Industrial Chic| Redefining Interior Design with Factory-Inspired Pieces

Do you know the traits of industrial decor? Think of an old warehouse built in the 1920's. There are high ceilings, exposed brick, beams, ducts and piping, extra large black metal framed windows that allow for natural light, bare light bulbs, and natural elements added in to offset the heavy metals. The picture to the right is a great example of industrial decor with many of the traits visible. This is a loft in Seattle, WA that was refurbished and now serves as an event center. All of these traits are what makes up a beautiful industrial decor setting. When my husband and I decided to build a house, we chose a Modern Farmhouse plan. In our previous home, a spec home with a few upgrades, we did a lot of remodeling in order to try and achieve the farmhouse look I so badly wanted. Now, with this new home, I had a clean slate to start with and I knew I wanted to add some touches of Industrial to it without making it look like Edison's laboratory. In this post, I will share with you some easy ways to add in touches of industrial in any home.

#1 |Old railroad carts have become popular to use for coffee tables, but some of them come with a hefty price. On the low end, you might find one in not-so-good shape for $200. On the higher end, the price tag could be in upwards of $2,000 or more depending on the condition, size, and if there are any company logos, markings, or plates on them. Just to give you an idea, here are a couple of higher end carts...

To the left, is a Lineberry cart out of North Carolina. These are really popular because most of them will be clearly marked as you see here. These began being produced in the late 1800's as the American Industrial Revolution was underway. The carts were built and sold to textile mills and factories to aid in moving heavy items around from place to place. These go for around $1,800.

To the right, is a vintage Hamilton Truck factory cart. The arrow is pointing to a company name plate that identifies the maker and the location of production. The Hamilton Caster & MFG company is still in business today in Ohio making carts for warehouses and factories.

Continuing on to my search for one of these jewels! If you've read any of my posts, you know that FB Marketplace is my go to when I'm searching for an item that I might not otherwise be able to afford. Seriously, my scrolling and searching skills are amazing! Just tell me what you want, and I'll find it on marketplace within a couple of days. LOL! Well ok, most of the time a day or two, but this search took quite a bit longer. More like a month. I was looking for something in good condition and that wasn't going to break the bank. One finally popped up on marketplace and it looked great! The price was even better at $75. Yep. That's right. $75 was less than I ever imagined when I started this search. Take a look at this beauty!

I messaged the seller to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with it, and she said it was solid. I had to travel a little ways from where I am at to Joplin, Mo to pick it up. When I got there, the woman explained that her dad had passed a couple of years before, and she was just now getting around to cleaning out some of his things. She said that he owned his own glass shop, and he used the cart to move large pieces of glass around in his shop. I assured her that it was going to a good home, and that I would always treasure the story that went with it.

After getting it home, I did sand the top a little and decided to put a dark stain on it to help protect it. I painted the sides a creamy white and then used antiquing gel to finish it off. Here are some pictures of the finished cart, and how I have it in our living room.

PICTURES COMING SOON!!

So, maybe you don't want to go to all the trouble that I did to get one. I get it. Sometimes a replica in new condition can be just as good right? Here are some that I found that you might like too! Click on the images to read more!

This one has a little more distressing and a more natural color. I also like the placement of the wheels on this one as well.

I love the extra large wheels on the back and the color is lighter and brighter which I think gives it a more modern look.

#2 |Industrial Lighting Another way I could add a little industrial flair in the house was in my lighting choices. You can see those that I chose for the house here . An easier way to add industrial lighting is by using lamps. There are a lot of them to choose from depending on your price range. This is one that I found and used in the cubbies on each side of the fireplace. The pictures are linked to shop this lamp.

With the light on and with it off. I love the big round exposed Edison bulb.

Here are a few others that I like, either to add something simple, or a little bit of a WOW factor in the room. Click on the pictures to shop these looks!

I love this tripod floor lamp! If I had a place for it, it would be ordered and on its way!

#3 |Shelving & Stools Last but not least and an easy way to add in some industrial touches, shelving options and industrial stools. Think wood and metal, wood and metal. Ok I think you've got the idea by now! Do you see a pattern here? Without further ado, here are some great finds for adding shelving into your room. Some of the pipe shelving only comes with the pipe brackets and not with the wood planks for the shelves. If your handy, and maybe have some old wood laying around, you could cut your own planks and save some money this way. Take a look at these great finds and shop them here:

I hope you've enjoyed this and maybe found something to inspire you in your home decor!

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