industrial Archives - Page 6 of 26

The Latest Lighting Trends Lighting up our World

Cluster of bare bulbs hanging from ceiling

Lighting in the home is both a practical element as well as a tool for creating ambience to a space. From the hallway and the living room to the bedroom and beyond, choosing stylish lighting will be top of your list. But what are the current trends? From glass table lamps to natural materials, we take you through the top trends for 2020.

Natural materials are still hot

Last season, we saw the re-emergence of natural materials such as bamboo and wicker. Although many still think of these materials as a throwback to the 70s and only for outdoor furniture, they have proved their worth in terms of stylish pendant lights in recent times. In the coming year, with the emphasis remaining on making better decisions in terms of materials and their impact on the environment, bamboo and wicker will remain stylish options.

Recycled and reclaimed materials

Recycled and reclaimed materials will also remain top of the list when it comes to stylish lighting solutions in the home. Think recycled glass table lamps or wood chip pendant ceiling lights to complement your reclaimed wood furniture.

More refined industrial lighting

The industrial style is never far from the headlines, but as with all interior themes, there are always slight tweaks and changes to bring it up to date. This is true of the industrial style lighting coming our way this season. With a more refined edge, industrial pendant lighting still has its place in the kitchen and dining area. Opt for dining room lighting with a slightly retro feel about it.

Edison style bulbs

If you want to give your lighting a lift but without changing the fitting, you’ll be pleased to know there is a solution and it comes in the shape of Edison-style light bulbs. Mimicking the original light bulb, which was big, round and had a large filament on show, these bulbs make a great addition for kitchen pendant lighting as well as pendant ceiling lights in the hallway and table lamps too.

Mid-century modern lighting

The mid-century style is set to make a comeback in terms of lighting styles. However, this doesn’t mean hunting for a decadent chandelier. Instead, you are looking for pendant lighting that has glamour and the wow factors. Opt for pendant lighting that uses plenty of glass with a minimal fitting. Also, consider those pendant light fittings that are plentiful. In other words, clustered pendant lighting will work in any room.

Smart technology

If you haven’t joined the smart home technology revolution, then now is the time. There is some suggestion that smart lighting can save you money as you can switch off lights in the kitchen, hallway, bedrooms without leaving the comfort of the sofa ….

Better still, you don’t have to ditch your current light fittings. Simply get yourself hooked up with special bulbs and plugs, and your Google or Alexa home bug will guide you through the setup process.

Go with your own style

When all is said and done, lighting trends are only as current and popular if people like them and opt for them in their home. Make a statement – your statement – with lighting solutions that you love.

Why an Industrial Home Office Never Goes Out Of Style

Wooden desk with cup of black copy and notebook

The home office should be a comfortable, productive place to work. Style is, therefore, important. There are many schemes you can choose for your home office furniture, but the industrial style never loses its cool. Functional, practical and hardworking, it is a timeless choice that will last for years to come. Here’s how to give your home office an industrial-chic vibe.

Start with a neutral colour palette

The industrial style has a wonderful neutral backdrop to not detract from the typical industrial features that set this style apart from others. If you don’t have brick or steel work to leave exposed, opt for warmer but barely-there shades of very light cream or off-white. You could also stick with crisp white as this also helps the light in the room.

Choose reclaimed wood furniture

The industrial style is a sublime combination of reclaimed wood with cool steel and exposed brick. And so opting for reclaimed wood home office furniture, such as a reclaimed wood desk is a must. However, this doesn’t always mean a rustic or unrefined finish. It means opting for furniture styled to give it the ‘industrial’ edge that you are looking for. For a beautiful reclaimed wood table to leather office chairs, to storage solutions and display units, there are many options.

Get heavy with the metal

Metal is an important element in any scheme but whilst we are used to it being shiny and reflective, in true industrial furniture style you want matt or black metalwork. From the steel legs for a reclaimed wood industrial desk to an all-metal office table or storage item, the use of metal is a must.

