ex.t include Mut, Norm Architects, Note Design Studio, Samuel Wilkinson and Sebastian Herkner.
At Milan Design Week 2019 earlier this month, ex.t launched its Nouveau bathroom collection designed by Bernhardt & Vella. The collection features washbasins, cabinets, mirrors and accessories featuring geometric and sinuous lines inspired by circles, semi-circles and parallelepipeds.
Many of the pieces would look quite at home in a converted warehouse or loft style space. The mix of materials, touches of metal, and grid like structures all lend themselves to an industrial look, albeit a softer and more feminine take on that aesthetic.
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Lifestyle merchandiser Graham & Green is an independent, family-run business that is now proudly celebrating a legacy of 45 years supplying furniture and homeware for a unique and eclectic home.
The company's story began in 1974, when founder Antonia Graham embarked on a trip to India. Upon her return, she created the first ‘lifestyle’ brand that imported exotic homewares from India, Morocco and Europe to the UK.
Until the early nineties, Graham & Green traded largely through this store but also ventured into the world of mail order catalogues. As the business grew, a second London store opened in Primrose Hill to keep up with the growing demand.
In 1998, Antonia's son Jamie, who had recently graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Furniture and Product Design, joined the team as Creative Director. He became a fundamental part of Graham & Green and worked closely with international suppliers to design and make exclusive furniture collections.
A year later, buoyed by the success of the two stores and the mail order business, Graham & Green launched its first website, taking the brand into the exciting new world of online retail.
It was also in 1999 that, after 37 years at the helm of the business, Antonia Green decided to retire. She left the business in the capable hands of her son Jamie and his wife Louise. Jamie and Louise Green have continued to work tirelessly to grow the company from its London base.
In 2015, however, following the birth of their son Max, Jamie and Louise decide to leave their fast-paced London lifestyles behind in search of rural adventures and a new home in the picturesque city of Bath.
Graham & Green continued to thrive with the opening of a new flagship store in Bayswater in London in 2016, followed by a new store in the artisan quarter of Bath.
Graham & Green stocks numerous designs that are ideal for warehouse homes and achieving an industrial 'loft living' look. We've highlighted a few of the brand's bestsellers here, together with some of our favourite items from the new collection.
Don't forget that you can get 15% off any Graham & Green purchase, either online or in store, exclusively with Warehouse Home. Simply quote the code WAREHOUSEHOME15 at the checkout [excludes Kartell, P&P charges, gift vouchers and sale items].
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Hosted by Warehouse Home founder Sophie Bush, the four-part video series covers a number of Bisque’s innovative radiators. Sophie addresses shapes and finishes, as well as wall and floor mounted solutions that can be selected for a warehouse look. She looks at designs to specifically suit bathrooms, open-plan spaces and also radiators that are works of art in themselves.
This is a really interesting topic for Warehouse Home readers. A proportion of our readers obviously live in genuine industrial conversions, but there is also a large percentage of our audience that don’t. They read the magazine because they like elements of the industrial style, which is incredibly versatile and can be interpreted in a number of different ways, and they want to introduce those elements into their own home.
When working with new clients on their home renovation projects, our interior design team usually starts by exploring a few key themes that are integral to the success of the project. Lighting is one of those themes, but the scale of the space is also an extremely important issue especially when it comes to the question of heating.
Heating is a universal challenge for any homeowner but when it comes to industrial conversions where the space often involves open plan areas, high ceilings, mezzanine levels, and original windows, the question of heating the space efficiently can be infinitely more challenging.
Ensuring that a space is heated efficiently is not the only consideration when it comes to choosing radiators. The style considerations are also worth bearing in mind. Sophie is often surprised by how little consideration is given to radiator design when people are renovating or redecorating their homes. In many cases, the radiators are the very thing that really finishes off a completed project.
This is exactly where Bisque’s expertise lies. Bisque launched in 1979 and was the UK’s first ever designer heating brand. It took the humble radiator from being a technical plumbing item and transformed it into a desirable design product in its own right.
