Showing posts with label furniture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label furniture. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Furniture Design Styles

Different Furniture Styles
Can You Identify These Different Furniture Styles...?
Furniture design has been a part of the human experience since the beginning of history and as such there are a vast array of furniture styles that have developed over time. Some have faded away and can now be only found as antique furniture but other furniture styles live on through reproductions in that style. The fact that some furniture styles are still reproduced and mimicked is testament to the quality and style of that furniture that it is still in demand today.

It can be very difficult to differentiate between these styles though and you may have heard phrases like a "Queen Anne Chair", a "Shaker Kitchen" or "Bauhaus Nesting Tables" without being able to visualise what that actually looked like. Well that is where this article comes in handy as we will list all the main furniture design styles and outline their identifying features so you can tell your Art Nouveau from your Arts and Crafts!

This article outlines the following furniture design styles ...

Egyptian Furniture

Egyptian Style Furniture
Egyptian Style Furniture

When we think of Egyptian furniture we imagine the intricate gold gilded ornate furniture found in the tombs of the Pharaohs as opposed to the simple chairs, tables and baskets of the ordinary Egyptians.

The identifying features of ancient Egyptian furniture are...

  • beech wood and mahogany 
  • ornate designs using different colors 
  • depicting animals, gods and goddesses 
  • gold gilding and inlays 
  • mosaic designs 
  • mother-of-pearl inlays

Greek Furniture

Greek Style Furniture
Greek Style Furniture

Ancient Greek furniture is possibly still most remembered for the famous klismos chair, shown above.

The identifying features of ancient Greek furniture are... 

  • elegant and tasteful
  • detailed carving and inlays
  • select detailing, not cluttered
  • comfortable rather than decorative

Renaissance Furniture

Renaissance Style Furniture
Renaissance Style Furniture

Along with the other arts, the Italian Renaissance of the fourteenth and fifteenth century marked a rebirth in furniture design, often inspired by the Greco-Roman traditions.

The identifying features of renaissance furniture are... 

  • ornate and opulent
  • form above function
  • gilded designs 
  • floral, vegetable and scrolling ornamentation

Jacobean Furniture

Jacobean Style Furniture
Jacobean Style Furniture

After the Renaissance there was a gradual change to a less ornamented, quieter style of furniture.In general furniture profiles became lower and more rectangular.

The identifying features of Jacobean furniture are...

  • stern, square, and frugal
  • colourful upholstery with tasselled trim
  • straight lines & rigid designs
  • sturdy construction
  • dark finish

Queen Anne Furniture

Queen Anne Style Furniture
Queen Anne Style Furniture

The Queen Anne style is a style with a moderate proportion and graceful appearance. It is named after Queen Anne of England who reigned from 1702-1714.

The identifying features of Queen Anne furniture are...

  • graceful and refined
  • cabriole legs terminating in a pad or drake foot
  • fiddle-back chair backs
  • bat wing shaped drawer pulls
  • cushioned and covered with fabric

Colonial furniture

Colonial Style Furniture
Colonial Style Furniture

These pieces were generally sturdy and heavily carved, many with turned legs and bun feet. In the harsher environment of some of the Colonies these pieces were simpler representatives of their parent styles, befitting the more straightforward and utilitarian life of the settlers.

The identifying features of colonial furniture are...

  • less ornate than European furniture of the same style period
  • combing features of previous styles
  • variety of wood types used
  • chair arms have slight outward curve

Rococo Furniture

Rococo Style Furniture
Rococo Style Furniture

In the eighteenth century, furniture design began to develop rapidly and styles such as Rococo and Neoclassicism were commonplace throughout Western Europe.

The identifying features of Rococo furniture are... 

  • Natural motifs
  • Elaborate carved forms
  • Asymmetry
  • Curved forms are common in Rococo
  • Rocaille carving
  • Acanthus leaf

Shaker furniture

Shaker Style Furniture
Shaker Style Furniture

The Shaker style was produced by the religious group the United Society of Believers in self-contained communities in the United States.

The identifying features of shaker furniture are...

  • simple, utilitarian style 
  • straight tapered legs
  • woven chair seats
  • and mushroom-shaped wooden knobs
  • rectilinear and attenuated forms
  • restrained ornamentation

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Victorian furniture

Victorian Style Furniture
Victorian Style Furniture

The Victorian style draws its influence from previous Gothic forms. It is named for Queen Victoria of England who reigned from 1837-1901 and was the first furniture style of mass production.

