Industrial tables are a staple in every New York pad, and although they are made from re-used wood and heavy iron, they seem to bring a feeling of homeliness and warmth to a room… go figure. Perhaps it’s the history that comes with them. Each piece has a story to tell, from it’s humble beginnings in a shoe factory or a shipyard perhaps.
My husband and I moved into a new apartment over the weekend and it is the type I NEVER thought I’d live in – it’s brand new. Now, most people love the freshly painted white walls, granite bench-tops and stainless steel appliances, but to me it feels stark and lacks character. So I am on a mission to warm the place up and the first thing on my list is an industrial table! It will add a touch of charm and comfort to the new surroundings. Here are some of my options:
Bar Table
Since we will be living in a studio apartment (the norm in New York), we are thinking of buying a high bar table like this one. We can use it as extra kitchen bench space, a desk, a room divider and the narrow width doesn’t take up much space. These bright green stools add a beautiful splash of colour too. This bar table is selling on Etsy for $535.
Spool Table
These wooden spool tables were originally used by French rope-makers to display and sell their ropes. In this picture, most of the room is industrial-inspired which can be over-kill in a regular home, however this basic wooden piece would also look lovely set against a country-inspired home or bring character to a modern setting. Gumtree is the place to pick up one of these tables for a steal!
Industrial Dining Table
The great thing about an industrial dining table is how versatile it is. It really can be decorated to suit any style of home. Everything from the chairs, centre-pieces, cutlery, glasses and light fixtures above it, can tailor your table to your own style. Don’t be afraid to mix and match chairs – the picture to the left fuses steel chairs with a long wooden bench seat which looks rather fabulous.
Antique Factory Cart
The most popular form of industrial table in New York is the Antique Factory Cart. These historic carts were originally used in various factories to transport goods around and many of them are over 100 years old. The perfect size and height for a coffee table, these carts are also portable so can be wheeled out of the way when entertaining larger groups. The cart pictured can be purchased from Philbee in Melbourne, Australia.
Steel-Framed Side Table
This simple, steel-framed side table is classic in its design so will work well in any room. Soften it by placing a posey of flowers on top, or bring out its warehouse charm by displaying a steel lamp on the top shelf or an antique type-writer on the bottom. This table can be purchased for $179 from Retrojan Australia-wide.
Go on, bring some warehouse-charm to your own home!
Penny xo
