Ix-Nay Industrial Design

“Some design trends come and go with dizzying speed,” says New York City designer Ellen O’Neill. “Others seem to just hang around long past their sell-by date.”  Which is why the experts are practically begging people to ditch the Industrial Kitchen design, a trend that people are still clinging to even when they’ve been told for years to “let it go.”   It seems old habits (and Edison bulbs) die hard.

Let’s say this again, just to make sure the point is driven home:  Industrial chic is played out. It’s time to flip the switch on cage lighting and aggressively exposed pipes and beams.   Industrial kitchens are “not the most inviting place to be the heart of your home—more like living in a Costco,” says O’Neill. “So, unless you are a professional chef, let’s retire this trend.”

Try switching out the Industrial look for color.  Lots and lots of color.  Opt for “lush, opulent hues in the kitchen—deep (almost black) greens and blues, and dark woodwork—and lean on matte metallics for contrast,” recommends Debbie Schamberger of Elite Kitchen & Bath. Or if color isn’t your thing, go for the gold. “Gold is strong for hardware, faucets, and lighting fixtures—a soft gold, like Champagne,” she says.

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Photo Credit: jan1982 / Shutterstock.com