Create the look of industrial farmhouse with vintage accessories and textured surfaces. It is a mixture of farmhouse style and industrial accessories.
A long time ago in a land far away remember that challenge I had to decorate a room?
I called it industrial farmhouse decorating which is a cross between the vintage style of a turn-of-the-century farmhouse and the simple industrial lines of an old warehouse.
And besides, it sounds fancy and extra official as if I thought the whole concept out in advance.
Exactly. 🙂
The whole experience was fun and exhilarating and wonderful and challenging…..
…and the room looked a little something like this.
But what is industrial farmhouse decorating?
Let’s discuss.
Q: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FARMHOUSE STYLES
There are several different types of farmhouse style with one thing in common. Comfort. It’s all about a way of life that is laid back and comfortable without being overly ornate. Farmhouse style incorporates vintage with cozy elements and textures and furniture pieces that feel like they have been in the home for ages. Here are the different types of farmhouse style:
- rustic farmhouse
- modern farmhouse
- industrial farmhouse
- cottage-style farmhouse
- traditional farmhouse
- colonial farmhouse
- coastal farmhouse
Q: WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL FARMHOUSE DECOR?
It’s the perfect combination of vintage decor layered in with farmhouse style. Here are a few of the elements you’ll find with this type of decor:
- vintage clocks
- repurpose farm pieces
- burlap baskets
- metal furniture pieces
- tarnished silver
- industrial carts
- rustic architectural elements
Q: IS THE FARMHOUSE LOOK GOING OUT OF STYLE?
The farmhouse look isn’t going anywhere.
Truth?
Like any design style, it is morphing into different looks and changing different elements, but the basic tenant of farmhouse style remains the same. Farmhouse style is all about comfort and authenticity and creating a look that feels classic and comfortable all at the same time. Rustic elements, vintage pieces, American antiques and repurposed pieces all work together to create a room that’s full of farmhouse style.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS TO CREATE INDUSTRIAL FARMHOUSE DECOR DIY?
The amazing thing about this type of design style are the projects you can create by repurposing and upcycling items in your home. Here are some simple DIY projects you can create to add to your spaces.
- drop cloth pillows–make your own pillows out of drop cloths. Drop cloths have an industrial feel to them (especially if you leave the seams showing) while layering in the comfort and coziness of a farmhouse. See the DIY here.
- painted plywood floors–no need for fancy flooring with industrial farmhouse style. If you don’t have 100-year-old flooring, you can simply paint your plywood subfloors. See the DIY here.
- DIY shutter wall—create a unique conversation piece for your home by adding a wall of shutters. Start collecting shutters and then follow these directions to create your own one-of-a-kind DIY.
- pallet wood clock–pallet wood is one of the best materials to use when DIYing projects like these. Have a big blank wall in your space? Why not make an over-sized clock from pallet wood. See the DIY here.
- paint stick table—if you have a table that’s damaged or needs a new top, create a new one from paint sticks. Simply attach paint stick pieces to the top in a herringbone pattern. You can see the DIY here.
- recipe plate rack—make a plate rack for your kitchen with these simple instructions. Then? Personalize the project with a family recipe in vinyl on the plate rack. You can see the DIY for the project here.
- pallet wood desk—create a desk from a pallet. The rustic wood of the pallet is the perfect addition to an industrial farmhouse room. Simply add a pallet to a base for a repurposed desk that is both functional and stylish all at the same time. See the DIY project here.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS TO ADD THIS STYLE TO YOUR HOME?
There are so many different ways to incorporate this style into your home. Start by shopping yard sales and thrift stores (and you attic) for furniture and accessories with a history.
And then?
Here are a few ways to add industrial style to your home:
- think outside the box—look at items in a new way. For example, turn a vintage wagon into a coffee table. Turn a spool into a bookcase. Transform a window into a chalkboard calendar. Make a bicycle wheel into a clock. Farmhouse style is all about repurposing and one of the best ways to do this is to upcycle and reuse.
- add metal accents to your decor–think industrial-style furnishings and accessories. Metal bookcases. Metal shelving. Create display units out of piping. Add metal to existing furniture. Create organizers from metal lockers.
- layer in rustic finishes—the key to this style of decorating is mixing in the softness and character of rustic with the sleek lines and edge of metal finishes. After you’ve added your metal finishes, next layer in some vintage charm. Add old wooden signs to the walls. Lay ladders against the wall. Choose furniture pieces that have character and are a little distressed and chippy.
Q: CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF A SUPER SIMPLE PROJECT I COULD CREATE?
Yes.
Yes, friend, I can.
Here’s one of my favorite ideas that’s so simple to make and a great way to add a little farmhouse style.
