Industrial Chic: Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim

DESIGN | by KAT SPELLMAN

FOUND OBJECTS, BUILDING ELEMENTS AND “JUNK” (as some dub it) are art in the eye of this beholder. Over 20-plus years, my hubby and I have amassed an odd collection of “art” that we lovingly move from home to home, re-imagine in new ways for display, and treasure as much as any framed painting or photo from a gallery.

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Piles of old metal locker baskets and industrial grates. Limbs of a mature tree felled by the wind. Consider these types of objects as high-impact art that’s affordable (often even free), nearly indestructible (critical if you have energetic kids like me) and decidedly different.

Where to “shop”

Keep an eye out for treasures being kicked to the curb. One of my favorite pieces was scored as hubby and I randomly drove by a house getting cleared out for sale. They were tossing a vintage bus sign for a long-shuttered ice cream parlor we’d both loved as kids.

Hit your local recycling center, dump or building-salvage warehouse to see what treasures you can score there. And don’t forget flea markets and tag sales where, often, the back tables have a crusty old collection of tools and random bits that offer great lines and graphic appeal when looked at in a new light.

Materials to watch for

In our house, metals and cement are a big favorite. If you love sparkle, seek out glass and mirrors that, even when flawed, hold great allure. Wood is another cheap option, bringing a bit of nature or a touch of the industrial into your decor, depending on what you’ve unearthed.

How to display

Consider dramatic statements, with “art” given a place of honor in uncluttered spaces. Repetition of a shape brings a restful continuity to a collection of wheels displayed graphically against a blank wall. Use tiny cup hooks to hang baskets on another wall, or hang one from the ceiling under a bare bulb fixture: instant chandelier. Look down and out, look up and in. Use large pieces to pull focus to the top of a cupboard or the far corner of a room.