Interiors: Industrial Elements

My favorite spaces are those that combine elements from varying styles--a little bit farmhouse, a little bit Paris apartment and a dash of mid-century modern. But if someone forced me to choose only one style to live with, it would have to be industrial. There's nothing like an oversized steel workbench with a wood top that has been carved into so many times by daily use that it looks like a work of art. A giant store letter is all that I need to dress up my walls. A set of printers' drawers or a hardware cabinet with dozens of itemized slots would offer quirky storage. A few of my other industrial favorites: palette coffee tables, step ladders as side tables, hand trucks transformed into small bookshelves, and nautical spotlights. Maybe it's because I like a good mix of masculine and feminine in my decor (great linens and upholstery add the feminine touches) or perhaps it's the idea that these pieces were put through their paces before landing in my hands. No matter a piece's age, for me, industrial style never gets old.

Images: Living etc magazine, August 2010, April 2010, February 2010 issues. British Country Living, April 2010 issue. Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Country and Modern: Contemporary Interiors for Rural Settings by Dinah Hall, published by Soma Books, 1998.

Interiors: Industrial Elements

My favorite spaces are those that combine elements from varying styles--a little bit farmhouse, a little bit Paris apartment and a dash of mid-century modern. But if someone forced me to choose only one style to live with, it would have to be industrial. There's nothing like an oversized steel workbench with a wood top that has been carved into so many times by daily use that it looks like a work of art. A giant store letter is all that I need to dress up my walls. A set of printers' drawers or a hardware cabinet with dozens of itemized slots would offer quirky storage. A few of my other industrial favorites: palette coffee tables, step ladders as side tables, hand trucks transformed into small bookshelves, and nautical spotlights. Maybe it's because I like a good mix of masculine and feminine in my decor (great linens and upholstery add the feminine touches) or perhaps it's the idea that these pieces were put through their paces before landing in my hands. No matter a piece's age, for me, industrial style never gets old.

Images: Living etc magazine, August 2010, April 2010, February 2010 issues. British Country Living, April 2010 issue. Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Country and Modern: Contemporary Interiors for Rural Settings by Dinah Hall, published by Soma Books, 1998.

Interiors: Lockers

I recently purchased a set of five lockers and nearly cursed my decision when I had to unbolt about thirty hard-to-reach bolts to separate them into two parts so that I could get them home. But despite the effort required to transport them home (and again soon to RevivalSmith), I've always loved these reliable institution dwellers. The upright variety are great in mudrooms for hanging coats and hiding boots, while the square cubby style looks great on a feature wall and provides extra storage for small treasures. Leaving one or two doors open beckons visitors to lean in for a closer view of its contents. Teen movies would have us believe these rows of tin soldiers were invented for bullies to lock away their marks. But anyone with imagination knows that they are only parked in schools and recreational centers until their true owners discover them cast aside at auctions and in antique shops.

Images: Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Old & New: combining past and present in contemporary homes by Katherine Sorrell, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2002. Apartment: stylish solutions for apartment living by Alan Powers, photography by Chris Everard, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2001. InsideOut magazine, May-June 2009 issue.

Interiors: Lockers

I recently purchased a set of five lockers and nearly cursed my decision when I had to unbolt about thirty hard-to-reach bolts to separate them into two parts so that I could get them home. But despite the effort required to transport them home (and again soon to RevivalSmith), I've always loved these reliable institution dwellers. The upright variety are great in mudrooms for hanging coats and hiding boots, while the square cubby style looks great on a feature wall and provides extra storage for small treasures. Leaving one or two doors open beckons visitors to lean in for a closer view of its contents. Teen movies would have us believe these rows of tin soldiers were invented for bullies to lock away their marks. But anyone with imagination knows that they are only parked in schools and recreational centers until their true owners discover them cast aside at auctions and in antique shops.

Images: Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Old & New: combining past and present in contemporary homes by Katherine Sorrell, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2002. Apartment: stylish solutions for apartment living by Alan Powers, photography by Chris Everard, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2001. InsideOut magazine, May-June 2009 issue.