Heavy Metal

Bobbi Brown / Jun 7, 2012

Heavy Metal

At Bobbi Brown, we’ve got a thing for industrial design. I’ve always admired the aesthetic and its tough-meets-elegant lines. It reminds me of the factories in SoHo (way before the boutiques and restaurants arrived). Some pieces are investments, sure. I remember saving up for my first antique purchase for our home. But the beauty about this style is you can create the look with smaller pieces. Plus, taking something old and making it new is a fabulous way of staying green. John Eaton, our Design Manager, is the perfect person to take our readers on a tour.

xo,
Bobbi

When the elevator doors open to our SoHo offices a heavy black bench with a perforated steel top greets you. It’s the first clue to Bobbi’s penchant for heavy metal industrial furniture which is modern and timeless. She’s always on the lookout for pieces with a story to tell like our aluminum Emeco 1006 chairs (pronounced ten o’ six). Originally created during the 1940s for U.S. Navy submarines, they’re our standard office chair and we now use them everywhere from conference rooms to extra seating at meetings. They’re virtually indestructible, yet lightweight too. Plus, they look clean and simple (Bobbi’s signature aesthetic no matter what she does).

A quick look around our offices and you’ll see all sorts of heavy metal furniture. From a scissor-lift table we use to serve snacks during Artistry sessions to a caster-wheel “console” at the Studio in Montclair, NJ—Bobbi’s universe is full of repurposed industrial machine parts. We even style our Bobbi Brown stores with industrial-inspired details for that loft-like, artists’ studio feel.

Want to try the industrial look for yourself? Check your local flea market and antique shops. Or bring the heavy metal look to your beauty routine with Rich Color Eye Shadow in rich slate, Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in graphite shimmer, Metallic Long-Wear Cream Shadow in chrome patina, and Eye Shadow in steel.

Rich Color Eye Shadow in Rich Slate: