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Tuesday, June 6th, 2017
Go back to the simplistic beauty of the 20th century in this Steamship Splat Back Arm Chair.
Do you know that the chair now has a 5,000-year history? While this is so, we seem to be increasingly living in a world where people are encouraged to stand instead of sit down. People are coaxed to move about so that they don’t eventually suffer from diabetes or coronary heart disease.
Renowned architect, Witold Rybczynski, is quick to point out that the standing desk age is just a fad. And since this is so, it will eventually come to a stop and people will, once again, realize the importance of sitting down and how people should break up their lengthy sitting periods instead of saying goodbye to chairs all together.
Function and Fashion
Chairs uniquely combine fashion and function. Compared to communications technology, chairs do not get better over time. If you’re seated in an armchair, then practically, that’s all there is to it. With regard to form, it is there to provide respite from standing and it pairs beautifully with a desk or table.
Of course, the chair’s structure depends entirely on its function. Once you begin looking at chairs are mere seating pieces, then you would realize that it has a wide array of functions to fulfill. The concepts of design behind the making of each chair also has rich stories.
In the 20th century, chair design was still testing the waters in terms of product design, craftsmanship, architecture, as a form of art and how it will be used in interior design.
Daily, a lot of people spend their time sitting down more than any position. There may be a lot of different objects in your home but you will surely spend time and money in looking for the perfect chair – at least that’s what we hope to achieve.
Chairs are important not just because people sit in them but also because you can express your style and individuality with the right kind of chair. Artists and architects use different designs in expressing higher ideals, cultural movements and artistic influences.
In the 20th century, still, there was still no separation for interior design, architecture and product design. Chair design and architecture were closely linked as is evidenced by the chair creations of famous architects – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier.
Chairs are there primarily to provide physical and psychological wellbeing to the sitter. It can also provide both these to other people who will end up using the chair.
Comfort
Seating designs during the 20th century embodied the artistry and creativity of architects and artists. One could see the obvious excitement and adventure in terms of design. The lifestyles of people may not have been taken into consideration that much back then but one thing is certain – the chairs were adorably beautiful.
Chairs may be pricey but people bought them because they were needs. It would be wrong to buy the cheapest pieces only to end up breaking them in just a few months or buying another piece altogether.
Just consider this, any chair that does not look like the regular seating piece is something that must have a higher value. This uniqueness may look unconventional because of its extraordinary materials or it could simply be because it was styled differently.
Posture is another aspect that you should consider with regard to choosing a chair. The more alert that you would want to be, the higher your chair must be from the ground. If, however, you would want to relax as you sit in the chair, then find the ones that lounge appropriately.
Status Symbol
Yes, you can also tell the world who you are by choosing the chair that describes you. You can say I am important by picking a chair that’s made of expensive materials, has ornate carvings and the plushest cushion. Or the design could be streamlined yet its color and form scream Look at me!
Tags: 20th century chairs, chair, chair history, chairs, history of chairs, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on 20th Century Chairs: Let’s Sit Down and Discuss History
Wednesday, January 27th, 2016
Living Room Uttermost Citographie Gray Linen Armchair 23168. This chair is made of hardwood and made perfect by craftsman detail right on the gray linen tailoring. See how the brass nails streamline the fabric trim giving the needed contrast to the solid oak bare frame.
Craftsman dwellings were inspired by architect brothers Henry Mather Greene and Charles Sumner Greene. These ingenious minds worked together during the 20th century in Pasadena, California. The Greenes were quite inspired by the English arts and crafts movement and Oriental architecture. In their own promoting handmade stuff rather than those created inside factories and were machine-made.
If you want to have a first-hand look at the beauty of craftsman design and architecture, you could visit Southern California where a few bungalows from 1905 till the 1920s still stand. You will surely love this style if you like things that may be old but have got a timeless appeal.
Characteristics to look for include gabled roofs, front porch, tapered columns, partly paned doors, multi-pane windows, and a lot of earthy colors.
Craftsman houses are typically painted in any nature-inspired color. You will see a lot of browns and greens. The low-profile homes often blend with their natural surroundings. The muted palette comprising of just one or two contrasting colors are used to highlight the breathtaking architectural features.
Regardless of the style that you choose for your home, keep in mind that painting an architectural feature with a contrasting color is an effective way to highlight such feature.
Another characteristic that is unique to a craftsman home is the stone detailing. See the mixture of different materials with the siding typically made of wooden clapboard. There are some that feature shingled siding as this was a pretty common style, too, back in the day. The foundations and porch piers are generally made of stone with some concrete block, bricks or stucco used at times.
Craftsman style also comes with roof eaves, exposed beams and rafter tails. All these reflect the influence made by the Arts and Crafts movement, thus, visible handiwork was featured and were considered in style.
Living Room Uttermost Ardusin Hobby Cupboard 25589 is made from select hardwoods. It is hand-finished in worn black. The mahogany dovetail bins are solid wood and are great for your any storage needs.
Democratic Mixing
Get a craftsman style book and mix materials that you can get your hands on. Think of cladding a little addition of brick or stone even when your home already has existing clapboard siding. The addition of exposed rafter tails or beams should not mean that you are supposed to reconstruct your home or even replace your roof. Such details are commonly decorative in nature and can be easily added below a home that already has deep roof eaves.
There is something inviting and warm about a craftsman home. It celebrates the fusion of building materials, lovely structures, and most especially, the 20th century architectural features.
So, how to begin?
Start with a view of some of the craftsman homes still in existence. Take note of the window detailing, those exposed rafters, the facade, stained glasses as decorative accents, and the overall warm glow of the place.
Consider also the kind of lighting used which mirror the exteriors. Find sconce and pendant lighting that will cast a warm, golden glow throughout a room. While this is the general rule when it comes to craftsman homes (warm lighting plus earthy colors), this does not mean that you can’t put your own personality into it. You can opt for the bright home approach where you balance the bright hues with the wooden accents which are the staple materials of a craftsman home.
Other colors that you can add to your palette are white and blue. Gray can also give your craftsman home a contemporary appeal. Include white wooden accent pieces, modern pendant lighting fixtures, and some contemporary art. The result is a comfortable and trimmed yet modern and posh at the same time.
Isn’t it fun to make historical homes appear modern inside? This can be your take on retro meets the contemporary look.Craftsman design is sure to captivate both young and old spectators.
Tags: 20th century, 20th century chairs, arts and crafts, contrast, contrast in design, contrast in interior design, craftsman, exposed finish, hardwood, hardwood furniture, hardwood pieces, interior design contrasts, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, mixing and matching furniture, pendant, pendant lighting, retro, Retro design, Retro style, tips, wall sconce, wooden elements
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