Funky fascination

Published : 04/11/2009 | Author: Annelien Nolte | HOMEMAKERSonline

Art deco is a distinct form of modern decoration, with eclectic influences which was mainly inspired by arts as well as images of the advanced age like radios and skyscrapers. It is a mixture of elegance and modernism.

History

Art Deco must be one of the funkiest and fun décor trends around and certainly one of the most loved “American’ décor trends, although its eclectic roots can be traced back to the 1925 Paris France World Fair. The term ‘Art Deco’ was only used after 1960 and was first called ‘Style Moderne’. The era before World War 1 had a huge influence on the development of trends in the early 20th century. Creations of French artists like Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann, Jean-Jacques Rateau, Eileen Gray, etc. had a big impact on the development of Art Deco in Paris. Artists were also influenced by earlier Greek, Roman and even Egyptian objects but also decided to make use of more simple geometrical lines.

Characteristics

Art Deco interior design is primarily characterized by the inclusion of a mixture of geometrical shapes and angular edges into furniture, accessories, and interior wall structures. The geometrical shapes and sharp edges of the Art Deco interior design style, offer a sharp, cool look of modern living. Because this décor trend can mainly be characterized as the artist’s view of the modern future, combined with the present, there are a lot of bright colours, soft colours and sophistication involved. Various materials are combined to have a striking, modern effect:

Colours: The main colours of Art Deco interior design is dominated by cool metallic colours including silver, gold, and platinum. These metallic colours emphasize the look of Art Deco interior design by bringing the geometrical shapes, which define this style, to life. To soften the cold metallic feel, rich colours like lilac, different shades of red and ultramarine are used in combination with silver and gold patterns – usually leaves or flowers. Walls were often covered in cream or brown, and were mostly plain.

Patterns and features: Art deco style is a mixture of rich texture and patterns and is often characterized by the inclusion / use of:

Zigzagged and stepped patterns
Sweeping curves and lines
Chevron patterns
Sunburst shapes

Accessories: To soften the industrial look of the Art Deco interior design style, animal print rugs, throws, pillows, and textures are used to compliment and add contrast to this style. Glass figurines, murals, sculptures and plump furniture, with flat arms are often used to create an Art Deco effect.

Materials: Glass, rich woods, stainless steel, metals (like Aluminium, copper, iron, brass), laminates, pottery and rich textiles are combined and incorporated to create a classic futuristic effect.  Furniture: Art deco furniture is very simple in design. It features bold straight and curved lines and uses little embellishment. The simplistic approach is often accentuated by its look of sturdy construction, and elegance. Velvet and leather were used as upholstery materials, and furniture had rounded corners. The visible woodwork was usually lighter in colour.

Lighting

Glass and chrome were the most important features in this era as far as lighting was concerned. The main focus was on the lighting effect and what the light fittings looked like. Wall lights were very popular and had different coverings with different finishes, such as the bowl shaped light fitting. A typical feature was the wall light, in a fan or bowl shape. If shades were used they had deep fringes on the edges, and the lamp bases were often made of figurines.

Floors

Linoleum was often used as flooring material in the Art Deco era. This flooring option added striking patterns and various textures and colours to the kitchen. The linoleum floor was often complimented with a plain or contrasting border and rugs were also added to compliment the design.

Get the look

There are a few things you can do to transfer a room into an Art Deco haven. Here are a few tips:

Colour: Remember that the Art Deco décor trend is mainly characterised by sharp, cool and contrasting colours, complimented by lighter shades for an elegant feel. Choose lighter colours for small rooms like lilac, ivory and cream – these colours compliment natural elements such as wood. Deep yellows, reds, greens and pinks can be used in combination with silver, black and chrome in larger rooms for a dramatic effect.

Flooring: Black and white tiles, wooden floors or even linoleum finishes are ideal to recreate an Art Deco look and feel. But you do not have to change the flooring of your home to create a modern effect. Try using a rug with interesting, geometrical shapes to cover the floor – you will be amazed at the effect it has and it is a lot more affordable to buy an interesting carpet, than to replace your floors.

Furniture: You also do not have to replace all your furniture to create an Art Deco look and feel. One striking sofa and a few angular chairs on strategic places can make a big difference. Choose strong, streamlined shapes when choosing furniture. Furniture made of exotic woods are a good choice, as well as big chairs, armoires and even an elegant buffet. Another option is to use existing wooden furniture and have the cushions reupholstered in plain or geometric fabrics that compliments the framework and other Art Deco elements in the room. The fabric must be rich in texture, but plain in design.

Accessories: It is important to choose the correct pieces to decorate an Art Deco themed room. There are various websites that can point you in the right direction when it comes to lamps, tables and vases that would suit the theme. Murals, bronze- and glass figurines, sculptures, interesting portrait frames, posters and decorative prints can be uses to zhoosh up a room in true Art Deco fashion.