Choose office storage that works for you

It is easy to be lulled into thinking that the storage solutions seen in the glossy pages of magazines and websites will be perfect for your home industrial office. Think through what storage solutions will work for you and then set about finding what suits your working needs best. From wooden storage cabinets to open shelving with baskets and wooden boxes, there are many solutions. But they only work if they work for you.

Play with materials

Brick is the obvious choice for channelling an industrial feel, but if you don’t have a red brick wall to expose, you can opt to showcase other industrial materials. Concrete is not just for car parks. And it doesn’t have to be grey and unfinished. Concrete, providing it is the right mix, can be buffed and smoothed to give it an industrial edge. Or why not cheat with concrete effect wallpaper? Add some wood touches and elegant lighting to warm the space.

Opt for pendant lighting

Lighting is key in any space but has extra importance in your working environment. That doesn’t mean you have to opt for harsh lighting or modern fittings. Choose a minimal pendant light fitting – the large metal bowl shade is ideal – and have them clustered or hanging individually in key areas of your home office, such as over your white desk chair or storage cabinets.

Stylish and functional, you won’t regret choosing the industrial style for your home office.

Take Another Look at the Industrial Dining Table

Industrial dining table with matching wooden bench

The industrial style is a décor scheme that shows no sign of falling out of favour any time soon. But for many people, the belief that the industrial style is only about exposed brickwork and dark metal, which is not always true. When it comes to the industrial dining table, for example, they assume that there is a choice of one style and one only. But take another look as you’ll see that there are many choices to inspire the industrial dining room.

The classic industrial

Firstly, topping the list of our best-selling industrial dining tables is the classic industrial look.

This is the look that many people associate with the style – that is, the classic black steel leg frame with rustic reclaimed wood furniture top. It is a classic combination and one that epitomises the industrial style which is why the marriage of reclaimed wood and steel is still favoured by interior designers and style hunters looking for the archetypal industrial dining table.

Maintain simplicity around it too, so that the underlying principles of this style can shine. Opt for leather upholstered dining chairs, another classic staple that sits easily alongside all manner of industrial furniture. Choose chairs that have a classic simplicity about them to produce the streamlined clean look associated with this style.

The glamorous industrial look

The original industrial look was born from loft living in old, industrial buildings that have a long heritage in the industrial world. And so it’s no surprise that the raw materials left behind from this bygone time were – and still are – embraced.

That doesn’t mean that the industrial look, and industrial furniture itself, can’t enjoy an injection of glamour every now and then.

The glammed up industrial look has become popular in recent seasons with homeowners looking to add their own spin on this beautiful style. And so switching up the metal finish from black steel to polished chrome or gold-coloured metal is the perfect solution.

The combination of high shine metal finishes with a rustic reclaimed wood tabletop is sublime and gives a more polished and grown-up spin to the industrial look.

Match upholstered dining chairs with the same high shine finish as its industrial dining table counterpart or fabric chairs with studded detailing for a glam-rock vibe and you have a dining table and chairs combination good enough for the dance floor.

Industrial spider leg detailing

And finally, another notable change that is popular with our customers is extra detailing in the shape of spider leg industrial dining tables.

Sometimes it is the updating of the smallest of details that has the biggest impact. When you want something different but don’t want to leave the principles of the design scheme behind, then the spider leg table will be top of the list.

It is super practical too – you have more leg space beneath the small dining table, for example, as well as it adding extra notes of interest without cluttering the space or the eyeline.

Take a fresh look at industrial dining tables to relish the choice

From a round dining table to an imposing industrial dining table that commands attention, the choice of this style of table is much bigger than you may think. Time to take a fresh look, perhaps…?

