Hard Facts About Industrial Interior Design

Industrial design is a major trend in boutiques, restaurants, tasting rooms, and other gathering spaces – but it’s too sterile for your space, right? Think again. One of Garrison Hullinger Interior Design’s multifamily projects, Rowlock, proves that industrial design can be as warm and welcoming as it is chic and visually interesting. Now that Rowlock is turning heads and stealing hearts at Orenco Station in Hillsboro, Oregon, we thought we would take a closer look at the details that bring industrial design to your space.

Expose the Raw Details

Exposed steel beams and hanging light bulbs in the lobby stylishly invoke the feeling of an industrial space while posh furniture and inviting colors keep the vibe trendy and comfortable. In industrial design, sometimes the unfinished look is best – so don’t be afraid to use raw materials to your advantage.

Eclectic Details From Concept to Completion

Here is a rendering of Rowlock’s lobby that Senior Designer Hannah Furseth provided our client during an early presentation. The results, shown above, are uncanny! The industrial details really stand out here- cool steel, rough reclaimed wood, hanging light bulbs, and the feature wall of cabinet doors. Using “industry pieces” or a collection of items is a typical method of decorating in industrial design. In the Club Room we hung a series of wood rounds. In one of the model units there is a media stand made of metal and wood that holds a collection of books and pottery.

Use a Mix of Metal & Wood

The most tell-tale sign of industrial interior design is the mix of metal and wood. Raw steel and stainless steel are the most popular choices for metal. GHID chose to include reclaimed wood details throughout which have a great textural contrast to the raw steel. Our designers researched the history of the building’s location and found that it once was home to an apple orchard, which inspired them to include reclaimed wood details throughout the space. The recycled wood creates a sense of history for this modern building and reminded us of apple boxes and, of course, tree trunks.

Industrial Design Doesn’t Have to Mean Black & Gray

…though it often does. That is because one of the main traits of the design style is to have a “warehouse look.” Metal, concrete, and wood. Instead of all neutral we chose to use a bright and spicy color palette that we hoped would appeal to the young and hip demographic of Intel employees our client wanted to draw. It was important for the eclectic design that we mix highly textured fabrics with luxurious smooth materials. We also threw in some rougher and more durable fabrics such as kilims and hides.

Make a Statement in Your Fusion of Styles

One reason that industrial interior design has taken off it that it is easy to personalize. The combination of mixing raw wood and smooth surfaces continues here, too, but in this space Garrison Hullinger Interior Design’s team fused industrial interior design traits with polished glam! The metal light fixtures have a perforated pattern casting light spots and sparkle throughout the space. To add to that glam look we extended the paint color in a tall vertical stripe pattern transforming a typically utilitarian space into a bold destination. The beauty of industrial interior design is that it mixes with modern, vintage, mid-century modern, and more, seamlessly. So make your statement!

Up-close look…

Here’s one last up-close detail photo to send you off. To see our full portfolio of images for Rowlock, click here.