DOORKNOB BOTTLE STOPPER PROJECT
glass bottles that fit the size of a cork (these came from Target)
vintage doorknob
cork
glue
screwdriver
STEP 1: FIND YOUR DOORKNOB
This is probably the most fun and the least challenging part of the project.
These doorknobs are EVERYWHERE.
You can find them at thrift stores and vintage shops and yardsales and your grandmother’s attic.
Find the cutest ones that you can. I like them a little dinged with a few colors and the original metal poking through.
STEP 2: INSERT YOUR DOWEL
Some doorknobs come with a metal part at the end that you can just stick directly into the cork.
These didn’t.
They were just the doorknob with a hole.
We cut a tiny dowel and put glue on the end of it and inserted it into the hole.
After the glue dried, we screwed the doorknob screw through the hole into the dowel to hold it in place.
STEP 3: MAKE A HOLE IN YOUR CORK
Using the end of a screwdriver, twist it into the cork to make a hole.
Do this very gently.
The cork is relatively soft and the hole only needs to be big enough to insert the dowel rod into.
STEP 4: GLUE DOWEL
Put glue on the end of the dowel and put it into the cork.
Let dry.
After it’s dry, you can add it to the top of your bottle.
That’s it.
Your bottles and bottle stoppers are ready to decorate with.
I hope this post answered all the questions you have.
I hope it explained a little bit about industrial farmhouse style and what it is and how to get it.
This design style is really the perfect marriage of the coziness and rusticness of farmhouse layered in with the personality and character of industrial elements.
And I for one love a really good love story.
Especially when it comes to decorating. 🙂
PS If you want some more industrial style ideas and inspiration, here’s a Pinboard full of farmhouse that I’ve created.
Looking for a little industrial farmhouse style for your spaces?
Here are some great options.
www.buildimgmemoriesinthebluegtass.com
Oh!! How I wish I could have been there for the storytelling. I would have had my phone ready to snap Kari's surprised expression. The chair that's a recliner but doesn't look like one is wonderful. {ahem} I normally don't like recliners but I'd welcome your hounds tooth recliner in our house with open arms. The big bulky monstrosities that took up an entire room gave the poor chair a bad rep. Be careful when you're drinking your sweet tea -- you may lean back too fast :-)
Perfect choice! Love it! xo Heidi
The Lazyboy room is my favorite room you've done - well, not counting every room in your home…..and the gatehouse. I want to shop in the Lazyboy warehouse. Love the chair - although I would have had a horrible time choosing from all the loveliness in the room. I would have had to recline and think about it for a long time!
It looks perfect in your family room! Who knew a comfortable recliner could be so gorgeous?! Your room looks great!
What a great chair! Enjoy!!
I'm in love with the chair.
I love you use of bold (large houndstooth) with subtle colors. It seems to end up elegant and cozy at the same time. Have a great day!
I love this chair!!! The fact that it is a secret squirrel recliner just makes it that much more awesome!!!! IT is the Sherlock Holmes of chairs. :)
I love how the houndstooth chair looks with your paisley area rug......it's perfect !!!!!!
Love the chair- good choice! I'll be looking at Lazy-Boy furniture for our new house. Everyone needs a recliner, especially if it doesn't look like one!:)
Love brown...love hounds tooth....this is brilliant together. Was the chair comfy? Of course it was...it reclines! Enjoy! Trina
You know...that IS a fantastic chair! Enough said! ;)
Very cool chair!!!!!!!!
Miz karianne, you most definitely deserve that chair. And I absolutely LOVED that room.... good job, and happy reclining!
Yep, I NEED that chair Kari Ann
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS KARIANNE! The EXACT fabric is arriving on a slightly different chair Friday at StoneGable! I got the same fabric! And I love love love it!!! Well, just goes to show you... we have excellent taste (giggle)!
You sooooo deserve that chair,you did an absolutely fantastic job on that room Karianne and the chair looks gorgeous in your room!!!! :-)
I love this room and want that chair! I hope it's available at my local showroom! Great choice Karianne!
I loved your room back when you designed it....and I still love it. And that recliner..Yeah! Sheila
Had to look for a recliner when my hubby had hip surgery. I was shocked at how gorgeous Lazyboy furniture had become. For years I had denied my husband a recliner because of the horrid, bulky style. Two recliners later and I'm a believer. People have to be warned they are recliners before sitting down and really never believe us until they test the chair. The recliner you have is so wonderful I just might need a third one.
It matches perfectly in your room! I think I might have been torn between the chair and the rose covered stool! Hugs, Lynnie
The room you decorated/designed for La-Z-Boy is my all-time favorite. There's not a thing I wouldn't want to duplicate, including the houndstooth chair. It's amazing. Thank you for continually inspiring and encouraging with your designs, ideas and stories :)
Love it! You chose wisely, the chair works so well with what you already had in you family room! I love that room that you designed for La-Z-Boy, it would have been so hard to choose just one item to keep. Recliners sure have come a long way from the one my dad used to have!