The Beauty of the Small Dining Table

Small dark wooden table with linen cushions

If you dream of a large welcoming dining room complete with a substantial reclaimed wood dining table taking centre stage against other pieces of reclaimed wood furniture, you are not alone. It’s a fantasy many of us harbour, but the reality is often a lot different. And this means that when it comes to choosing a dining table for a small space, we have to make sure we make a clever choice. That said, the range of options when it comes to small dining tables is not limited. Just how do you make the most of your dining space with the beauty of a small dining table?

1 Opt for a foldaway or extendable table

If you use the dining table occasionally, a foldaway table gives the best of both worlds – you have a dining table when you need it but plenty of floor space when you don’t. A round extending table could offer the same benefit in that you have a smaller table for most days, but more dining space when you need it.

2 Go bright

The temptation to maximise the feeling of space is to go with white walls and reflective surfaces but, some designers are of the opinion that if the space is small, you should embrace it. Bright colours with a hint of pastel shades are right on trend at the moment. As well as pastel shades for the wall, opt for jewelled coloured upholstered dining chairs for your small round dining table or add coloured table covers to brighten up and make a feature of your reclaimed wood dining table.

3 Opt for a bar table

For homes where space in the kitchen really is very limited, opting for a dining table, especially if it’s just for the two of you, could swallow up space you can ill-afford to lose. There is another option and it comes in the shape of a bar table.

There are many stylish bar tables and so you are sure to find something that fits with your style whether that is the industrial style or the farmhouse look. Add some comfy bar stools and you will be happy to while away an evening supper, linger over a long lunch or catch-up with friends over a quick morning coffee.

4 Opt for streamlined dining benches

You don’t just have to think about the dining table but the chairs too. When you have little space to play with, no matter how small or bijou your chosen industrial dining table or round dining table is, with dining chairs added it can all feel too much and too cluttered.

Stools can make for a handy seating solution at a dining table when space is limited. That said, they aren’t suitable for everybody, but as an occasional seating solution, they are perfect.

The solution may lie in a streamline dining bench. No clutter and no fuss, when not in use, simply pop under the table or push up against the wall.

5 Think outside the box

If you have plentiful space in the hallway or corridor, for example, but limited space in the corner of your kitchen diner, who says that you can’t think outside the box and utilise this space as your dining space?

With the right accessories and choice of dining table, it may be more comfortable all round to move the table into an area where there is more space for the table and for diners. Maybe not the bedroom (or bathroom!), but a living room, walkway or long hallway could be ideal. Give it try!

Silo London – the zero-waste revolutionary

Bar area of Silo London with wall lights and cream bar stools

Back in 2014, Douglas McMaster opened the world’s first zero-waste restaurant in Modish Living HQ’s hometown: Brighton. Called Silo, the eco-chic restaurant focused on ‘closing the loop’ in the food production process. It became known for serving drinks in jam jars, using upturned crates as seats and, of course, offering a delicious menu of locally sourced produce, long before upcycling and sustainable living was a hot topic.

Fast forward to 2019, the award-winning chef has taken his revolutionary concept to Hackney Wick in London where he created an innovative evolution of Silo Brighton. McMaster’s vision was conceived from a desire to innovate the food industry whilst demonstrating respect: respect for the environment, respect for the way our food is generated and respect for the nourishment it gives our bodies. This means creating everything from its whole form, cutting out food miles and over-processing, together with preserving nutrients and the integrity of the ingredients in the process.

“we’re constantly raising the bar when it comes to up-cycling and zero waste”

Douglas McMaster

McMaster and his team work directly with farmers and compost any leftovers using the kitchen’s own compost machine. The continually changing menu includes inventive dishes such as grilled fantail squid, white kimchi and Douglas fir; Jerusalem artichokes cooked on fire and served with Cashel Blue and ruby kraut; and blue potatoes, barbecued sea kale and caramelised whey. Wines are British, sourced from artisanal producers including another Modish Living neighbour, Tillingham in Sussex, which specialises in biodynamic, zero-sulphite wines.

