Loft style kitchen - industrial motives for a comfortable life

Originating in the thirties and forties of the last century, the loft style was the prerogative of those who did not have enough money for “normal” housing. Former warehouses, workshops and workshops were converted into living spaces. Often for reasons of economy, the new owners did not finish the brick and concrete walls at all or alter only part of their industrial apartments. Ceiling beams, poles, put on public display, communication systems were easier to keep in sight than to “hide” behind the skin. In those days, few could predict that all these forced measures would become exquisite design techniques for creating a modern interior in an industrial style. And not poor students, but prosperous homeowners will choose the style of the former industrial spaces for arranging comfortable housing with their own special flavor.

So, the loft style is industrial motives, this is an industrial scale adapted to the living space, this is the original design of absolutely all the premises in the house and the kitchen will not be an exception. Loft style has the following design elements:

• unprocessed (or deliberately imitated) surfaces made of concrete, masonry, not polished wood;
• communication systems that do not hide behind drywall or other types of cladding, pipes for public display, ventilation boxes;
• uneven surfaces, even floors can be bulk concrete with roughness;
• the abundance of metal elements - ceilings, stairs, connecting beams, supports;
• large lighting fixtures (parts hanging from a high ceiling on special tripods or bases) that are necessary in order to illuminate a large area.

And, of course, industrial style cannot do without scale - spacious rooms with high ceilings and large windows are simply necessary. Of course, loft style motifs can also be used in typical apartment buildings to create an original design. But a truly industrial interior can only be obtained in spacious rooms with high ceilings that exactly meet the requirements for industrial spaces.

One of the advantages of the loft style is that you will not have to worry about sophisticated, expensive interior items. The simpler and more convenient, the better - one of the motives of industrial stylistics. You can save a lot on finishing if your room has rough brickwork or concrete surfaces. Only worry about antiseptic coating against fungus formation.

A loft-style kitchen is, first of all, functionality, convenience and practicality. But the aesthetic side of the issue is not left behind. Preference is given to concise solutions, the use of natural shades of natural materials, often contrasting with industrial aesthetics.

Another plus of the design of the kitchen in an industrial manner is sufficient freedom of action in combining not only materials, but also the very ideas of creating particular interior items. For example, a vintage chair on the background of a brick, slightly scruffy wall, will look just luxurious. Modern household appliances are easily combined with concrete surfaces, and chrome-plated metal elements contrast with raw wood. The loft style easily transfers some borrowings, it is inherent in eclecticism, but in moderation, of course.

If you want to use the loft style to decorate a kitchen located in a typical apartment, you will need to go for expansion.One option is to connect the kitchen with a balcony or a loggia - the room will not only become larger. But also lighter. True, not all apartments have balconies or loggias. The second option is to connect the kitchen with the adjacent room for the arrangement of the kitchen-studio, which also functions as a living room. The combined space is more suitable for the use of industrial aesthetics, taking into account the features of the typical structure, of course.

If pioneers decorating rooms in the loft style, most often had to save on decoration, leaving most surfaces unchanged after their industrial use, then the current owner of the loft kitchen will need to work hard. If your room does not have rough brickwork, then you have many options to simulate such a surface using modern finishing materials. A brick wall, even a part of it, is a great way to declare the stylistic accessory of the interior.

If industrial motifs are used to decorate a kitchen located in a typical apartment, then you can use white on top of the brickwork to visually increase the volume of the room.

Most often, a loft-style kitchen is a zone in a combined space. When designing the kitchen segment, it is necessary to consider the entire interior as a whole. Most often, the decoration of the kitchen is a continuation of the walls, floors and ceiling of the living room (and sometimes the entrance hall, study and even the bedroom). But given the specifics of the functionality of the kitchen area, some surfaces need a special approach to create a practical and durable finish. And we are talking not only about the design of the kitchen apron (the material must be moisture resistant, withstand cleaning with chemicals that are resistant to mechanical damage), but also the choice of flooring.