Bisque’s slogan is ‘beautiful radiators for stylish interiors’ and they offer radiators to complement and enhance any interior, be it traditional, contemporary, industrial or anywhere in-between.
One of the options that really stood out to us here at Warehouse Home is the Osbourne, a distinguished, ball jointed towel rail which is new for 2019. It’s a great choice for traditional bathrooms and comes in a variety of finishes including polished brass and antique bronze.
The Flow Form is another great choice for achieving that industrial look. Inspired by an industrial heating element, Flow Form’s spiral fin was designed for technical efficiency – it increases the surface area of the radiator and allows hot air to rise through the gills, thereby maximising the heat output. It is designed to be floor mounted so it requires no wall space and can even be used in front of floor to ceiling windows. The matt black finish is particularly striking and works well in a variety of interior styles.
The Classic is an old school style radiator with enduring appeal. It is available in thirty-eight stock sizes and a vast range of bespoke size options and can be colour matched to popular paint ranges such as Farrow & Ball and Little Greene. We particularly like the lacquered bare metal version because you can see all the manufacturing marks from where it has been precision laser welded. The Classic can also be floor mounted if wall space is an issue.
It’s important to remember not to limit yourself to horizontal radiator options. Vertical radiators can be a really good option, particularly if wall space is limited. So make sure you explore the full collection when looking for a solution.
The Finn radiator can be installed vertically and is a favourite among designers and architects due to its clean lines, crisp elegance and classic form but with a contemporary twist. It is available in over 800 bespoke sizes and over 50 colours including a range of metallic finishes.
Finally, a radiator that is a work of art and really delivers the wow factor is the Arteplano model in acid etched copper or brass. Because of the process used, each model is totally unique and allows you to have a completely exclusive design. This isn’t a purely functional and practical radiator. This is a style statement.
This is a Sponsored post in collaboration with Bisque
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Diesel Open Workshop personifies the current trend for industrial minimalism that is sweeping through home interiors at the moment. Warehouse Home was present at Living Kitchen in Cologne last week and industrial finishes were seen everywhere from cabinetry and surfacing right through to appliances.
The Open Workshop bathroom features ambitious design that incorporates warm hues, dark colours and matt materials alongside large mirrored surfaces and metallic volumes. There is a lot going on in this bathroom in terms of the contrasting visual stimuli that have been incorporated, however it all comes together to create a harmonious whole that is both attractive and highly functional.
The large copper-effect Stopsol mirror panels act like a backdrop to the bathroom cabinet and are a distinguishing trait of the Open Workshop collection. The washbasin base units, which are shown in the opening image in Slate Black matt lacquered finish, are accompanied by a tubular Stock Rack towel rail.
The Stock Rack system also features shelves with an aluminium frame, in a bronze-finish, and Smoky Glass surfaces. This wall system, which is designed by Diesel, allows various different configurations to be arranged either vertically or horizontally. The modular metallic structures made of iron tubing impart a distinctively industrial twist and offer a solution that embellishes the modularity of the Diesel Open Workshop bathroom furnishing system.
The collection features a range of materials and finishes that exude metropolitan style. From decorative melamine, aluminium, Bianco Carrara marble, Nero Marquinia marble, ribbed glass, and black mesh.
The Open Workshop bathroom has a strong industrial vibe combined with a surprising warmth. The bathroom is designed to be both intimate and social, and at the same time, full of personality. At the core is a remarkable attention to style, right down to the detailing, materials, and textures, to create simple but compelling forms for lovers of understated design.
Open Workshop is available from C.P. Hart in the UK.
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When Jeppe Christensen and Michael Andersen founded Danish design brand Reform back in 2014, they were hoping to offer an affordable alternative to the high-end, custom-made wooden kitchens that were becoming popular at the time. These kitchens often come with a hefty price tag so the pair was keen to explore alternative options that were more affordable.
Reform now collaborates with the best Danish and internationally acclaimed architects to reform kitchens with great design. By using IKEA’s basic and most popular models as base units for their designs and adding unique architect-designed fronts and countertops they are able to offer their products at a reasonable price.