For something a little stronger, the cocktail list, made in collaboration with award-winning bartender, Mr Lyan, is thoughtful and interesting, as is the craft beer from Silo’s partner, CRATE Brewery.

But what of the interior? As you would expect, the design and furniture mirrors the restaurant’s ethical and sustainable approach, where less is more. Created from a desire to re-use, the open space was designed by Nina Woodcroft of Nina+Co, who softened the building’s original industrial features by using a few pioneering high-quality materials that are biodegradable. For example, the entrance pendant light is moulded from foraged seaweed, while the natural cork flooring is carbon negative. The dining tables were crafted using sustainably sourced English ash and the cocktail lounge furniture was grown to order from a fungus called mycelium. We also love the dining bar, which is wrapped in recycled leather and topped with a counter made from reconstituted food packaging.

As champions of sustainable and reclaimed wood furniture we applaud Silo London for its pioneering approach. Long may creativity and sustainability continue to thrive in all that we do!

6 ways to give your bedroom an industrial makeover

Bedroom with exposed brick wall and pink pillows

Exuding calmness and coolness, an industrial style bedroom is a vista to behold. Despite its utilitarian look, it encapsulates everything you need in the bedroom to make it both the restful space you yearn for at the end of the day and the ideal place to prepare for yet another busy day in the morning. Injecting the industrial furniture vibe in your bedroom is simple with these easy tips…

1. Don’t be too perfect

Neat, clean lines with a manicured finish have their place, however in the industrial bedroom be prepared to embrace the less-than-perfect but still stylish look.

That means welcoming exposed brick as well as not-so-smooth plaster, along with other materials that have a pleasing appeal to them. For example, reclaimed wood bedroom furniture with its small and barely noticeable scuffs and dents is ideal.

From a small bedside table to a reclaimed wood bed frame, use reclaimed furniture in the bedroom against a backdrop that retains an empathy with the building itself. Solid wood wardrobes would work perfectly in this type of space.

2. Add soft textures

The industrial look doesn’t have to be sharp and angular, although many still believe this is the only way for the industrial style to be.

Soften the edges with beautiful throws for the bed along with scatter cushions that give it a sumptuous air. And for the floor, a rug for the bedside that frames both the bed and small bedside table is ideal for warmth underfoot. Choose a lightly patterned rug for the industrial bedroom, and one that has a pop of understated colour to it too.

3. Layer the lighting

Like any room of any design, the industrial style bedroom needs layers of light so that you have both practical lighting, but also softer lighting for morning and evening.

But think about their styling too. Opt for bare lightbulbs – there are light fittings, both pendant lights and bedside table lamps, designed specifically for the industrial look in mind.

If you do opt for shades, keep them minimal and unpretentious. Glass works well to diffuse the light around the room, with recycled glass also making a great lamp base too. There are also sustainably sourced woodchip pendant lights, perfect for adding an interesting touch to the lighting scheme in any room.

4. Add personal touches

The key, so they say, to a happy home is to have personal things around you that make you smile. This includes photographs of loved ones, your pets as well as accessories and other items that hold important memories for you.

In the industrial style bedroom, cluster photographs and important items on a reclaimed console table. Opt for one with drawers and you have the perfect small dressing table.

5. Choose colours wisely

For the industrial style bedroom, you want colours that are synonymous with the look – get it wrong, and they’ll jar against each other. White will get you out of trouble but if you feel you need colour, opt for light, barely-there shades such as blue. If blue’s not for you, cream or beige are both colour touches that are calming and restful for the bedroom, but also ideal to use with the industrial style.

6. Add a plant or two…

… or even flowers. The industrial bedroom should, like all bedrooms, be quiet, restful and peaceful. Adding a plant or two next to your rustic furniture brings together the room into one cohesive, restful space.

How To Soften Your Industrial Space

Industrial living room with black metal staircase and grey fabric sofas

The industrial style is loved by many. Clean and unpretentious, there is a pleasing sparseness that makes it a simple and elegant scheme for any room in the home. But for many, the industrial style lacks prettiness and softness. However, if you think that the industrial style cannot be ‘prettified’, think again. We show you how to add the small touches and details that give it personality without compromising on its industrial character.

