Interior design question

JesseJB · Apr 5, 2007

Ive just recently gotten interested in design so heres a question that reflects that:

I live in an art deco-style apartment in the city. My interior is decorated in this art deco meets metallic-urban style and all the buildings outside my windows are art deco. Im wondering, can the two be mixed together? Or would my apartment be blasphemous to some? Can you live in a deco building with deco room finishes and still have modern/urban furnishings? Or should your decor match the architecture?

I suppose Im asking this because Ive taken an interest in that time period and want my place to look more authentic with the original architecture yet keep a modern, urban feel. Plus some of my stuff is crap and generally needs replacing.

Parker · Apr 6, 2007

I generally find that mixing things from different eras and styles is more creative and original, not to mention modern and livable. If everything in your place matches perfectly, it can seem like a museum. I think the key to a well designed interior is unifying things through materials and color (and your personal interests).

spertia · Apr 6, 2007

The Italians are quite fond of putting modern furnishings into historical/traditional architectural spaces.

Ivan Kipling · Apr 6, 2007

Decor need not 'match' the architecture. But I do feel that a building's exterior should govern what's going to be used, as inside decor. That's where you might begin. Just as a mantelpiece might govern a room's interior decor. Afterward, you can mix, blend, add, omit, until you have a pleasing and lively expression of yourself, within the realm of your building's own style.

Luc-Emmanuel · Apr 6, 2007

Originally Posted by spertia

The Italians are quite fond of putting modern furnishings into historical/traditional architectural spaces.
Contemporary furnitures which are most likely to blend into an Art Deco space are from the Memphis group. Alternatively, I would mix with pieces from Ron Arad, like the Victoria and Albert sofa, or Javier Mariscal. Not that I endorse any of these styles. I have more fascistic aesthetics: wood, leather and steel.

!luc

fatty · Apr 6, 2007

Art deco was a design style in the early 20th century which eventually gave in to modernism and streamlined architecture. The metalic-urban furniture you refer to is probably reminiscient of Bauhaus, which was a design genre about the same time as art deco emerging from a school in Germany and the likes of Walter Gropius [sic].
There is no need to match art deco, the 'stick-on' facades of such attempts to return usually look out of place and fake. As long as you have some connecting factor which draws in both styles, I think it's awesome.

This is just my opinion, someone else can tell you with more expertise about the actually styles i suppose.

Edit: yeh if it's streamline, there are plenty of good streamline-bauhaus hybrids

caelte · Apr 6, 2007

My guess is your building and the ones surrounding are streamline style.
Seattle has alot of mid-century furniture stores, yes?

Sounds like a rare opportunity, with the views you have, to do something unique using period furnishings.

JesseJB · Apr 6, 2007

Originally Posted by caelte

My guess is your building and the ones surrounding are streamline style.
Seattle has alot of mid-century furniture stores, yes?

Sounds like a rare opportunity, with the views you have, to do something unique using period furnishings.

Here it is 50 years ago...
Of course its a lot nicer now with sycamore trees below, better stores, cafes, etc.

Thanks for the replies everyone! Im getting inspired to start working on this.

designprofessor · Apr 6, 2007

I agree with all the above. You need not confine yourself to the modern era -you can get away with some interesting combinations -don't be afraid to look back to 18 -19th century.

caelte · Apr 6, 2007

Originally Posted by JesseJB

Here it is 50 years ago...
Of course its a lot nicer now with sycamore trees below, better stores, cafes, etc.

Thanks for the replies everyone! Im getting inspired to start working on this.

Anything would work in that context...

LabelKing · Apr 6, 2007

What you rarely see these days--in these days of cookie-cutter "eclectic" interiors--is an entirely matched and coordinated interior set.

I'm reminded of Hercule Poirot's flat, which was a completely coordinated Art Deco suite.

Lucky Strike · Apr 7, 2007

Originally Posted by designprofessor

I agree with all the above. You need not confine yourself to the modern era -you can get away with some interesting combinations -don't be afraid to look back to 18 -19th century.
Oh, yes! Art deco can mesh perfectly with Empire and Biedermeier pieces. They will often have the same strict, angular/geometric lines.

rdawson808 · Apr 7, 2007

Jesse,

I'm a huge fan of the Deco style and Modernisme as well. My one comment would be that if your interior has original features (such as the original tile in the bathroom, etc.) you not destroy it and replace those things with modern stuff. If such features need to be fixed, try to keep with the period. I.e. replace the tile with modern tile but same design, etc.

I think mixing different styles can work fine, but it can be hard. Choose wisely.

And good luck. Before buying our place we looked at an Art Deco building here in DC. The apts themselves were horribly small and ended up having little of the original features (but the entryway to the building was over-the-top Deco). We passed.

bob

Interior design question

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