The Copenhagen-based company has already collaborated with the likes of BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, Cecilie Manz, Norm Architects, Afteroom, and Note Design Studio. There are also plans to work with Faye Toogood, Jean Nouvel and Inga Sempé.
For its latest design, Reform has chosen to collaborate with Lendager Group, one of the most renowned architecture firms when it comes to sustainability and the circular economy. Lendager Group, which has has exclusive rights to use the surplus wood from Dinesen, designed the UP kitchen.
The high-end plank flooring from Dinesen is typically used in galleries, restaurants, mansions and other customer specific projects. These projects often generate a lot of residual wood, which would ordinarily be wasted. However, it is now being used by Reform to create their new kitchen design.
The minimalist kitchen design takes its inspiration from traditional craftsmanship and pays particular attention to the unique and organic nature of the material, which is an integral part of the design. Being a reclaimed material, there are subtle variations in the grain, colour and shine of the wood which really add character. The knots, which are a typical characteristic of reclaimed wood, also cause some variation on the fronts.
This collaboration is an important milestone for Reform’s founders who had always planned to produce a sustainable kitchen design. “Since Lendager Group offers an innovative approach to sustainable architecture and explores new business models where there is increased focus on creating a regenerative design, we found them to be an ideal collaboration partner to make our wish come true,” says Andersen.
“To design a kitchen that is based on a circular economy is,” says Anderson, “in our viewpoint, when you have an increased focus on creating a regenerative design - meaning that you of course want it to be aesthetic, but at the same time are helping to solve existing global issues. Therefore, the natural qualities and recycling possibilities of materials have been essential to the UP design.”
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At the end of last year, Devon-based tile manufacturer and supplier Original Style announced that Midnight Blue is 2019’s must have tile. The dramatic dark blue metal-effect tile reflects the current interiors trend for moody, dark and atmospheric interiors.
Measuring 1200 x 600 mm, the extra large format oxidised steel effect tiles will add a sense of drama and opulence to any room. And they need not be reserved to the kitchen or bathroom. The added versatility provided by the lengthy dimensions makes these tiles also suitable for use in areas of the home that don’t traditionally feature tiles.
As seen here, the Midnight Blue porcelain tile can be teamed with Original Style’s Antico Casale Fumo brick tiles to create an urban edge with a distinctly industrial feel. This scheme looks impressive in a bathroom but looks equally at home in a living room and would make quite a statement if used in a bedroom.
The rich colour tones of Midnight Blue, with its tonal alterations that are reminiscent of a moody night sky, work particularly well alongside earthy colours, luxurious metallic finishes, warm lighting and nomadic inspired décor in a living space.
The dramatic blue also sits nicely alongside luxurious brass taps, natural greenery and a warehouse window inspired shower screen to create a sumptuous and sophisticated bathroom sanctuary.
The project was completed by architecture and interior design consultants BDG architecture + design, who have specified USM products for a number of their own projects. Their understanding of USM allowed them to create a showroom space that exudes design quality and timelessness.
The new showroom has been carefully configured to showcase the versatility of USM products which can be used in both residential spaces and workspaces or alternatively can be used to provide a seamless transition between the two.
Providing solutions for both residential and commercial spaces, USM has opted for a softer approach to the interior design, space planning and styling of the new showroom.
Ian Weddell, USM UK CEO comments: “The redesign of the showroom now takes you on a journey with defined areas that really showcase the creativity of USM. Blending between workspace design and residential, the versatility and creativity of USM really excels. Clever styling with touches like the typewriters, cameras and old vinyl create warmth and reference USM’s 50-year history. We couldn’t be more thrilled with space”.
Interior designers, architects and consumers are invited to visit the showroom to experience the product range in person. The sophisticated modular system can be made to work in any space by simply reconfiguring the modules to change the furniture’s shape. If you find yourself needing more storage for example, extra units can be added with the exact functionality that you require.
As a modular system, USM furniture is unmatched in its ability to be continuously remoulded to changing environments and needs. The Swiss manufacturing is synonymous with precision, quality and dependability meaning that USM products are designed to last.