The identifying features of Victorian furniture are...

  • heavy proportions
  • dark finish
  • elaborate carving and ornamentation.
  • somber appearance
  • balloon-shaped chair backs

Arts & Crafts furniture

Arts and Crafts Style Furniture
Arts and Crafts Style Furniture

Arts & Crafts furniture is simple, with straight lines and little ornamentation.The terms Mission and Craftsmen can also used to describe Arts and Crafts furniture.

The identifying features of Arts & Crafts furniture are... 

  • rectilinear design
  • simple, straight construction
  • exposed joinery
  • using medium or dark stained oak
  • bail handles with rectangular back plate

Art Nouveau Furniture

Art Nouveau Style Furniture
Art Nouveau Style Furniture

The name "Art Nouveau" is French for 'new art', and it emerged in the late 19th century in Paris. The style was said to be influenced strongly by the lithographs of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, whose flat imagery with strong curved lines was seen as a move away from the academic art of the time.

The identifying features of Arts Nouveau furniture are...  

  • intricately detailed
  • lines and curves used as ornamentation
  • inlays and veneers also used
  • hard woods and iron commonly used
  • strong yet slim furniture pieces
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Bauhaus Furniture

Bauhaus Style Furniture

The Bauhaus school was founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar in 1919. In spite of its name, and the fact that its founder was an architect, the Bauhaus was founded with the idea of creating a 'total' work of art in which all arts, including furniture would eventually be brought together.

The identifying features of Bauhaus furniture are...  

  • minimalist & non-ornamental
  • hand crafted but appears mass produced
  • organic and natural materials
  • mainly black in color
  • smooth and rounded shapes

Art Deco Furniture

Art Deco Style Furniture
Art Deco Style Furniture

The Art Deco movement began in Paris in the 1920s and it represented elegance, glamour, functionality and modernity. Art deco's linear symmetry was a distinct departure from the flowing asymmetrical organic curves of its predecessor style Art Nouveau.

The identifying features of Art Deco furniture are...

  • practical and simple designs
  • founded on mathematical geometric shapes
  • triangular shapes, chevron patterns, stepped forms, sweeping curves and sunburst motifs
  • new materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, plastics and lacquer
  • exotic materials like shark-skin and zebra-skin.

Modern Furniture

Modern Style Furniture
Modern Style Furniture

The forms of modern furniture sought newness, originality, technical innovation, and ultimately conveyed the present and the future, rather than what had gone before it as revival styles had done. This interest in new and innovative materials and methods produced a certain blending of the disciplines of technology and art.

The identifying features of Modern furniture are...

  • new materials included laminated plywood and fibreglass
  • continued use of steel, moulded plywood and plastics
  • simple and geometric shapes
  •  regular use of polished metal
  • style considered pioneering, even shocking

Scandinavian Furniture

Scandinavian Style Furniture
Scandinavian Style Furniture

Simplicity and function are the guiding principles that have shaped the design sensibilities of Nordic Europe.

The identifying features of Scandinavian furniture are...

  • natural materials, mainly wood
  • favour neutral colour palettes
  • clean, simple lines 
  • optimal function out of every part of the piece
  • robust and fuss-free
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    Tuesday, January 3, 2017

    Learn A New Skill For The New Year

    Learn A New Skill For The New Year
    Learn A New Skill For The New Year
    Giving things up for new year is a common practice but also a very difficult one that most people break after just a few weeks. So this year make your resolution be to learn something new, to up-skill, to re-skill; here's a few good reasons why ...

    • A new skill to put you ahead of other job candidates
    • A new skill for a change in career, 
    • A new skill to enhance your studies 
    • Or just a new skill for fun! 

    But what skill should I choose? Well, design skills are one of the most adaptable and sought after skills around as they show you to be creative and innovative but also logical and organised. So here are the top 5 design areas for you to up-skill in...

    Web Design:



    More and more business is being done online everyday and because of this every business from your local coffee shop to the multinational corporations has a website. This means there is a growing demand for web designers to create, update, moderate and redesign all these websites. To get in on the action, you will need to learn HTML5, CSS3 and at least a little JavaScript. These programming skills will be further enhanced with knowledge of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and design skills like the ability to use Photoshop. Using the web design process is also an essential skill that is unfortunately overlooked by many web developers who call themselves "designers".