In the industrial kitchen and dining room

The kitchen and dining space are important, busy spaces in any home and so the industrial furniture style is the ideal backdrop with the reclaimed wood dining table taking centre stage.

Make the industrial dining table special – with all the gifts that the industrial style has, our Sussex oak parquet industrial oval set is the perfect choice. It boasts the timeless combination of steel against reclaimed wood, but the patterned tabletop of this industrial dining table gives is that extra ‘something’ you are looking for.

Reclaimed wood dining table with spider legs

Add fabric dining chairs – adding upholstered dining chairs to an industrial dining table softens the edges and gives it a wonderful unique look too. Cream fabric dining chairs make the perfect complementary addition.

Hanging pendant light with reclaimed wood dining table and upholstered chairs

Spice up the lighting – functional it may be but that doesn’t mean the industrial kitchen and dining room cannot enjoy a sumptuous elegant addition in the way of lighting options. Pendant lights are just one solution and our Bordur white woodchip pendant light is a brilliant choice. Directing light onto the work surface, its practical function is not lost but the unique shade makes it an interesting choice.

In the industrial living room

The practical functional appeal of the industrial look is what attracted you to it in the first place, but it can have a touch of coldness about it. This is because many people leave out textures, assuming that rugs and cushions will add clutter to a style that does not welcome it.

The industrial glamour look is one aspect you could adopt for the industrial living room…

Rugs – a staple of any design scheme, for the industrial living room, opting for soft beige living room rugs will make all the difference. You get warmth underfoot, you get the warmth from varying texture in the space and you get colour without it jarring against the style.

A velvet armchair – against the industrial backdrop, the leather sofa is the ideal companion but if it all feels a little flat, adding texture in the shape of plush velvet is one solution for ‘lifting’ the room from the page. Plush green velvet armchairs will marry seamlessly with your sofa, leather or fabric, and will also add the hint of glamour and sumptuousness that we seek in the living room.

The industrial bedroom

Cool, calming and welcoming, the industrial style bedroom is a haven for de-stressing and unwinding at the end of the day. The industrial style bedroom oozes everything you need but for texture and warmth, you could…

Opt for reclaimed wood bedside tables that are made from lighter colour woods – beech is a beautiful light but warm wood that works well in the industrial style.

Use mirrors to reflect light in the room – mirrors are always a welcome addition to the bedroom, both floor and floor standing mirrors.

Don’t forget lighting for the bedroom too – our Sassa wicker bedside table lamps introduces the natural fibres of wicker, with a hint of both pattern and colour.

Top 3 Reasons Why a Round Dining Table is a Great Choice

white oval dining table with wood chairs and eucalyptus leaves in glass jar

The dining table is an important purchase and so it’s no wonder that you want to make the right investment. A round dining table may not be your first choice, but it ticks many boxes. Here are just three top reasons why a round dining table is the table of choice in your kitchen or dining space.

1 Because the dining room is square

Isn’t that like hammering a round nail into a square hole, you may ask? Go with it; there is a method to this madness.

A square room and round dining table combo are perfect in so many ways. The combination of two different shapes sitting with each other can make for a pleasant aesthetic appeal to a room. With an angular room decorated with a strong nod to the industrial style, for example, a round industrial dining table can ‘soften’ the edges.

2 Because you can squeeze more people around it

Some of the best dinner parties and get-togethers are those that happen by accident. Is there anything better than a group of friends or your extended family dropping on by and staying for something to eat?

It’s the stuff of memories and although we would love to have a dining table around which everyone will fit, it is neither possible nor practical in many cases.

But the round table – or even the oval dining table if you want to switch up the shape a bit – is perfect for these happily-accidental drop-ins, because you can easily squeeze more people around its perimeter.