I LOVE this chair!!! We watch Made Men too and things aren't going so well for Don. It is funny even though he is a despicable man, don't you find yourself rooting for him and hoping he will turn it around?? Cynthia
I would have picked that chair, too, in a HEARTBEAT! Love it!!!! Happy Spring!! :)
Miss KariAnne, you are definitely a rock star! I wanted everything in the room you designed for Lazyboy. And then you bring the houndstooth chair home to Thistlewood Farm and it is perfection! You are amazing!
I need, I want, I've got to have that chair !!! Martini in hand !!!!!!!
This piece really makes the room. While I am not a fan of the larger houndstooth print, I love the color. But most of all the design of the chair. The lines are clean and Bonus..it reclines! ! Great design Lazy Boy
I love it when a piece of furniture looks one way but is "more". Like the tailored lines in your new recliner. Fashion and comfort together--a win-win!
I want to know about the rug on the floor under your coffee table. From where did it come? And the pillow in the infamous houndstooth chair? Love the neutrality of it all....and your blog....and your decorating style. Many thanks!
KariAnne, Love your new chair! Of course, I totally believe your room should have won the Lazy Boy design challenge...don't know what those who judged were thinking!!! Houndstooth is such a classic...You won't grow tired of it. And...how nice that the chair does not look like a recliner, but is! The men in my household would be diving for that chair! We have had several Lazy Boy recliners over the years and they have held up well. Enjoy!
Now you and the chair can tell stories together maybe in bathrobes eating boxes of crackers or maybe you can swap the crackers out of cookies. LOVE the chair!
I have a persimmon houndstooth runner at my front door and it is a stunner. I love houndstooth, have since I was a kid. Am considering painting a houndstooth stencil on ceiling in kitchen..or at least some room in my house. Love the chair!
Great chair! I never knew a recliner could be so good looking. You have lovely taste! Happy Monday! Hope you have a great week!
Awesome chair! I'm sure you look fabulous in it!!~~Angela
I love, love, love the room you designed for La-Z-Boy! I just bought new living room furniture from them, after having my old stuff for over 20 years. I am curious about the wooden piece with the drawers and cubbies with the alphabet letters painted on the front of it. Is that available from their showroom? Your new chair is fabulous. Enjoy!
Love, Love, Love!! That is a beautiful room! What are those wire spheres hanging?? Would love to fine some.
What a great looking chair! I can imagine how excited you must have been when it arrived.
You are without a doubt the best story teller ever. I so look forward to receiving your blog.
Oh goodness! I love this chair and everything about your room!
I remember this room since it was my FAVORITE and I voted for you. You did an outstanding job and I too love this chair! How hard it would be to pick just one thing, when I want the whole room!!!!
You picked the right thing! That chair is lovely and I love the unit for storage with the alphabet. Oh boy is that an idea! Great Great chair.
You made a great choice, Kari...I loved that chair the minute I saw it in your "space" (and you really should have won that whole contest...sniff!). I am thinking about some houndstooth pattern somewhere in my own home. Love it! XO, Jane
Perfection! I loved her in your showcase room but she looks even happier here :-)
This chair is fantastic and both your own family room and the room you designed are gorgeous!
The plaque over the fireplace, did you make it or is it a decorative purchased item? Maybe from the Lazy Boy store?
That's an incredible use of oversized houndstooth. Looks unashamed yet stately. I'm in love.
I absolutely loved your design for la-z-boy and voted everyday. Winner in my book. Same goes for bhg. Keep doin what you do.
The room you designed is my favorite look EVER! I wish Mad Men would wrap up already....it's dangerously close to 70's - and NO ONE wants to see Don Draper in a polyester leisure suit ;-(
I LOVE that chair...it's the clear choice in my opinion and looks fantastic in your living room.
That chair is to die for...and of course it looks perfect in your house!!!
KariAnne, if you ever get tired of the gorgeous houndstooth chair....please let me know!!!!!! It would be most welcome down in Texas!!! ; )
Love..Love..Love...the chair!!! did I mention I love chair? lol Your room was awesome..... Lois
oh it looks so so SO good, KariAnne! I love it - I wouldn't have waiting forever for that chair!
I mean - I WOULD have waited forever for that chair - I type faster than I think sometimes :) Happy week to you!
Yay for surprise, getting your favorite thing! And such a fun thing too. You might as well get the one thing you'd never find anywhere else. Well done sweetie. And that was one hell of a room. Now I want to hang metal orbs in mass from my ceiling. Too bad I don't have a farm house. Hmm...but I do have an office and a pair of metal Mexican star lamps that need a home....I'll let you know. And give this post credit for the idea, of course. The Other Marian