Art Deco style was popular nearly 100 years ago and its elements can add a modern-day elegance to any home or business. Revamping Art Deco elements can give them new life today.
Furniture featuring clean lines and smooth curves complement the Art Deco aesthetic, while ornate mirrors and luxurious textiles like velvet and silk add additional opulence.
Big Biba
Big Biba was an iconic Art Deco shop established by Polish-born fashion designer Barbara Hulanicki in London during its heyday in 1960. At that time it broke every retail rule known to mankind by featuring dark swirling printed fabrics and marble floors – an epicenter for hippie culture during those turbulent decades.
Whitmore Thomas Design Associates lavished extravagance, play and humor into their design of the seven-floor Biba building, giving each floor its unique theme from Disney World to ostrich feathers. Additionally there was even a maternity section and space designed specifically for 11-13 year olds complete with miniature cottage kids cafe and toadstool seating!
Rainbow Restaurant on the fifth floor offered food and beverage services and was a favorite hangout spot of Twiggy, among many others. Unfortunately, however, its unique and charming store only lasted about ten years before finally closing its doors for good in 1999. Now Biba is being featured as part of an exhibition at Fashion & Textile Museum.
The Rainbow Room
No matter if it’s an overhaul or simply adding some Deco glamour, look for playful forms and vibrant colors with natural materials such as wood. Pieces featuring whimsical forms will elevate the design.
Rockefeller Center’s Rainbow Room recently reopened with an incredible glimmer and glamour that could only come from Rockefeller. First opened in 1934, this iconic light-flooded space is known for its landmarked crystal curtains and revolving dance floor, and offers breathtaking city views from its 65th-floor perch.
Once Art Deco fell out of favor in the 1940s and 50s, its geometric forms were revived during the 1960s by Pop Art and Postmodern movements such as Pop Art/Postmodern reviving many of its angular shapes and vibrant palette. Tamara de Lempicka first made an impactful statement through her sensual paintings such as Pivolo Aperitif Aux Vins De France and Young Lady With Gloves during this resurgence period.
Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler’s work stands out from the competition with its vibrant geometric art deco aesthetic and emphasis on sculptural forms, pattern and texture. Her eclectic yet cohesive aesthetic combines vintage elements with modern trends while emphasizing geometric forms and an appreciation of pattern and texture.
She takes great pride in designing with layers, as evidenced by her mantra “Old soul, new soul”. Instead of following one uniform style or trend over another, her unique aesthetic draws its inspiration from various styles, eras and mediums; an approach evident both at her three-and-a-half acre LA estate as well as at downtown Los Angeles Proper Hotel she co-developed with her husband.
She displays her fascination for patterns through custom fabrics, ceramics, and furniture designed specifically to showcase them – such as bold geometric patterned rugs that she says were inspired by tree trunk cross sections – as well as custom furniture with her trademark modern glam style. Here, the black backdrop displays this modern glam aesthetic perfectly while revealing details that exemplify it, including pistachio green millwork, control lamps, and her Colina credenza made of salvaged wood treated using the Japanese wood-charring technique shou sugi ban. A bold geometric rug also adds texture and contrast in this space; its pattern features a circle-punched geometric pattern which was inspired by tree trunk cross sections.
Selamat
Resurgent art deco designs in modern interior design is a testament to its timeless glamour and sophistication. By including geometric patterns, bold furniture pieces, and vibrant hues reminiscent of 1920s elegance in your space, Art Deco can add an instantaneous sense of 1920s elegance to your home.
Art Deco’s sleek lines and symmetry are its most defining characteristics, yet its design incorporates elements from earlier periods. Notably, the Arts & Crafts movement – which emerged as a reaction against industrialization in the 19th-century United Kingdom – inspired its emphasis on organic forms and curves which later gave birth to Art Nouveau.
Art Deco revival paintings make an elegant accent piece in any room, featuring geometric forms and glamorous figures. Additionally, these pieces can serve as a starting point to incorporate this style more permanently through paint, wallpaper, or decor elements such as decorative vases and figurines that feature geometric designs made with luxurious materials that transform any room instantly into an eye-catching showcase of chic style.
