Stainless steel evokes no sense of whimsy or softness, it is purposely efficient and durable. The material has been used for decades due to its ability to withstand the harshest of treatments. It remains front and centre in our collective lexicon, stainless steel, words that describe gleaming edifices of strength. The use of stainless steel found its stride in the 1920s in architecture as a complement to black steel - imagine large girders and beams. The shimmering smooth finish of stainless steel is no better represented by the modernist glittering crown of the Chrysler Building.
Due to its durability, it was used throughout commercial kitchens. It is hard to imagine a bustling commercial kitchen, with staff clad in crisp white uniforms, without thinking about the stainless steel backdrop.
Discovered in 1913, the process of making stainless steel was born out of necessity. Though incredibly durable, black steel had its limitations, it was susceptible to corrosion and moisture-related deterioration. Black steel, first introduced during the era of Eiffel, largely built our current architectural landscape. From the classically proportioned apartment blocks lining the streets of Paris, to the modernist skyscrapers of Manhattan and Chicago. Steel was used as the critical structural element. Its use allowed floor plates of buildings to be open, and larger planes of opened spaces unobstructed by supporting walls allowed designers more room to play. But the steel was hidden away, behind stone cladding, behind interior finishes, behind tiled floors, or encased in concrete. Then appeared stainless steel, the showboating cousin to the workhorse of black steel.
Throughout the decades since its discovery stainless steel has provided a critical role in many pieces of infrastructure beyond architecture. It is used in industrial processes, refined manufacturing, medical systems, and more. It is an enigmatic material, both tough and sturdy and shimmering and clean.
The use of stainless steel in an interior design capacity provides a signature sleekness to a space. The kitchen below exemplifies the use of stainless in a sort of classical loft style - open ceiling beams, and polished floors to boot.
I have been wistfully dreaming of a kitchen made of stainless steel for some time. The idea of pairing its durability with softer finishes of wood and marble seems to make a perfect match. At one time I was considering fitting out my kitchen at the time with stainless steel cabinets I found through a laboratory supply company. The cabinets were brutal in their design, with minimal edges to collect dust, built-in handles, and limited configurations. They were perfectly beautiful. The thought was to pair them with a marble or butcher block wood counter and shimmering Zellige tiles to match the sheen of the stainless.
Stainless steel integrates with various design styles due to its ability to reflect light - think of how a mirror is used in a space. This kitchen with the checkerboard floor is a great example. The stainless steel island almost seems to disappear by reflecting the floor pattern beautifully.
Some beautiful examples below capture that same spirit, a balance of harsh and light. Pairing stainless steel with wood, terrazzo, marble, Zellige tile, and other finishes with strong texture and movement balances the simplicity of the stainless.
Sweet stainless steel dreams!
-G
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