Industrial chic: RESENE
Industrial interiors are often associated with lofty apartments and gentrified factory buildings that have been repurposed and converted into urban dwellings.
Elements of this trendy interior style can be made to work in nearly any type of home. Plus, you don’t have to go for a full-on industrial look to still be able to incorporate some of its flair in your home.
Leaving unfinished, raw and exposed elements is key for getting the ‘factory’ vibe that’s synonymous with industrial style, so it’s important to show the ‘bones’ and interesting architectural features of your space where possible.
But if nothing in your home has that well-worn or patinaed look, there are some easy ways to get a similar vibe using paint, stains and other specialised Resene finishes. Resene FX Faux Rust Effect can work wonders in imparting a genuinely aged look on an unaged surface.
Another idea is to use Resene FX Paint Effects medium to create a weathered or limewashed look over newer walls, which can give the impression they’re made of aged plaster or concrete. Choose two similar Resene paint colours – one that’s lighter and one that’s a couple of steps darker – that are similar to the material you are wanting to mimic. For instance, try Resene Triple Concrete and Resene Half Concrete for a concrete effect or Resene Double Blanc and Resene Quarter Blanc to get the effect of aged plaster.
Start by painting your walls in two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen waterborne enamel tinted to the favourite of
your two chosen colours. Once your first colour has dried completely, use a Resene testpot of your second colour to colour a tin of Resene FX Paint Effects medium and apply it to the wall with a large, soft paintbrush in a criss-cross motion. Work in small sections of approximately half a square metre and immediately buff each freshly painted area with a clean, dry rag before it has a chance to dry, which will soften and blend the effect.
Adding a vintage touch by including reclaimed and repurposed items is a sure-fire way to enhance your design’s industrial vibe. Check local op shops, and markets and keep your eyes peeled for things like steel bins, timber boxes, old lockers, signs, stools and chairs that can bring an eclectic feel to your space.
The colours you choose to decorate your industrial design with are an important part of getting the right effect, too. Grey, brown, silver and black are prevalent in industrial colour schemes. However, primary or vintage reds and yellows – especially yellow ochres and red oxides – such as Resene Fuel Yellow, Resene Hot Toddy or Resene Fahrenheit and greens such as Resene Half Forest Green or Resene Go Ben play their part in the look, too.
PAINT
Upper wall in Resene Quarter Ash with lower shelf wall in Resene Cinder, timber floor stained in Resene Colorwood Natural, locker in Resene Half Forest Green, desk legs and pendant lamp in Resene Mocha, desk lamp in Resene Fuel Yellow, metal chair in Resene Half Forest Green.
ACCESSORIES
Clock from Nood, desk from Mocka, bins, magazine holders, mug, wooden chalkboard, replica chair and desk lamp from Kmart, locker from IKEA.
Project by Laura Lynn Johnston
Images by Bryce Carleton
Get inspired at your local Resene ColorShop, www.resene.co.nz/colorshops.
