Want an industrial style kitchen that’s sleek and functional, yet with the warmth and charm of a rustic one? Then a rustic industrial kitchen may be just the vibe you’re looking for!
This post is part of my “Green the Look” series, where I take beautiful interior spaces and show you how to get the look using sustainable finishes and products. Because any space can be a green space!
Welcome to the second post in my “Green the Look” series! For this round I chose this industrial style kitchen that incorporates a few rustic touches to up the warmth. (If you haven’t seen my first “Green the Look” post featuring a boho-minimalist living room, you can visit it right here.)
My whole purpose with this series is to illustrate that any room, any decor style, can be achieved with finishes and features that are kinder to the earth than the traditional everything-must-be-brand-new approach. Because all brand new is kinda old, am I right?
Here’s how to replicate this rustic industrial style kitchen using earth-friendly materials and decor! (Note that the above image is computer generated, however it is not AI and was created by a real person! You can check out more of their 3D renderings here.)
Featured Video
Repainted Secondhand Cabinets
While it’s hard to tell what material the cabinets in the above kitchen are made of – you can easily get this look by installing secondhand cabinets that you’ve painted yourself. Most larger cities have stores where you can buy used home items such as kitchen cabinets, such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore or other businesses like architectural salvage shops. Searching your local buy and sell is also another great way to find secondhand cabinets.
When it comes to repainting the cabinets, make sure you wash them first with a natural cleaner like vinegar. Then, choose a no-VOC paint and eco-friendly paint supplies. If you want a mottled, marble-like texture as in this rustic industrial kitchen, here is a post on how to paint countertops to look like marble – which you could easily apply to painting cabinets.
Recycled-Content Tiles
Why buy regular tiles when you can buy tile made from recycled material? The answer is pretty much a no-brainer. I wrote a bit about recycled-content tiles in my How to Design an Eco-Friendly Bathroom post, but there’s still so much more to talk about.
Porcelain tile is one of the most eco-friendly building materials in the world due to its high recyclability. As American-based tile manufacturer Crossville puts it, “porcelain tile waste doesn’t belong in a landfill.” Which is why they offer a Tile Take-Back program that accepts previously installed porcelain tile as well as cut scraps and samples – all of which they turn into brand new tile!
Reclaimed Wood Shelves
Open kitchen shelving has definitely been a thing the past few years. I’m not a fan of no upper cabinets and all open shelving since – hello – sometimes you just want to hide stuff in a cupboard. But a mix of cabinets and shelves so you can both display and hide? Yes please!
There are so many options for materials and styles of shelving. Of course, I’m going to recommend installing something either secondhand or made from reclaimed or recycled materials. Like this shelf made of wood reclaimed from deconstructed houses!
Need help choosing eco-conscious furniture and decor for your home? That’s what I’m here for!
WaterSense Faucet
This is another one of those instances where it just doesn’t make sense to buy a product that wasn’t designed with the environment in mind. There are so many options when it comes to WaterSense labelled faucets – you aren’t going to get stuck choosing from a small selection of bland, tacky options. Instead, the world of low-flow faucets is your proverbial oyster!
In fact, one of the biggest names in the faucet and fixture industry – Moen – has a large selection of WaterSense certified faucets. More than 271 low-flow kitchen faucets are currently listed on their website, meaning they use 1.5 gpm (gallons per minute) of water or less. Moen also asks an important question on their website: “Who designs for water?” Choose a WaterSense certified kitchen faucet and the answer to that question can be – you do! By making smart choices like this, you set the stage for a successful kitchen remodeling project that balances style and sustainability.
Vintage Glass Jars
A sustainable kitchen isn’t complete without reusable glass jars to fill with all your bulk items! Eliminating package in the kitchen is an important step in living a greener, less wasteful life. Plus, they look so beautiful out on a shelf! In the design for Our House in the Trees, I’ve set aside an area of the kitchen for open shelving so I can display my glass jars with pride.
These vintage glass canning jars are gorgeous and are a double whammy on the eco front. Not only can you use them when bulk shopping, they’re also secondhand. Because, you know, #secondhandfirst. I have a few of these vintage jars myself, although I use them for decor instead of food items. But most of my food jars are from a thrift shop!
Quartz Countertop
Quite clearly I have a love-on for quartz countertops, as I featured them in my How To Design an Eco-Friendly Kitchen post. While not all quartz is created equal, the reason I’m such a fan – aside from the fact it looks gorgeous while still being durable – is that several of the companies that manufacture and sell quartz put sustainability at the forefront.
One such company is Cambria, a family-owned and operated business known for its customer service and lifetime warranty on their products. According to their website, they recycle all their metal tooling, reuse 100% of the water used for polishing, and run their quartz mine off hydroelectric power.
Steel Bar Stools
The question of whether steel is an eco-conscious material is a good one. Steel itself is extremely green as it has a very long lifespan and is infinitely recyclable. Yet, its production uses energy and produces waste. Thankfully, according to this website strides are being made as “the North American steel industry dedicates nearly 15% of its capital spending towards improving the environmental and sustainable development of its facilities.”
All of that just to talk about metal bar stools! But I’m all about being an informed consumer. These stools are made from steel and don’t have any leather or vinyl padding on them as many other bar stools do. If you don’t mind sitting on a harder surface you can leave them as is. Or, you could purchase (or make!) seat cushions from an earth-friendly material like organic cotton.
Reclaimed Wood Panels
If you’re into that rustic, reclaimed, farmhouse style that incorporates natural materials like reclaimed wood then a wood feature on a kitchen island is about as close to interior design heaven as you can get. While you can certainly find reclaimed barnwood or panels from old homes on buy and sells and at architectural salvage stores, you’ll likely have to sort through and cut them yourself. Beautiful? Yes. Easy? Not always.
But ease is often the enemy of sustainability and I originally felt pretty skeptical about those “easy” peel and stick wall feature products. But colour me natural redwood when I came across a company that offers environmentally friendly peel and stick reclaimed wood wall panels. Weekend Walls handcraft their panels in Portland, Oregon and their products are Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council certified, as well as VOC-free.
Now that you’re armed with all these awesome eco-friendly materials and products – go forth and industrialize! Your kitchen, that is.
PIN ME!
Last Updated on August 27, 2024 (Originally Posted on June 4, 2019)
Former architectural technologist. Current treehugger.
I’m here to help you green your home – and your life.
Subscribe to the Of Houses and Trees monthly newsletter and I’ll send you my FREE list of “The 8 Best Places to Buy Eco-Conscious Decor Online.”
What on earth is sustainable design? Learn all about this eco-focused design method and read the latest posts about green architecture, interior design and decor.
Sustainable living is more than just a thing treehuggers talk about. It’s about making conscious choices everyday. Read the latest posts on living with the planet’s wellbeing always in mind.
Visit the Of Houses and Trees sustainable product directory and support brands trying to make a difference in the world.
Find out more about our 40 acres of land in Parkland County, Alberta and the sustainable home we built amongst the trees.
Need help creating the home of your dreams? Care about the planet? You’ve come to the right place! check out my affordable, sustainable e-design services.
Having a had time choosing paint colours? I’ve got you – and your walls – covered with an interior paint palette sure to compliment your home.
Have questions about creating an eco-conscious home? Go ahead – ask me! Sign up for one of my free online interior design consultations and ask me anything you want.
I am honestly surprised to see this post. It is just an amazing one. This gives complete guide and provides information. Thank you for such a great post.