Industrial-Style Kitchens

Looking to bring an industrial edge to your kitchen? Whether you're embarking on a full renovation or simply updating a few key features, industrial-style kitchens offer a compelling blend of raw character and modern function.

Picture this: open shelving stacked with stoneware mugs, the warm gleam of a copper kitchen tap, rugged concrete underfoot, and vintage lighting casting soft shadows across exposed brick. It’s a style that balances grit with grace.

In this guide, we explore 10 standout ideas for creating a beautiful industrial kitchen and why your kitchen tap is one of the most important design choices you'll make.

The Rise of Industrial Kitchens in the UK

More than ever, kitchens are multipurpose spaces: not just for cooking, but for socialising, working, even unwinding. As our needs have evolved, so has our taste in design — and industrial style has surged in popularity.

With its exposed materials, matte finishes, and utilitarian charm, industrial design takes inspiration from urban lofts and factory conversions. It’s ideal for homeowners who want a space that feels tough yet stylish, practical yet personal.

1. Reveal the Bones: Brickwork & Beams

Want instant industrial character? Expose the brickwork or timber beams in your kitchen. These raw elements create contrast and texture, grounding the space in a sense of history.

Not every home has these features, but you can recreate the look with brick slips or faux beams. And if you’re adding metal elements — like lighting or tapware — copper finishes really shine here, offering a beautiful foil to brick and wood.

2. Layer Natural Materials: Timber, Leather, Metal & Ceramic

An industrial kitchen is all about honest materials. Think textures that age gracefully and offer visual interest.

• Timber: Use for open shelving, flooring, or cabinetry fronts.
• Leather: Ideal for stool upholstery or built-in bench seating.
• Metal: From steel handles to a copper kitchen tap like the Bari, it adds edge and elegance.
• Ceramic: Choose handmade tiles or statement pottery for authenticity and warmth.

Combining these materials creates a tactile, layered space, one that evolves with use.

3. Lay the Foundation with Concrete Floors

Durable, low-maintenance, and undeniably cool, concrete floors are a staple in industrial-style kitchens. Whether polished to a high sheen or left with a subtle matte texture, they anchor the room and enhance other design elements.

Balance concrete’s coldness with warmer details like a brushed copper tap or timber accents for a more lived-in feel.

4. Feature Statement Pendant Lighting

Lighting is a key feature in industrial kitchens, not just for function, but for impact. Choose oversized pendant lights with metal shades or exposed bulbs to create a dramatic focal point.

Want to elevate the look further? Match your pendant fixtures to your tap finish. For example, the brushed tones of the Bologna Copper Tap or the elegant Catania pair beautifully with warm-toned lighting.

5. Embrace a Muted Colour Palette

Industrial kitchens thrive on restraint. Stick to earthy neutrals: charcoal, taupe, cream, and rust, and avoid high-gloss or overly polished finishes.

Muted tones help highlight your materials. A copper mixer tap or copper handle pulls stand out far more against a soft slate grey or matt black backdrop than they would against something overly bright.

Read more about how to inject colour into your kitchen here.

6. Add Character with Copper Accents

Few materials bridge modern and vintage better than copper. It’s warm without being flashy and industrial without feeling cold.

Ripple’s copper taps offer a wide range of styles, from the Verona and Florence for contemporary lovers to the Livorno and Venice for more traditional looks.

Above: Venice Kitchen Tap - Copper

Looking to go a step further? Explore copper boiling water taps like the Genoa D-Shape 4-in-1 or Messina Swan Neck 3-in-1 for a mix of form and function. These taps don’t just look great, they provide instant 98°C filtered water too.

7. Soften the Space with Houseplants

Industrial style can lean hard, all edges and angles, so counterbalance it with greenery. Plants like Monstera, Snake Plants, or trailing Pothos break up the austerity and add life to your kitchen.

For an easy win, group a few plants near your sink, especially if you’ve installed a striking feature tap like the Monza copper tap. The interplay between copper and green is endlessly appealing.

8. Use Natural Light to Your Advantage

Industrial kitchens love light. If you can, opt for large windows, steel-framed doors, or skylights to bathe your space in natural brightness.

But even without architectural changes, you can amplify light through reflectivity, gloss splashbacks, metallic fixtures, and smart lighting placement. A chrome or copper tap, naturally draws the eye and subtly reflects surrounding tones.

9. Experiment with Deep Cabinet Colours

Industrial doesn’t mean colourless. Rich tones like navy, forest green, or even matte aubergine pair beautifully with copper and brass.

Try dark cabinetry as a backdrop for your tap. A copper boiling tap, like the Genoa Swan Neck 4-in-1 in Copper — pops against navy cabinets, while brushed finishes soften the contrast.

10. Reclaim & Repurpose for Authenticity

To complete your industrial look, bring in elements with a story. Think reclaimed timber counters, antique factory stools, or a repurposed metal trolley as a kitchen island.

These pieces work especially well when grounded by touches like the Venice or Verona copper taps, a design-forward detail that blends seamlessly into your space.

Why Your Tap Matters in an Industrial Kitchen

The tap might seem like a small detail, but in an industrial-style kitchen, it plays a starring role. It’s one of the most used items in the space and it often sits in plain sight.

Whether you want something sleek and contemporary (like the Monza Copper Tap), or more sculptural (like the Catania), the right finish and form help bring your entire design together.

Copper in particular adds a soft, welcoming glow and works beautifully with raw, natural materials: brick, timber, stone.

Upgrade Your Workflow with a Copper Boiling Tap

Looking to streamline your kitchen routine? Ripple’s boiling water taps bring both style and convenience. Models like the Messina D-Shape 3-in-1 and Genoa D-Shape 4-in-1 give you filtered near-boiling water instantly, perfect for cooking, cleaning, and cuppas — while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic with the rest of your copper fixtures.

Above: Genoa D-Shape 4-in-1 Boiling Tap - Copper

These taps are especially useful in open-plan spaces where you want to eliminate kettle clutter and keep surfaces clean.

Final Thoughts: Industrial with Intention

Designing an industrial-style kitchen is about more than exposed pipes and bare bricks. It’s about finding the right balance between boldness and warmth, form and function, vintage and modern.

And when it comes to tying it all together? Don’t overlook the tap.

Explore Ripple’s full range of copper kitchen taps — from traditional mixers to statement boiling water taps, find the finishing touch that makes your kitchen feel truly yours.