Other Styles
Colonial * Country * American Country * English Country * French Country Eclectic
Neo-Classical * Victorian *
Neo-Classical * Victorian *
Art-Deco: The quintessential 1920's and 1930's style for skyscrapers, homes, cinemas, even cruise ships, Art Deco is glamorous, modern and dramatic. French designers mixed classical and contemporary elements including the passionate colors of Fauvist paintings, sensuous fabrics, exotic artifacts of Egypt, Mexico and the Middle and Far East, and Cubists painters geometric shapes in round mirrors, floor treatments and barrel shaped chairs.
American designers streamlined the style with modular and built-in chrome and aluminum furniture, while British designers contributed sleek materials like Bakelite and commercialized motifs like zigzags and chevrons. Oriental style: The oriental style is mystical, meditative and calming, from ornately decorated palaces and temples to minimalist interiors of the common man. Though the Orient spans countries from China to Indonesia, certain elements are common to the diverse styles of each. Materials are natural, bamboo being a staple. Craftsmanship of furniture, ornaments and textiles is splendid. Laquerwork and batik are distinctive. Colors are subdued or vibrant. And there is a respect for spirituality inherent in the symbolism for patterns, colors, artifacts and placement of objects.
Mexican & Southwestern: Influenced by indigenous Indian and Spanish cultures, the Mexican and Southwestern styles are earthy, sophisticated and soulful. Furniture is rough-and-ready wood with decorative carvings: wool textiles are hand woven with geometric motifs of nature; light fixtures are ornamental tin and wrought iron. But there are differences. The passionate Mexican style's loud colors, painted furniture and exuberant use of handcrafted decorative objects celebrate a folk heritage.
The Southwestern adobe style exudes a peaceful panache with subdued tones of surrounding mesas. Select accessories, especially chic pottery, paintings from New Mexico's art and Indian colonies, epitomize the style. Baroque: The baroque style is theatrical and extravagant. Decorative elements are intended to startle, electrify and flaunt wealth. This was also true for the European courts and aristocracy that embraced the 18th century style. Furniture is massive and opulent, textiles are luxurious and expensive, colors are royally rich and glittery, accessories are exotic and sparkling, floors are dramatic. The style was most magnificently showcased at France's Louis XIVs palace at Versailles.
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Arts & Crafts: The Arts & Crafts style in England and America from 1860 through 1925 embraced quality materials, craftsmanship, and simple lines and forms to fashion one lovely harmonious interior. Fabrics and wallpapers with Gothic, floral and Japanese designs complement rather than overwhelm rooms, especially those created by movement founder William Morris. Furniture was block shaped, usually oak, like Gustav Stickley's mission pieces. Lighting was beautiful and useful especially Louis Comfort Tiffany's stained glass lamps and Dick Van Erp's hammered copper lamps.
Tudor Style: Stylistic freedom colored England's Tudor period from 1485 to 1603. Fueled by political stability, international trade and prosperity, a building boom of multistory individual manors and townhouses introduced signature design features for long term living and comfort: the wall fireplace, wall and ceiling ornamentation like strap work, and ornate permanent furniture. Other decorative elements are a hodgepodge of influences form Gothic Europe, Italian and German renaissance, the Orient and Middle East.
Georgian Style: The Georgian style of the 18th century England revived classical Grecian and Roman principals of proportion and symmetry. Traces of other flamboyant styles surface in the details including French Rococo ornamentation, midevil Gothic motifs and Chinese laquerwork . Still, the Georgian look is mostly simple, uncluttered, sophisticated and elegant. It features urn designs in wall moldings, timeless Wedgewood china and delicate furniture by then world-renowned master designers Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton.
Contemporary: The Contemporary style honors current living and values. In the 1990's and today the interiors are functional, physically comfortable, environmentally conscious and versatile to suit the hurried individual's idiosyncratic tastes and needs of the moment. Bright, airy and uncluttered the style embraces white walls, blonde woods, fresh colors, sensual textiles and hi-tech fabrics, deep cushions, open or lightly draped windows, clean lined mobile furniture and materials that are natural, recyclable or industrial such as glass and steel. The result; eclectic yet cozy retreats from fast-paced pressures.
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Colonial * Country * American Country * English Country * French Country Eclectic
Neo-Classical * Victorian *
Neo-Classical * Victorian *