Bestselling author Sara Emslie shines a spotlight on urban industrial style and shows how reclaimed materials can add warmth and personality to your living space. New pressures on housing mean that pioneering homeowners are converting ex-industrial, non-residential spaces into innovative homes, while others are taking inspiration from the industrial look to bring character to newbuild interiors. In the 1960s and ’70s, many urban warehouses and factories became vacant, attracting the first wave of artists and creatives seeking large, affordable studio spaces. Since then, industrial areas in many cities have become sought-after residential districts and urban regeneration has gone from strength to strength. Nowadays the trend shows no sign of waning, with a second generation of urban pioneers cleverly converting former lofts, warehouses, schools, factories, offices and retail spaces into unique and highly desirable homes. In Urban Style, Sara Emslie investigates the practicalities for transforming non-residential spaces into homes, the key elements of the look – from exposed brickwork to copper piping and metal roof trusses – and the related rise in the popularity of industrial design. She then explores twelve inspiring and varied real-life homes that showcase the very best of the Urban Style look.

These days, space is a precious commodity. Small Space Style is an inspiring guide to making the most of even the tiniest home. ‘A chic reminder that small, if carefully considered, can be beautiful.’ Lobster & Swan blog. Sara Emslie embraces the positive aspects of living in a compact home and explores design and style solutions to the practical issues of living with limited space.In the first chapter, Elements of Design, Sara tackles clever design and planning details and discusses how to make the most of any small home. Then, in Elements of Style, she gives thought to decorating solutions and style ideas for a compact interior, considering storage, furniture and display. Next, Sara visits a variety of real-life beautifully small spaces, taking an in-depth look at imaginative treatments for pocket-sized interiors and showcasing tiny homes with lots of character. These include a terraced 'two-up, two-down' worker’s cottage, a miniscule Parisian pied-a-terre, a tiny studio apartment with a clever mezzanine that incorporates a bathroom and a pint-sized coastal hideaway. Each case study has a detailed floor plan and measurements.