Art Deco and Home

by Phoenix, HSM team writer

The roaring twenties. A time of fashion-forward breaks from tradition. A time of social change for women — and the world — after WWI. There was a well-defined change in furnishings and décor for the design-conscious. And this style period carried on through the 1930’s, although it is more readily associated with the decade that preceded the Great Depression: art deco.

Art-Deco is a style of its own, with many influences. The history of art deco is founded in those many influences; it is referred to as the bohemian style of décor. The art deco movement began in the 20’s, in France. The term “Art Deco” comes from a show of modern décor: a national showing called the Internationale de Arts Decoratifs Industriels et Modernes. This showing was held in 1925.  The title described a literal showing of decorative art.

It has been described in these terms since: brilliant, extravagant, sophistication, with an exotic and simple décor element of color and contrast combinations. In the real world, this can be one of the most expensive design styles available.

Art.deco.3Choosing the art deco style is an easy choice here in Home because of the availability of the necessary style elements. Art deco is comprised of design elements of items rich in color, geometric shapes, and stylish chic embodiment. Some of these items were found in African, Egyptian and some ancient Eastern cultures. Art deco combines all of these elements to create the sumptuous layers of texture and comfort of the period.

Included in this list of expensive elements were hardwoods, ivory tusks, crocodile and snake skins, wild animal furs, welded iron and anything at the time that was considered exotic and or expensive. Many of these items have representation in Home consumer markets, fur rugs, gold chest, nickel colored shelves, silver candle sticks, etc. Some of the most chic and daring items imaginable can be found here.

Art Deco is perhaps the only design where the popular or standard ideas of color are not as important. Accent colors are usually chosen to be deep tones: browns, blues, greens, purple, blacks, and reds; while the wall or background colors could be whites, creams or even light to nut colors like almond. For color of furniture it was the silvers and golds, (leafed) painted pieces, bronzes and some glittery tones chosen.

Art Deco is full of large designs of ornamentation. Oriental design is a desirable element in this because of pattern and material. 214a4b017a018fc4886cb455dd277cf5These pieces are best for a dominant color combination in terms of tonal context. It is far easier to unite the color combination of the interior design by adding four to five tones of the one dominant color choice.

Furniture is undeniably the major element in all Art Deco design.  Sofas, chairs, (armchairs) loungers, love seats, sectionals, beds, and dining sets, take center stage in deco design. Furniture has to have refined form, expressive lines and expensive upholstery to fit the design of Art Deco. A furniture piece’s shape and form are however second in importance to its materials of design. Woods in reds and covered in sumptuous upholstery are sought after. Some of the most popular colors for furnishings are red, black, milky white and natural woods. Textiles in these same color palettes are easily found in Home. Lamps, tables, sofas, beds, dressers, tables, chairs, folding screens, loungers all can be found in the Art deco style. Home has three spaces in the personal space listing that would be the perfect backdrop for this.

PlayStation(R)Home Picture 02-12-2014 15-03-05 The Summer House is a wonderful space to carry off the Art Deco design, with its two-leveled layout, the dual staircases and the other architectural details it has. The Rapture Apartment is by design the most perfect, as it is the one space designed with art deco specifically in mind. But the Primarch’s Vigilarium Apartment, with its carved details, wallpaper and curved window make it another choice contender. Bio Dome has a line of Art Deco furnishing to go with its space, but there are several Home stores with Art Deco-style furnishing. The Pharaoh’s Tomb furnishings, as well as the furnishings of the Vigilarium apartment are possible choices, as well as several pieces from Juggernaut Games’ Cutteridge Estate, Mydeco, and Lockwood just to name a few.

Give art deco in Home a try; you might be very pleasantly surprised.

March 23rd, 2014 by | 4 comments
Phoenix writes poetry and is a photography enthusiast, along with writing for HomeStation Magazine. She is currently studying for a BFA in Creative Writing and BA with concentration in Photography. psn ID phoenixstorm21 youtube.com/user/phoenixstorm21

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4 Responses to “Art Deco and Home”

  1. Jin Lovelace says:

    I laud your work, Phoenix. This gave some great inspiration and new, fresh ideas for my personal spaces now.

    Mainly, my personal space I told you about before. :D Terrific read.

  2. I’m new and I don’t know how to make some friends

  3. I want a house but how u do it

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