Wear-resistant materials, fine craftsmanship, durable designs, and timeless style all ensure that USM furniture lasts a lifetime. If however, you decide to change your décor, USM pieces can change with you by simply adding new modules or panels in one of the available accent colours.
If you are unable to get to Clerkenwell to experience the products firsthand, you can always go online and try the interactive 3D configurator which allows you to design your own custom storage and display furniture. You can experiment with different shapes and sizes, customisable features such as drawers and extendable display shelves, and any mixture of 14 USM colours.
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Achieve a strong industrial look in the bathroom by opting for designs based on exposed piping. Select frameworks combined with stone or marble for more luxurious results. If you are considering a bathroom renovation, ensure this trend is in the pipeline, embracing it throughout your scheme.
Founded in 1989, Stone Forest produce award-winning designs for the bathroom using stone, bronze, copper, iron and wood. Their elemental range of endlessly customisable freestanding vanity and storage units has aged brass and polished nickel uprights and industrial knurled fittings combined to superb effect with shelving in Carrara marble or elegant antique grey limestone and drawers in wood. Whichever combination you commission, these units are traditional with a modern twist.
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There is a softer side of Brutalism that can be found in concrete designs in pale pinks and other pastel shades. Whether a desk accessory, imaginative lighting or smaller furniture, it has never been easier to incorporate concrete into a room scheme. Our favourite coloured concrete creations are ideal for a raw industrial space but equally suited to other interior styles as well; delicate yet durable.
J.Byron-H photography by Samuel McGuire
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When it comes to lighting the rules aren't set in stone. These white marble designs blur the boundary between lighting and Brutalism. We say, rock on.
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Brutalist architecture takes its name from the French 'béton brut' or raw concrete. It's characterised by its geometric, block-like shapes and is a style that flourished from the 1950s to 70s. It is now experiencing a resurgence, this time on a smaller scale, its influence seen in homeware designs. We pieced together the continued appeal of cast concrete and now we're building a case for celebrating a lifestyle in the raw.
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Pliable natural and synthetic rubber is inspiring designers around the world with its versatility poured into moulds, squashed, twisted and manipulated into items of homeware. It will be a long time before this trend is rubbed out.
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Graham & Green is renowned for its eclectic and timeless designs. The brand's signature pieces are perfect for modern rustic interiors and warehouse homes. For a successful scheme this season, offset black iron with timbers and velvets and find hairpin leg furniture and minimalist forms. These classic pieces caught our eyes.
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French Connection's new collection includes a Parquet Console Table (£395 available from French Connection) with a wrought iron frame. This comprises a contemporary take on the hairpin table leg, and matches a Berber-style Black and White Aztec Pattern rug, also from the autumn/winter 2018 collection (£250, also French Connection).
French Connection's new autumn/winter range for 2018 allows three key trends to truly shine. These trends are Berber, mixed materials and mixed metals.
BERBER
Having highlighted Berber as an interior trend in many issues of Warehouse Home, we featured Berber rugs (above) in Warehouse Home Issue Eight. It is therefore fantastic to see them flourish in French Connection's latest collection. Berber prints celebrate the weaving techniques and patterns of North Africa. The textural quality of Berber designs, particularly those in black and white, really suits warehouse homes and modern rustic or industrial inspired schemes. It is important to be brave when incorporating this trend. You might be tempted to place one rug or cushion in a space, but since Berber is fairly informal as 'modern rustic' look, Berber designs actually work really well in layers.
MIXED MATERIALS
It proves fruitful to work with different materials in an industrial space in order to create textural and visual interest. In a warehouse conversion, you might have raw concrete, exposed brickwork or old timbers, all of can be enhanced with a range of materials, from jute to ratan, heavy weaves to luxurious velvet. You can also cleverly use these materials as part of an industrial-inspired scheme. Jute is a fantastically robust material with a super tactile quality that lends itself really well to industrial schemes. Working with contrasting materials and textures to add visual interest, even in a relatively compact space: French Connection's blonde mango wood parquet table makes a clean contrast to the black wooden chair next to it - which has been painted black to create real drama.