    Graphic Design:

    Sample Poster

    A lot of people group the ability the use Photoshop and being a graphic design together as if they were the same thing... they are not! Photoshop is a great software and the Adobe Creative Suite of which it is part is certainly the industry standard for graphic designers but there is a lot more to graphic design that using software, after all, graphic design still existed before computers! Back then, just like for modern graphic designers, the graphic design process, an understanding of colour theorytypography and composition were all keys skills. Some more modern techniques such as the use of attention grabbing techniques in your imagery and the use of the most powerful words in your typography will further enhance your skill base.


    Games Design:

    Games design with Unreal Engine

    The games design process can be completed by just one person but that person would need to be highly skilled in many different areas of the design process and production stages and have a lot of time on their hands! For these reasons computer games, much like anything else, are designed and built by a team of people each with their own specific set of relevant skills. See which role would interest you most or dabble in a little bit of each before focussing on one area to learn. Start your journey here.


    Interior Design:

    An example of the Urban Interior design style
     Interior design is another misunderstood craft with numerous people claiming to be interior designers simply because they have "an eye for it". The interior design process, when done properly, is a complex task which requires multiple skills and the knowledge of key areas such as interior design styles, colour theory, room layout techniques and an awareness of a multitude of materials and finishes for walls, floors and furniture. Perspective drawing skills and the ability to create presentation boards for potential clients are also valuable skills for any professional interior designer.


    Furniture Design:


    The most practical and hands on of our top 5 skills for the new year is furniture design. Like all the others understanding the process is key and the furniture design process should be your starting point. After that a look into furniture design history will give you an understanding of traditional and contemporary furniture styles. An awareness of the available and industry standard furniture materials is also a must which will be complemented by a knowledge of the different furniture joinery techniques when you go to build your design prototypes.

    Sunday, October 9, 2016

    Read Here Shopping at Foxfire antiques, Middleburg Now

    This past weekend I visited charming Middleburg, Virginia, the heart of Washington equestrian life. While there I shopped -  naturally! One of my favorite finds was the antique & design shop Foxfire.
    Located in the heart of town Foxfire features a number of continental antiques, primarily French, but a few in particular caught my eye.
     These French metal armchairs would be great sanded and painted a deep forest green or even black.
    I spent a lot of time lounging in these 1930s club chairs with original leather. I love that the seat has been reupholstered in a brown velvet so your legs won't stick or slip on the leather cushion, depending on the time of year.
    These artistic mirrors were my favorite piece in the store, though clearly not real antiques. An artist takes a number of different minerals to the backs of regular mirror to create very colorful versions of 'antiqued' mirror (the stylish smoky glass you so often see).
    Some versions of this were imprinted with designs but I loved this matching pair of smoky versions (much like traditional antiqued mirror with the addition of color) in warm sunset colors.
    The marble top of this antique table was so patterned that at first I thought it was faux-painted. This would make a great kitchen table and remain cool to the touch for baking.
    The sides of these upholstered chairs were beautifully detailed with a natural oak finish. Be sure not to miss Foxfire Antiques when you visit Middleburg!

    Saturday, October 8, 2016

    Read Here Hines & Company at the new DC Design Center Now

    Last week I attended an event at Hines & Company in the new nearly finished Washington Design Center. I'm happy to report the new design center is a HUGE improvement on the old one (which isn't saying much), spacious and light filled.
    The Design Center officially opens in about a week on November 12, 2014, but many of the showrooms are already open for business. Walking into most of these showrooms just make you want to redo your entire house with so much eye candy, which is always a problem!
     I'm dying to find a place for this Zoffany Wallpaper called 'Trade Routes'.
    Lighting is one of my many passions ( see all of my previous posts on my favorite antique lighting store, Artisan) and the selection at Hines ranges from the contemporary to the classic.
    My favorite lamp was this rock crystal column from Vaughan. It bridges the line between classic and contemporary with a luxe material; it would look great with a gilded and/or black shade.
    I always love paisley fabrics, particularly natural linen, and this Fonthill fabric by Stark checked all of the boxes, named Amelie.  Thanks for inviting me Hines & Company and thanks for all of the inspiration too!

