Loft Wardrobe with Wooden Fronts

An industrial style wardrobe and a shelving unit with a cabinet from one set: a black metal frame and pale solid wood with a strongly contrasting grain. Both pieces are freestanding and the same height, so they can stand side by side as one wall or go into different rooms.

Hinged wardrobe: wood inside a metal frame

The wardrobe frame is black square profile, with wood as the infill. Each door is a glued panel of solid wood in its own metal surround, held from the inside by brackets around the perimeter. The frame keeps a tall door true, so the panel itself can stay thin. The sides are closed, made of four panels between cross rails. A metal frame wardrobe with wood doors like this is not tied to an alcove and moves house with its owner. For a built-in alternative, compare the sliding wardrobe with gloss fronts.

What is inside

Inside are four shelves of metal rods and a dark grey back panel. The slatted shelves are deliberate: things air out, grit from shoes does not collect, and a shelf is easy to wipe. There is no hanging rail, so the wardrobe belongs in a hallway for shoes, bags and boxes, or works as a utility cupboard.

Shelving unit with a cabinet

The second piece is a shelving unit on two side frames. It has four open shelves at the top; the lower three and the cabinet top have a rear upstand that stops things falling behind the unit. Below is a closed cabinet with fronts of the same boards and slim horizontal handles. The loft hinged wardrobe and the open shelving cover two jobs: keeping some things out of sight and others within reach. The sideboard with perforated inserts and lighting is made in the same manner. When doors are not needed, the frame alone carries the clothes — see the open wardrobe on a tubular frame with light shelves. For the principles of loft style, see our guide to industrial furniture.

The set suits a hallway, living room or home office that calls for the warm texture of wood and furniture that can be moved. We set the sizes, the number of shelves and the interior fittings to the task. See custom furniture for the home.