INDUSTRIAL CHIC – When Brick Meets Hammered Ironmongery To Create An Ergonomic Sanctuary

Theme and concept is at the very epicentre of all interior design. Whether you’re partial to a bit of mix and match, or you love a design clash, each person will have their own view on their ideal look. One particular design theme that has progressively become more and more popular over the years is industrial chic.

This specific look is something many of you would have already seen, but on more commercial grounds such as coffee shops, retail stores, and design studios. However over the last year this particular concept has been brought into the homes of many across the globe. From exposed brick walls to iron cladded shelving, this look is both practical and stylish. Pair those elements with wooden flooring, textured ironmongery, and minimalistic accessories, and you can easily capture the “hipster” trend that has the interior industry buzzing.

Although the overall concept might seem a tad much for some people, others are embracing the trend and are imitating it in their own ways. Like anything in the design world there is no right or wrong way to implement set looks, and the great thing about industrial chic is that “less is more”. Another advantage of this look is that you can achieve it on a minimal budget. As the look is particularly rustic looking, so you don’t have to worry about that perfect finish, and if anything the more rugged looking the better.

I myself am a fan of the industrial look and I am halfway through implementing it into my home. When I first told my family and friends about the design plan, not many were convinced. In fact a few of them said that “it wouldn’t feel cosy as a home”, but I knew what I wanted and I was keen to make it my own!

Since starting the project I have thoroughly enjoyed the interior make over. Rather than buying new furniture I have restored old furniture bought from the local charity shop, and given them an industrial chic overhaul. I love my new kitchen that has now been fitted with a brand new suite, which contrasts with my beautifully exposed brick feature wall. I also found a London ironmongers called A & H Brass, which had a vast collection of industrial looking fixtures and fittings, in different finishes and different styles.

Some of their knurled and hammered ironmongery in particular caught my eye, and is now featured in several places around the house, looking both chic and ergonomic. They are also really easy to handle which makes them highly practical, unlike those that are implemented for their aesthetic presence. They were also really affordable so when you’re on a budget like myself it doesn’t mean you need to break the bank.

I still have a long way to go with the rest of the renovations but I couldn’t be happier with the results, and to top it off I have since had friends over for a drinks and they actually really love the design as well. In fact although most of them were unsure, I could see them sizing up the property for their own ideas on how to implement a slice of this industrial chic look.

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Sash Window Fittings And Hardware Will Always Remain An On-Trend Décor Favourite!!

In modern days the appearance of house exteriors are considered to be just as important as house interiors. From TV programs like Grand Designs to Homes under the Hammer, we’ve seen that each individual has their own unique decor objectives to complement their needs.

Whilst decor trends will change seasonally, it’s fair to say there are certain aspects that will always remain in fashion. One of these trending styles is sash windows. This particular bravura of windows combines traditional styles with more up to date techniques. Their elegant appearance is the main selling point when it comes to these light breathing beauties. However unlike your typical modern day double glazed windows that open out with a hinge, sash windows use a counter weight made from heavy steel or lead to help move the adjustable panel vertically or horizontally. Thus assisting in the opening and closing of the window itself.

Dating back to seventeenth century these particular windows are an all-time favourite. Today you can purchase sash window fittings in an array of finishes, which enables them to be versatile to different people’s tastes. So whether you’re looking for unlacquered brass, antique brass, satin brass or even satin nickel sash window fittings, then it’s simply a case of sourcing out a decent supplier or ironmongers to get a fitting that suits your particular tastes. As everything has moved digitally over the last few decades, you no longer have to rely on visiting a showroom to see what you’re buying, however there are some really good merchants out there who will offer the option to shop online and visit a showroom.

A & H Brass are an ironmongers based in London that have a complete array of sash window hardware and fittings, in a selection of different finishes, so that you can hand select the style you want. You can browse through their complete online collection, and even arrange a visit to their London showroom to see the products and materials first hand.

Though you will be able to find a range of different styles, it’s important to do you research and not make any hasty purchases, as whilst most will be affordable, you need to think about how you want your house or property to look many years down the line. The great thing about sash windows is that they remain timeless throughout the decades and will always remain a decor favourite!

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Wet Rooms & Chrome Glass Shower Fittings - Where Quality Compliments Efficiency!

I recently moved into an old bungalow with my fiancé, and it’s fair to say it needs a lot of work. Whilst most rooms are livable the bathroom however is far from it! I’m assuming the previous owner was an elderly individual living by themselves, from the looks of the disabled rails attached to the walls. There’s also mold around the edges of the windows, the lino flooring is coming up in the corner, and the bathtub doesn’t even come with a removable shower head.

I know these seem like minor issues to the majority, but take it coming from someone who lives by convenience and efficiency, I need a shower in my life. I physically do not have time to run a bath, and if I’m honest the thought of sitting in my own dirt isn’t exactly appealing. As I’m keen to get the situation sorted as soon as feasibly possible, in my breaks and little spare time I have, I’ve been looking at different shower cubicles that can replace that horrendous ivory tub. Having a look at a variety of options, the other day I came across the idea of a wet room. Whilst the idea means extending our budget for this by a few hundred pounds, in the long run it will make life so much easier, not to mention how classy it will look. We’re thinking of installing one of those wet rooms that has a glass cubicle surrounding a section of the floor. This particular style gives us the choice to change the door hinges to match the surrounding interior. As a bonus a bathroom fitter will be able to not only deliver the glass panels, but also fit the polished brass unlacquered shower door hinges we have bought from a London based ironmonger called A & H Brass.

We did consider some other finishes when scrolling through their website,and potentially have our eyes on some antique brass glass shower door fittings to complete the look, however we haven’t had a chance to properly discuss this yet as we need to consider the rest of the budget. We’re yet to purchase floor and wall tiles, and as a compromise to my fiancé allowing me to install a wet room, I’m letting him pick the tiles so that he still has had some input in the design. The rest of the bathroom suite has already been reserved, and I can’t wait to see it all come together.

A lot of our friends have had their fair share of opinions on getting rid of the bath, with the majority saying a bath is more appealing when try to sell the property on. However given that we have no intention of selling up for at least another five years or so, we can cross that bridge at a later date. For now this is a solution that is ideal for our lifestyle, especially as we’re not planning to have children for the foreseeable future. In fact when I really think about it the layout and composition of our bathroom, is definitely more practical when comparing that to our friend’s bathrooms, and I don’t even feel like we have compromised on quality in the slightest. It’s definitely something I would advise all couples to consider and not to “knock it before you’ve tried it”!

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