MIXED METALS
What I have said about mixing materials applies to metals too. Wrought iron is a great contribution to any industrial scheme, as well as a fantastic tribute to an industrial past. Its bumpy texture also provides the opportunity to create interest in a space and adds instant charm when paired and contrasted with smooth, brushed metals, and the same with shaggy furnishings such as Berber rugs.
To complement an array of soft furnishings, French Connection has incorporated this brushed brass-look pendant light. It's perfect for an industrial bohemian look – and it's a great way to adding height to the scheme.
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The I- or H-beam, also known as the Double-T, is a structural steel often left exposed in older industrial conversions, bearing heavy loads in the construction of the building. The iconic form is increasingly carrying weight in the design world by inspiring furniture and decorative pieces.
Discover original interior accessories inspired by the iconic structural form in the Warehouse Home book published by Thames & Hudson.
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This industrial chic living room features designs by Republic of Fritz Hansen, one of several brands that will feature in Denmark's country pavilion.
London Design Fair takes place from 20-23 September 2018 and features a range of emerging talents, independent designers, and established brands. The show puts a strong emphasis on showcasing design from around the world. Located at the Old Truman Brewery in London's Shoreditch neighbourhood, it will feature 550 exhibitors from 36 countries. Hoping to attend? Visit the London Design Fair website to register to visit. Warehouse Home is proud to be a media partner, and we're diving into trends, both geographical and material, and highlighting three stands and features that you won't want to miss.
DANISH DESIGN
The influence of Danish design is widespread, with an aesthetic typically characterised as minimalist and functional, yet incredibly stylish. 'Denmark: Danish Living Room' is one of twelve country pavilions at the show this year. The exhibition will show a real world Danish living room featuring both iconic and contemporary designs from a range of Danish brands. In the image above, an industrial chic living room features designs by Republic of Fritz Hansen, one of the many brands that will be presented in the joint stand.
MIRRORED SURFACES
Spotlighting a trend for mirrored designs, we featured Jiyoun Kim Studio's Dokkaebi Stool (left) in Warehouse Home Issue Seven. Incorporating reflective surfaces into a scheme is a clever way to maximise the natural light, and the Dokkaebi Stool is a unique take on the mirrored trend that combines stainless steel with a painted gradient top. Jiyoun Kim is one of 8 of the Korean designers and brands featured in the 'South Korea: Seoul Design Festival' country pavilion at this year's show.
RETHINKING PLASTIC
The movement to rethink the use of plastic has been gaining momentum, and we're seeing more and more innovative designs that are incorporating recycled versions of the material. In Warehouse Home Issue Eight, we shared a round-up of designs crafted from recycled and recyclable PET fabric which is made from plastic. At this year's show, plastic has been chosen as the 2018 Material of the Year, with the aim of cultivating discussion around the controversial material and spotlighting designers who are repurposing it in ways that take the environmental issues caused by plastic into account. Charlotte Kidger is one such designer, and will show her collection Industrial Craft (below) which is made by cold casting a composite material made of polyurethane foam dust.
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In this impressive Bollindale kitchen by Hetherington Newman, mixed materials and rich colours create a contemporary industrial aesthetic.
Decorex International returns to London's Syon Park for its 41st edition from 16 to the 19 September 2018. If you're looking for high-end design and decor inspiration, this luxury interiors show is for you. It will bring together 400 international exhibitors, including well-known names and first-time exhibitors. It will also include a seminar programme with discussions from leading industry experts. Hoping to attend the show? Tickets are available from decorex.com. We're looking forward to seeing a variety of exhibitors across all areas of the show.
(Above) Hetherington Newman are specialists in bespoke furniture and architectural joinery. Their stunning Bollindale kitchen caught our eye with its masterful combination of colours, textures and materials. Design elements such as exposed ducting and mixed metals infuse this scheme with a distinct industrial feel.
