The Future of Interior Design – Brutalism
As most of you already know, we spent the middle half of October down at the Fall 2018 High Point Market in North Carolina. This market is the world’s largest home furnishing show held twice a year in April and October and is a must see as it is known as “the fashion week” for anything and everything home design. And every spring and fall, we come back to our small-town Montana oasis with hoards of goodies for our showroom we purchased while there, tons of insights into what is trending in the design industry, and more vendor contacts in order to make your dream designs come true.
And this year, market did not disappoint. Stop in our showroom in the next couple weeks to see the new product and read on here to learn of the newest trend in the interior design realm: BRUTE.
What is Brute?
Brute design refers to the idea that “less is more” and that design should reflect a more minimalist approach, riding itself of anything frivolous or extravagant. Stemming from the Brutalism architectural movement during the early to mid-20th century, the new emergence of Brute design is a result of consumers leading interiors to a more natural state, back to a raw position and seamless transition from indoors to out. Brutalism makes a bold statement with its ideal to limit any kind of ornamentation and focus more on function and simplicity in a design.
Key Features of Brutalism:
- Use of natural materials such as concrete, stone or glass in hard case furniture as well as architectural accents – note the emergence of concrete kitchen counters and tabletops with stone or concrete bases.
- Clean, stark lines, angular and jarring with often indelicate features – most brutalism designs are boxed in nature.
- Void of ornamental aspects – Brute interiors nixes any and all things decorative or elaborate in all aspects of the design including cabinet pulls, finials and crown molding. Lights are even stripped of anything unnecessary leaving only the purpose – the bulb itself.
- Purposely designed for function verses decoration – console tables are designed with maximum storage and often sofas have one large seat cushion verses two or three.
Our 8 Favorite Brute Finds:
This Gerard Sculpture from Arteriors Home is a great depiction of Brutalism with its architectural appearance, bold blend of natural iron and a white marble base and its clean, crisp lines.
With its single seat cushion and its black nickel metal base, this Hans Sofa from Vanguard Furniture can be used in nearly any Brute or minimalist design approach.
This strikingly beautiful Kassius Container from Arteriors Home resembles the architecture from which Brute design come from – full concrete with unique repeated feet revealing the basic construction of how it is made.
This Newberry Round Dining Table from Bernhardt Furniture Company casts a Brute glow with its indelicate features and block cast pedestal and wood base.
Neutral in finish, this Sebastian Entertainment Console from Universal Furniture is a modern take on Brute design with its bountiful storage and faux concrete top.
This Caviar Fixed Staggered Pendant from Arteriors Home strips the idea of lighting down to the basics. With a glass casing and visual bulbs, the design creates an almost poetic appearance.
Like the Universal Furniture Entertainment Console above, this Garrison Cocktail Table makes use of the stark, angular lines void of ornamentation with a focus on storage and a concrete like top.
Again true to Brute design’s architectural emergence, this Jorge Lamp from Arteriors Home stands tall with its two-layer fossil grey concrete body.
To learn more about Brute design and find more inspired picks, visit the High Point Market Buyer’s Guide. If interested more in minimalist design, read our post “Live More with Less” for inspiration. And if you love anything you see, let us help you place it in your own home.