Introduction
This week we’re taking a look at a stunning industrial-style kitchen located in the heart of Barcelona, Spain. With its expansive layout, sleek finishes, and clever mix of materials, this space exudes an urban loft aesthetic while still maintaining a sense of warmth and livability.
Overview of the Kitchen’s Design and Layout
This kitchen is part of a spacious loft apartment and occupies its own open zone within the larger living area. The bones of the space feature exposed brick walls, concrete floors, large windows, and high ceilings with exposed pipes and ductwork – quintessential industrial elements that pay homage to the building’s former life as a textile factory.
Upon this raw, edgy backdrop, the kitchen itself strikes a balance between sleek, modern materials and organic, natural ones.
The layout is smartly divided into different functional zones. Along one exposed brick wall is a long run of glossy cabinetry in a dark espresso finish, providing abundant storage as well as a seamless visual impact. The uppers have frosted glass fronts that allow light to filter through, while the lowers feature sleek handles and integrates the range, refrigerator, and dishwasher elegantly.
Adjacent to the cabinetry is the working heart of the kitchen – a large kitchen island wrapped in rugged wood. This natural material provides welcoming contrast to the dark cabinetry and anchors the kitchen with organic texture and warmth. The island houses the deep stainless steel sink and additional storage, while the surface serves as a spacious prep zone and casual dining bar with seating.
Beyond the island, the backsplash wall behind the cooktop is covered in a textural tile that mimics the look of weathered wood planks. This offers another dose of natural material while also being highly functional for protecting the wall space around the cooking area.
Notable Kitchen Features and Finishes
Mix of Materials
The kitchen’s blend of industrial and natural materials is what gives this space its balanced, livable aesthetic. The foundation of exposed brick, concrete floors and steel provide an urban, factory vibe, while the inclusion of wood and organic tile add welcoming warmth. The dark cabinetry and stainless steel appliances feel sleek and modern.
Spacious Island
The kitchen island is an excellent multi-functional element in this space. With its thick wood wrap, it adds natural texture and also feels substantial and almost furniture-like. The generous surface area provides meal prep space, casual dining, and storage in one central hub.
Lighting
From the pendant lights hanging above the island to the rows of industrial cage lighting spanning the ceiling, this kitchen employs lighting extremely effectively. The mixture of exposed, caged bulbs and focused pendants provide both ambiance and task lighting.
High-End Appliances
The kitchen features top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances from brands like Miele, including a professional-grade range, refrigerator and dishwasher. Their high performance is matched by their sleek, modern aesthetics that complement the space.
Textural Backsplash
The wood-look tile backsplash behind the stove is highly functional for protecting the wall from cooking mess, but it also adds another layer of visual interest and natural material texture to the kitchen. The varying tones in the tiles’ finish mirror the look of reclaimed wood.
Achieving the Overall Industrial Loft Look
While this kitchen incorporates several aspects that lend to its industrial style, implementing some key elements is all it takes to get this look:
- Exposed bones – leaving structural elements like brick, concrete, ductwork and piping uncovered instantly gives a space an urban, factory vibe.
- Metal finishes – stainless steel appliances, steel or iron fixtures, and metallic pendants or light fixtures add sleek, industrial edge.
- Natural materials – wood, stone, raw finishes bring organic contrast to metal and concrete.
- Large-scale lighting – exposed cage or pendant bulbs lend an industrial, warehouse look.
- Minimal walls – an open floor plan with fewer walls allows the structural bones to shine.
Q&A About Achieving This Look
What are the key kitchen design elements that create an industrial style?
Some signature industrial kitchen elements are exposed brick or concrete, exposed pipes and ductwork, high ceilings, large windows and minimal walls, stainless steel appliances, and pendant lighting. Incorporating some of these structural features and material finishes is key to achieving the industrial vibe.
What materials pair well with the industrial look in a kitchen?
Natural materials like wood, stone, and organic textures offset industrial finishes nicely in a kitchen. A wooden island or stone countertops, textural tile backsplash, and reclaimed wood floors can inject warmth into sleek, metal kitchen components.
How do you incorporate natural materials into an industrial space?
Beyond surface materials like wood countertops or backsplashes, you can incorporate natural elements through lighting and decor. Pendant lights with rattan lampshades, woven barstools, houseplants and dried botanical accents are great ways to blend natural texture into an industrial kitchen.
What colors work well for an industrial style kitchen?
An industrial kitchen palette typically utilizes neutral tones like black, white, gray and brown. Pops of color can be added through appliances, stools or decor items. Deep wood stains, sleek whites and black finishes create a classic industrial color scheme.
How do you add warmth to an industrial kitchen?
Injecting natural materials is key for adding coziness to an industrial space. Wood surfaces, greenery, cozy textiles, warmer lighting like pendant bulbs, and even smaller details like ceramic accents or a chalkboard wall can make an industrial kitchen feel welcoming.
Final Thoughts
This exceptional kitchen in Barcelona melds industrial loft elements like exposed brick and concrete with warm, natural finishes to create a space that’s both sleek and inviting. Clever zoning distinguishes the cabinetry wall, expansive kitchen island, and textural backsplash area while cohesive finishes unify the look. With its smart layout and blend of materials, this kitchen completely epitomizes urban industrial style with livability.