(Left) Drummonds design and manufacture classic bathroom products, and are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. From basins and baths to showers, accessories and more, their luxury bathroom designs are crafted with choice materials. They'll present a range of their products including a selection of new additions.
(Below) Armac Martin design and manufacture luxury hardware. They will be launching a new 'Matt Black' finish at this year's show. Richard McGrail, Armac Martin's Commercial Director, explains “Clients have been asking for a black finish for some time but, until now, we have been unable to find a process that we felt befitted our hardware in both appearance and durability. This is a great addition to our offering and I am excited to be launching it at Decorex.”
(Bottom) A familiar name we'll be pleased to see is Little Greene, independent British paint manufacturers. From soft and subtle to bright and bold, their paint ranges and wallpaper collections offer something for every interior decor style, and we're excited to see how they're expanding their range with the launch of their Green Colourcard at this year's show.
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Exposed brick is a feature often admired in warehouse homes. If you're embarking on building work, consider innovative Dutch firm StoneCycling. They recycle industrial waste to hand- and machine make sustainable bricks in a variety of sizes and colours.
Recognising debris from construction and demolition as one of the biggest sources of waste globally, StoneCycling is committed to the thought that this too can also be a resource.
Through the act of grinding, crushing and mixing these industrial waste products, founder Tom van Soest, has created a new material that is both resilient and appealing. WastedBasedBricks have been applied in the construction of buildings throughout Europe and featured prominently in the design of interiors such as Fosbury&Sons, a co-working space in Antwerp, Belgium.
Inspired by this feature? In Warehouse Home Issue Eight we take a look at how heritage features such as warehouse windows and beams are informing contemporary design trends.
Process imagery by Dim Balsem
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Play with placement and create new perspectives with new season homewares from H&M Home. Peppered with strong shapes and bold colours these simple yet stylish objects are well suited to industrial schemes.
From soft furnishings and bedding to unique decorative objects this latest collection encompasses a number of trends including monochrome, grid and thin black framework.
For a fresh take on autumn winter styling, enhance a monochromatic scheme with bedding in navy and teal. Continue the story through to the bathroom and offset strong lines with round shapes to create a balanced scheme. In the kitchen, discover new arrivals in charcoal and brass.
This season will also see the launch of a furniture and lighting collection, a new but welcome venture for the high street brand. To see the full collection visit H&M Home.
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Caesarstone’s Metropolitan Collection is comprised of nine industrial-inspired designs and is the first surfaces range to thoroughly investigate the unique styles of the highly popular industrial trend. Rough, rugged or gently weathered, each design contributes to a look that forms a part of the revival of modernism, a rethinking of brutalism and the rekindling of industrial architecture. In developing the collection, the Caesarstone design team explored shuttered concrete patterns as well as oxidized steel and poured plaster.
Surfaces within the Metropolitan Collection have been designed to look completely at home in authentic industrial style-spaces and loft apartments. The new colours are complementary against even the roughest of aesthetics; suitable to spaces featuring concrete floors, brick walls, exposed pipework and peeled paintwork – whether original or specifically styled in this way. ‘Rugged Concrete’ is exceptional in the flesh and, as a worksurface, will give a modern edge to an industrial apartment’s décor as it looks and feels just like real poured concrete. For something truly unique, ‘Excava’ embodies the geological decay of stone, rusted and weathered by time and nature.
Once traditionally associated with low-rent, urban loft-style living on one end of the scale, and architecturally impressive Grand Designs projects on the other, the industrial look is now one of the United Kingdom’s hottest design trends for the home. If you live in a loft then you are fortunate to already have the foundations of this look. Now enhance it further with a worktop that looks just like poured concrete for a real statement. Concrete is not necessarily for the faint-hearted, but it can be found in softer tones (like Cloudburst Concrete) and it’s easy to relax the look with colourful tableware, soft furnishings and eye-catching rugs. Think of different materials for taps and sinks like brass or matt black and combine with exposed bricks, bare pipework and subway tiles if you’re really going for it. Use concrete surfaces on floors, worktops, as splashbacks and or even wall cladding. And there are many ways to make this contemporary décor work for you if you live in a two up two down instead of a loft apartment. Complement modern concrete with reclaimed wood doors and furniture. Opt for high tech kitchen appliances, speakers and television, but write recipes and notes on chalkboards. Keep ingredients or cleaning materials in upcycled wooden pallets. The industrial look is all about contrast.
