Rise of the Interior Decorator.

In 1925, the World's fair in Paris took place leaving its contributors to fall into two separate categories being: functionalists and decorators. The rise of the Profession of Decorator beings in Paris during the Art Deco period. The word decorator originated from the french term "decorateur" or "ensemblier". The "ensemblier is the one who creates an ensemble, chooses objects, combines objects and in doing so makes aesthetic choices. The functionalists were grounded in theory. There was a growing need of wealthy class of people for houses that reflected status, including professionals to help with outfitting the interiors.

One of my favorite architects from this time period would have to be the well known Dorothy Draper. One of her most well known projects that she designed was the Greenbier Hotel in West Virginia. She was known for dramatic use of black and white on walls, floors, and upholstered pieces. Her style focused around modern baroque and she incorporated vivid colors to make feel happy and comfortable.
 

Another architect that I admire from this period is man named Billy Baldwin. He designed spaces for the middle class as well as having many famous clients. He worked with a restricted color scheme, and disdained the florid, baroque, and rococo in entirety. However, he focused on being clean cut, hard edged, and pared down in his design. One of my favorite interiors he designed was the Kenneth Hair Salon in New York.
 

Lastly, I really loved the Elephant Chair designed by Jaques-Emile Ruhlmann. It was a very unique chair that displayed a great sense of comfort as well as really resembling parts on an elephant.




Here are some current application that I found:

This is a modern version of the Denham Maclaren Armchair


Here is a modern version of the elephant armchair



I reviewed Samantha's blog and she picked out some great interiors of the Greenbier Hotel and also pointed out each designer's strengths and main focuses.

I also reviewed Nichole's blog and she used a great example of a cluster of interiors done by Elsie de Wolfe.


Youtube video clip on Dororthy Draper's Greenbier Hotel design:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7_cycJBTPg

Modernism in America

During this movement, the most successful architects and designers were using eclectic historicism. They were based on the concepts of Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Sullivan and Wright's work was often overlooked and ignored. European modern works were rarely published and therefore little known.

First off, my favorite architect from this movement would clearly be Frank Lloyd Wright. He had a way about his architecture that no one could compete with. He incorporated nature throughout this work as well as accompanying the most amount of nature light as possible to flow through his design. One of the most interesting architecture developments created by him would be the Falling Water House. He built this home in a rock and tress so he wouldn't destroy nature but he wanted to incorporate it is his design. He also angled this home in the direction that would gain the most possible sunlight.

Another architect's work I enjoyed learning about was a man named Rudolph Schindler. He was born in Austria and had a collaborative relationship with Wright but later ended due to a bitter conflict. He later designed the Schindler House for the Lovell family in California. Inside of the Schindler home, it was aimed to accommodate two young families with a cooperative space to live and work in. His construction was based on a tilt slab method of pouring concrete walls on top on the concrete base.

The last architect from this movement that I really also enjoyed learning about was Richard Neurta.  He was born in Austria and studied in Vienna with Adolf Loos and Otto Wagner. He came to the United States in 1921 and worked with Louis Sullivan and Wright. He later then moved to Los Angeles in 1926 to establish his own practice. Neurta created the Lovell House as well as the Kaufmann House which were both beautifully designed My favorite happened to be the Lovell House because of all the windows as well as the modern designed that flowed through the home.

Some modern applications I found was first of this home in Argentina. It consists of a lot of windows for natural light as well as a very modern architectural layout. 

The second modern application I found was of this home in Arizona. The windows are my favorite part of this design.

I reviewed Flor's blog and she really displayed a good understanding of modern applications through the architecture of homes inspired by Irving Gill.

I also reviewed Nicole's blog, she had a very thorough understanding of all of the architects from this movement as she explained each in detail.

Here is a short video on a tour from Philip Johnson explaining his glass house :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpOS_wE0xkQ

Art Deco

The style of Art Deco started in France as its point of origin. Art Deco came to the United States came to the United States and other European countries at the beginning of World War II. This stye in particular was not concerned with functionalism and technology versus Modernism. The uniqueness of Art Deco was that it was concerned with fashion orienting style which made this style so different yet appealing. Skyscraper furniture with strong decorations throughout it as well as in the architecture also made Art Deco unique. Also, Art Deco was strongly influenced by Art Nouveau, however, public acceptance was often hesitant of it. Lastly, there were many amazing architects accompanied by artists which I will make mention of now.

One of the artists I really liked from this period was Gordon Russel. He was an Art Deco furniture designer and spokesman for British design. Also, he was responsible for an exhibition room at the Paris Exposition of 1937. I really liked his sideboard he designer considering I like the light color of wood along with the sleek lines throughout it.

Another artist I liked from this period was Gunnar Asplund. He designed the Senna Chair in 1925. The chair consisted of a smoothly curved seat, high back, stubby arms, and simplified version of some classic prototype.

768 × 768 - 1stdibs.com

A public space that really defines Art Deco style is the Radio City Music Hall. This building was designed by Donald Deskey in New york in 1932.

Some current applications of Art Deco would be this modern kitchen :

…. And also this bathroom 

I reviewed Megan S's blog and I really like the pictures of the architecture she used to display Art Deco, the ceiling and carpet really show the curved shapes of the style.

Also, I reviewed Samantha's blog and I loved her choice of modern day Art Deco style of the living room and a hallway.



Here is a link that shows ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVvYPU4Gw8