Our ancestors would likely be appalled at the notion of exposed building materials acting as focal inspiration for our interior spaces, but time has truly turned that sentiment on its head.

The industrial design aesthetic is every bit as cultivated and nuanced as those of centuries prior, with no detail or component left unconsidered.

Defined by a raw, unfinished, and almost factory-like sensibility, an industrial interior style showcases utilitarian materials such as wood, metal, and cement in a way that proves that form and function can be one and the same. Exposed brick, piping, and ceiling beams are just a few industrial giveaways, while stripped floors, visible ducts, and even ship bulkheads have been spotted in editorial loft spreads.

The beauty of industrial design ironically lies in its deception: what looks incomplete and unrefined is, actually, the painstaking work of skilled craftsmen and visionaries, to say nothing of the interior trendsetters who dared to look beyond the warehouse’s crude reputation for exquisite inspiration. The industrial aesthetic is masculine but poignant, fuss-free but thoughtful, and the mark of a man who understands that the finer things in life aren’t always the most frivolous or flashy.

Whether it’s pairing a wooden table with metal chairs, implementing distressed kitchen surfaces, or repurposing old tools and installation fixtures, the industrial style can be achieved in a number of ways, from large scale overhauls to subtle touches. However you choose to express your own penchant for the industrial, you’re sure to attract some much-deserved admiration and awe.