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Loft-style kitchen: Kitchen dream with an urban look

    17/10/2025

    5 min.

    De Knikker Keukens | werkhaus küchen | icoon.be/Yannick Milpas | Archisoul/Tom Ferguson | Jan Cray Möbel/Küchen | i29architects/Ewout Huibers | Stijn De Graeve

Wide, continuous surfaces, exposed brick walls, untreated, solid wood: A loft-style kitchen exudes the rugged charm of a factory floor - and is transformed into an urban oasis of well-being thanks to lovingly selected details. What is loft design and how do you create the special atmosphere of a loft-style kitchen?

What is a loft kitchen?

Openness, expansiveness and a typical industrial style: Many people associate these elements with a loft. What actually defines a loft and what does a loft kitchen look like? Although the English word "loft" means attic, in architecture it describes converted industrial spaces that have been converted into flats in metropolises such as New York and London since the 1940s. Over the years, a new living trend has emerged. The former commercial areas are characterised by certain features: 

 

  • High ceilings

  • spacious, open-plan layouts

  • untreated walls and floors

  • large, floor-to-ceiling window fronts 

What is typical loft design?

It's not just the space with its unmistakable features, but also a specific design direction behind the loft style: 

  • Furniture is made of metal and wood, often combined with glass elements: floor-to-ceiling cabinets with lattice doors, glass tables with metal frames and sideboards made of vintage wood. 

 

  • Room dividers in steel frames, whose appearance is reminiscent of industrial windows, structure open areas.

 

  • Over time, leather seating furniture acquires a patina that emphasises the loft style.

 

  • Floors are made of exposed concrete, robust industrial vinyl or ceramic. For a warm touch, wooden floorboards harmonise perfectly with the factory hall flair. 

    Colours and materials: How to design your kitchen in loft style

    Cool materials, clean lines and a hint of a used look: Practically all materials that you would also find in a factory hall harmonise with the industrial style. Are you planning a new kitchen and want the loft style to create a unique atmosphere? Rely on materials like these:

     

    • Rough concrete surfaces characterise the industrial style like no other material. Kitchens with a concrete look harmonise perfectly with an island made of untreated wood. A concrete worktop is an eye-catcher that also scores highly in terms of functionality: The material is robust, scratch-resistant and durable.

     

    • Metal and steel are also integral components of loft-style kitchens. Metal kitchen fronts shine with a wow-effect look. Stainless steel in particular is ideal thanks to its smooth surface: Germs don't stand a chance.

     

    • Glass, for example in the form of display cabinets, tables or pendant lights, brings a certain lightness and transparency to your loft-style kitchen.

     

    • Wood completes the typical loft-style materials. Reclaimed wood, untreated, rough surfaces and used looks in particular lend the industrial kitchen a warm, cosy touch. 

    Exposed brick or concrete walls complete the loft look. Even irregular surfaces or traces of use are not a flaw here, but part of the charm. 

     

    Tip: Mineral plaster is a clever alternative to original concrete walls. Visually, it is almost indistinguishable from exposed concrete. It can be applied to the wall like traditional plaster. 

      Planning examples - loft kitchen ideas to fall in love with

      Wide surfaces, high ceilings and an open-plan layout with virtually no dividing walls create the ideal setting for your loft-style kitchen. But a loft-style kitchen can also become the centrepiece of your home in classic kitchens, combined living/cooking zones and kitchens in older buildings. Looking for ideas?

       

       

      An open floor plan goes perfectly with island kitchens - for example in the form of a kitchen unit in a concrete look plus an original concrete worktop. A kitchen island made of reclaimed wood creates an exciting contrast. Open metal shelving, steel display cabinets with glass inserts and a stainless steel pendant light above the central island create skilful industrial accents. 

        Want to enjoy in a small kitchen loft style? Single-line designs are also suitable for loft-like accents. For example, clad the kitchen splashback with metro tiles, opt for a line in a concrete look and open steel wall shelves instead of closed wall units. Industrial lighting above the worktop and vintage-look accessories, for example made of ceramic or porcelain stoneware, complete the overall look.

          In an eat-in kitchen, a combination of solid kitchen block and individual pieces in industrial style is ideal. For example, an ensemble consisting of a matt black block, complemented by steel shelves with glass shelves, a metal pendant light with a light cable reminiscent of a rope. A dining table with a tree edge and leather cantilever chairs serve as eye-catchers.

            Purist aesthetics with perfect functionality The matt hobs from BORA

            Make a design statement in your loft kitchen - with the matt hobs from BORA.

            Details for your kitchen: Perfecting the loft style

            Cosiness is often created by seemingly small things with a big effect. The lighting has a decisive influence on the atmosphere. Metal pendant lights and lamps with visible "light bulbs" in Edison style emphasise the industrial style. Warm light creates a cosy atmosphere at the dining table, while cooler, bluish light is practical above the work surface. 

             

            Store wire baskets and preserving jars for supplies on the open metal shelf or hang cast iron pans visibly above the hob. Herbs and plants in vintage metal pots round off the look of your loft-style kitchen. 

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