Metal window blinds add to the chic look of industrial-style design

Homeowners who prefer the sleek, ultra modern look of industrial-style design are hardly alone these days.

Those who prefer contemporary design don't need to live in an urban loft to achieve the look. The same elements can be incorporated into a suburban townhouse or single-family home, according to Country Living magazine.

Industrial style brings together some rough edges, such as rustic wood pieces, and the gleam of industrial lighting, rolling carts and stainless shelving. Designers say the industrial look is more effective if it's used throughout the home, rather than in one room.

In one cottage renovation, the magazine reported, "[The homeowner gave] the intrinsically rustic aura of the place a delightfully unexpected personality with industrial items, such as an old locker and a length of pipe he added as a footrest under the kitchen counter."

Kitchens are an easy place to pair industrial-style accents with stainless steel appliances, but bedrooms, home offices and bathrooms can also incorporate the look with homeowners' existing furniture.

To augment the industrial look, homeowners can choose metal window blinds that continue the metallic theme in coordinating colors and finishes with both hard and soft furnishings in a room's design.