Even better, you can invest in an extendable round dining table, just so you have extra space on standby for such occasions.

3 Because a round dining table is something different

For many of us, the dining table is either a café style small dining table that fits neatly into the corner or a large rectangle farmhouse dining table that is stylish but possibly a little imposing.

There’s nothing wrong with this, in fact it fits in many a home, but if you want to ring the changes with your next dining table, opt for a round one. For the smaller space, a round small dining table is perfect. Or maybe an oval table would be just right, a sumptuous and elegant piece of reclaimed wood furniture if ever there was one.

How to choose the right dining table, no matter the shape

If your curiosity to go full circle has been ignited, there are a few factors to consider when choosing your dining table, round or otherwise…

Don’t forget to measure – measure the space you have and then with tape, mark out on the floor the dimensions of the dining table. Is there room to walk around the table and move the chairs too?
The 1-metre rule – there should be at least one metre between the back of the dining chair when you are sat on it and the nearest wall or object behind the chair. Any less and taking your seat at the dining table will be difficult.

Ready to make the change? Browse through our collection of round dining tables and find the perfect match for your home.

Find the Right Statement Dining Chairs

Three wooden dining chairs with white painted chair

You’ve found the perfect reclaimed wood dining table and all you need to do now is find the right statement dining chairs. It can be more difficult than you think, especially with so much choice laid out before you. How do you make a choice? Here’s a few key areas to think about…

Choose the right size

Chairs that look too big for the table and the dining room will simply swamp it, not a look that you are going for! Start by measuring the dining room and the space you have around the table, as well as between the table and the wall. You need a clear metre from the back of the chair to the wall for easy movement. You also need ‘elbow room’ between diners.

Dining chairs come with different dimensions, so check the height, width and depth of your chosen chairs. Check the table height too.

Oak dining table with matching oak dining chairs

If you are seeking the modern farmhouse style for your dining space, oak dining chairs have the perfect dimensions for the farmhouse table.

The comfort and function factors

How often you use the dining table and chairs will also play a part in the style you choose. For a more formal dining room that is used less often, high-backed upholstered dining chairs will nestle perfectly against your reclaimed wood dining table. You could opt for the glamour of grey velvet dining chairs, for example.

Cream velvet dining chair with button back detail

Button back detailing on velvet fabric dining chair

For the kitchen table, statement pieces in the shape of kitchen chairs wouldn’t go amiss, similar to the aforementioned oak dining chairs.

Use

It’s the chair on which you sit while eating at the table. Style choice will also depend on who is using your chairs and dining table.

A formal setting with adults means that velvet or fabric dining chairs would be perfect but at the family dining table, you will look for other practical elements. Wipe-clean chairs, for example, are a must in the family home.

As well as wooden dining chairs, you may want to consider leather dining chairs. With older children, the fabric choice is perfect. Wipe clean with leather wipes and you can expect many years of robust wear from a naturally strong fabric.

The leg frame

Shape, material, dimensions and colour are all important but if you feel that some of these options are still too ‘fussy’, there are other means of choosing statement dining chairs that have a look-at-me-detail – the legs.

The right leg frame makes a huge difference. It can give you more leg space and also give a hint of unexpected detail. Pedestal legs give more legroom and also contribute to the room feeling bigger too. Sleigh legs, on the other hand, open up the space too and add a little hint of decadence.

You also need to consider if the legs of the dining chairs allow them to be neatly pushed under the table when not in use. If this is something you need, there will be nothing more annoying than chairs sticking out…

Your style

And finally, there are your likes and dislikes, as well as choosing a style of dining chairs that complements your chosen décor and style.

There is the glamorous appeal of velvet upholstered dining chairs, as well as functional wooden dining chairs. There are the beauty and elegance of industrial leather dining chairs to the Scandi style, mid-century style, and more. Whatever your preference, you’re sure to be able to find an option that suits your taste, as well as your space.