    Read Here Quality is in the details: Bunny Mellon Now

    Now that the sale of the century (thus far) has ended, Mrs. Paul Mellon at Sothebys, we can all sit back from the hysteria and try to learn from this extraordinary taste-maker.  I read from both camps, that the items were just 'ordinary' and/or worn and then also that they were of the highest quality and perfection.  For what it's worth, I heartily agree with those who found the sale overwhelmingly good.
    While I never got further than my auction catalogs, friends of mine attended the sale (and texted me these pictures) and attested that though the furniture was indeed not top notch condition (of course not, it is essentially used/2nd hand furniture!) there was no question to the quality of the items; in particular the details which is where this kind of simple perfection excels.
    Even the simplest upholstered pieces featured astounding couture details; from ruffled trims to coordinated buttons.  Even the boxed upholstery of the (blurry) French chairs below had squared cushions to match their frames.
    Thanks to Josh for sending me these images from the sale.  Now that the auction has ended the discussions will mostly be of the (boring to me)monetary values placed on the items. These high  prices achieved attest to the level of taste acquired by an aesthete in her 103 years and may we all now try to learn a bit from her years of wisdom.

    Read Here Shopping in DC: GoodWood Now

    In anticipation of 'Black Friday' later this week I thought I would share with you some of my shopping from this past weekend. I stopped in one of my usual haunts on DC's U Street NW, Goodwood.
    GoodWood used to be more of a vintage furniture store but has turned itself into an authentic version of what Anthropology tries to be. The styling in the store is always artful and really fun to walk around. As with most vintage shops there is something for everyone hidden around the next corner, no matter your taste.
    I love this antique cabinet which holds antique china, tea, and teapots. I wish I had a cabinet like this in my apartment for my collection!
     These antique Minton cups and saucers were selling for only $8 a set and there were dozens of them.
    One of the most interesting item(s) was this pair of faux "faux bois" French armchairs which are very Michael Taylor'esque.
    Some details of the chair -really charming- I wish I had a place for these! Also notice the vintage carpet on the floor: lots of affordable antique rugs.
    This lovely antique French mirror is deceivingly tall - it wouldn't look out of place in any embassy in town.
    Unfortunately there was only one of these mid-century sconces with a Greek key motif or I would have snapped it up!  Someone had done an unfortunate paint spattering to the shaft but thats easy to undo with some sandpaper and a can of black spray paint.  Did you do any fun shopping this past weekend?

    Friday, October 7, 2016

    Read Here Palm Springs, California Now

    I recently escaped the cold winter weather and explored (mostly) sunny Palm Springs, California. I say mostly because 1 of my 4 days there included an unusual gloomy, albeit warm, rainy day.
    Known as the retreat of the Rat Pack and full of Mid-Century modern architecture, I was pleased to find some older buildings to interest the classicist in me.
    The El Paseo building in the Uptown Design District was built in 1927 and is of the fitting Spanish style that fits so well with the sunny weather. White washed walls repel the strong sun and the clay tile roofs help to keep the roof ventilated and cool.
    Across the street were a number of other interesting older Spanish buildings, full of charm. Of course I was mostly interested in the blue skies and warm air!
    This building above directly across the street has seen better days but if you look past the broken windows and worn exterior the concrete structure is really beautiful. The antique shop inside is entertaining as well.
    Of course when one thinks of Palm Springs one thinks of its' famous houses. Neutra's famous Kaufmann House from 1947 was an exciting find -click the link for a great tour at Architectural Digest.
    Another fun find although on an entirely different level, was driving by Liberace's house below.  The Old Las Palmas neighborhood is full of beautiful mid-century houses and lush gardens.
    Palm Springs is a surprisingly small town with the main activity (after golfing) being sitting Poolside.
    I stayed at the beautiful Colony Palms Hotel and can't recommend it highly enough: both for style and most of all location.
    Shopping is another popular past time particularly for vintage home goods (fun for me!). I have to recommend (the unfortunately named) Just Fabulous for its wonderful and stylish book collection and gifts just a block from the hotel.
    I used the Elle Decor travel tips (very useful) to find a lot of the better vintage stores and weed out the junk (literally). The best string of about 5 shops I found thanks to that magazine are in a sort of run-down business park just outside of Palm Springs in Cathedral City adjacent to its best store, Hedge. I was a bit surprised to find the stores empty on a Saturday during the high season but after the shabby treatment I received in most of the shops (Hedge was moderately friendly) I wasn't so surprised.  After trying to get help in 2 (empty) shops to purchase something and receiving no recognition I just left with empty hands. More money to spend elsewhere!  Is it because I'm much under the average age in Palm Springs of 80?  I still have money to spend!
    Shop owners beware; finding great merchandise is only 1/2 the battle.  Selling it to VERY willing customers is just as important! Customer service matters particularly with high end merchandise.
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