During the development of the collection an enormous library of different surfaces and inspirational images was built up, including a watercolor painting of the moon and an image of a rusted saw blade. Each of the colours has its own unique design story and inspiration drawn from a mixture of nature and industrial architecture: 4046 Excava is inspired by the intriguing patinas of casting and oxidizing, combines the authentic features of rust and concrete. 4011 Cloudburst Concrete’s white shades offer a romantic interpretation of concrete. 4023 Topus Concrete’s blush undertone echoes the pastels that are impacting the interiors market today. 4044 Airy Concrete's light grey base illustrates the richness that minimalism can achieve. Terrazzo is revived as 4601 Frozen Terra with scattered and minimal decorative aspects. The billowing grey patina of 4033 Rugged Concrete perfectly captures the look of poured concrete. 4001 Fresh Concrete, 4003 Sleek Concrete, & 4004 Raw Concrete offer a less rugged look in three different grey tones to offer an ideal complement to any colourway.
Caesarstone leads trends, consistently pushing the boundaries of technology when it comes to worksurface colours and finishes. They're known in the industry for the strength and variety of their colours. To create the Metropolitan Collection, Caesarstone really had to go to lengths no other surface companies have gone to. It is via innovative cutting-edge technology exclusive to Caesarstone that these weathered and industrial patinas have been achieved in quartz surfaces for the very first time. This is a breakthrough that can be felt as well as seen. Whilst the surfaces in the collection may look and feel just like real concrete, they are in fact made from engineered-quartz which far outperforms concrete as surface material. Caesarstone quartz is highly durable, waterproof, hygienic, and stain and scratch-resistant.
The renowned British designer Tom Dixon commissioned a series of abstract architectural watercolours based on urban landscapes and then rendered them onto these soft linen mix cushions in attractive colours. Paint forms one-third of Super Textiles 2018; a collection of cushions designed in collaboration with artist Josephine Ortega.
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Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, white thread-like hyphae. This might sound like an unlikely starting point for homeware, but enterprising designers are finding ways to craft these natural fibers into a material akin to suede that can be used for designs ranging from tables to lamps.
Sebastian Cox and interdisciplinary researcher Ninela Ivanova are amongst the latest designers experimenting with Mycelium. Organising a laboratory of biofracture the duo explore the ancient relationship between wood and fungus, using strips of scrap timber sourced from Sebastian’s own woodland.
The Mycelium+Timber collection comprises a series of stools and lights made using freshly cut wood waste from Sebastian’s woodland which has been Myceliated with the species Formes fomentarius. Each piece is created by the Mycelium as it grows and binds the wood waste together around lightweight purpose made frames to form strong and compostable pieces of design.
Through a combined expertise in mycelium, wood, and design Ninela and Sebastian have produced a collection which not only changes our perception of material culture but positively impacts the way people choose the objects in their home.
Looking for more Mycelium? We dissect the trend in Warehouse Home Issue Eight.
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Former warehouses offer heritage features seldom found in standard homes. Their distinctive windows are so sought after that the look is being recreated for every property; small scale and soaring solutions.
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Architectural surface company Fiandre has released a textured porcelain tile inspired by the dramatic Scandinavian landscape. Throughout the collection the raw texture of stone has been used to reflect the brutality of nature, giving an uneven, distressed appearance ideal for application in vintage, industrial or contemporary schemes.
Available in a series of neutral colours the collection gradates from white to beige into black, meaning that the surfaces can be paired with a range of colours and existing textures. The tiles can be used both indoors and outdoors, making them extremely versatile and giving the ability to create a visual continuity between different spaces around the home. The tiles are available in 120x60, 60x60 and 60x30cm and in a semi-polished finish.
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