Industrial kitchens always have high ceilings. A distinctive feature of the design of the ceiling is not only the presence of beams, ceilings, but also exposed engineering systems. Therefore, no stretch ceilings, wallpaper and ceiling plates. If the original concrete image of the ceiling does not suit you, then use white to visually increase the height of the room and emphasize the appearance of beams made of wood or metal.

A loft-style kitchen is a room where you can use design techniques that would look inorganic in any other design. In the design of the ceiling, you can use a variety of methods - from coating with metal sheets to the construction of whole compositions that mimic industrial devices of various modifications.

For the design of floors, designers recommend using a concrete surface - slightly uneven, only covered with special transparent compounds that act as antiseptics, this coating ideally reflects industrial aesthetics. Even a perfectly flat concrete floor with various composites to increase strength and durability can be an excellent option.

But not always this way of decorating floors is suitable for living spaces, most of us need a “warmer” option. A wooden floorboard or a matte laminate with a high level of wood imitation will be a great alternative.

In the choice of design solutions for the execution of the kitchen, there are practically no restrictions. Industrial style blends well with simple, concise solutions. It can be either facades with fittings, or smooth surfaces. In most cases, future owners of the loft kitchen choose matte surfaces, but the gloss for the execution of facades may look appropriate if this is the only large interior element with reflective ability.

It is hard to imagine a more harmonious setting for stainless steel kitchen facades than an industrial-style or hi-tech interior.Surfaces need constant care to maintain an ideal appearance, but the facades themselves will literally not be killed - they are not afraid of moisture, deformation, wear. This rather bold decision can lead to the creation of a completely unique loft style kitchen interior.

Designers recommend using open shelves when planning a furniture set for a loft kitchen. Shelves can be made of wood or metal, like industrial racks with the ability to create different sizes of the gap between the shelves - this will determine the choice of dishes that will be stored on these shelves.

If we talk about choosing a color scheme for the facades of a kitchen set, then there are two options globally - the first is associated with the selection of a shade that harmoniously fits into the created environment, the second is defined as an accent element of the interior. Given the scale of the furniture solution for the kitchen, this emphasis becomes decisive for this particular area of ​​the room. Against the background of brickwork, concrete walls or whitewashed surfaces, any bright shade of the facades of kitchen cabinets will look spectacular, advantageous.

But in most cases, designers offer neutral color solutions for the facades of kitchen cabinets, which will be located in an industrial kitchen. In this case, you can bring brightness to the neutral image of the kitchen area using bright household appliances. Enough bright fridge or oven to create the necessary accent.

The kitchen set or its part can serve not only as storage systems and places for the integration of household appliances, but also as a zoning element. The loft-style kitchen is most often part of one spacious room, in which partitions can serve, including furniture solutions. Storage systems can separate the kitchen and dining room, living room or hallway.

If with a kitchen set everything is more or less clear, then the choice of a dining group for many becomes a stumbling block. If it is convenient to arrange a dining area behind an island or a peninsula, then only bar stools or stools suitable for the design of kitchen facades will be left to choose. If there is a need and the possibility of installing a full-fledged dining group, then you need to be puzzled by the choice of table. Harmoniously combined industrial wood and metal products (wood worktops on a metal frame) will fit into the industrial theme. Chairs made of similar materials or with soft upholstery are suitable for such a table. You can opt for folding models and even garden furniture.

The table on wheels will look spectacular both as a kitchen island and as a surface for organizing meals. Completely metal or with a wooden tabletop, such an interior item will not only effectively fit into the general concept of the industrial image, but will also become the focal point of the kitchen area.

Choosing the right chairs for the dining table or bar stools for the kitchen island (peninsula) or bar counter requires no less attention. The ideal option is a metal frame with wooden or leather-wrapped seats and backs.

A kitchen decorated in an industrial style should be well lit. Not only the large spaces of the loft rooms are pushing the owners to create a whole system of fixtures - from pendant chandeliers to built-in lights and strip lights. The working area and the dining segment will need lighting, and common luminaires (at least one) are needed to create diffused lighting.

There are few restrictions in choosing the design of fixtures. It can be either models similar to those that I use in workshops, with metal or plastic shades, or more refined lighting fixtures, “borrowed” from other stylistic directions.