Arts and Crafts

The Arts and Crafts was a short lived movement that came about because of artists' concern in industrialized Victorian England that the beauty of hand craftsmanship would be lost in the mechanics.  In the 1920's when the industrial revolution really started picking up speed this style was forgotten by designers and consumers, but it has lasting power because we still see its influence in architecture today.

I am surrounded by it in my neighborhood because the avenues were the up and coming neighborhood in SLC in the late 1800's, early 1900's, the same time period as Arts and Crafts. The bungalow isn't the only architectural type from this style, but it is my favorite.

 {What I like about the style}

natural color scheme, simply treated materials, and minimal decoration

asymmetrical, deep porches, well proportioned

emphasis on nature, simplicity in form

quality design

diversity in style because there wasn't one core philosophy backing it other than superb craftsmanship

women were very involved in the movement

An interesting parallel between then and now I found was that John Ruskin {who's writing influenced William Morris in the Arts and Crafts movement} believed the machine was at the root of the social problems of his day.  I hear the same thing today.  What differences would we see if more of our economy was based on craftsmanship, rather than imported, machine made products?  Yes, prices are better when things are mass produced, but are we better for it?  I don't fully formed opinions on this, but I have always been a huge fan of handmade over manufactured.  There is more soul to it.    As we start work on the interior of our parade home I want to incorporate some of the classic details from the period.


{a really great source source source front door etsy source history source}

Victorian influences

The opulence of Victorian era melted away to a more straight lined functional movement and while I think our styles tend to be more simple, there are plenty of examples of how we have been influenced by this turn of the 19th century style.

{similarities}

Gray was a favored neutral

Marble was the popular stone of choice

Eclectic furniture styles blended together from previous styles in the past

Placing items of interest to show personality

Floral Wall papapers

importance placed on order

bare room = poor taste {tho maybe they took it a bit farther that we do}

 {differences}

Excessive ornamentation and accessories on every horizontal surface

Specific rules to color selection and placement

Focus on formal spaces - the parlor being the most important room in the house to showcase & entertain

Floor plans that divide public and private areas into closed areas, opposed to our more open floor plans

The image below is from a really great Victorian style home featured here.  I especially love this bathroom for its super fun details like the 10 FT mark in the tile on the wall and the Pool Rules sign.
 A great example of witty design.

sources: Victorian antiques Morris Antiques wikipedia another source and one more

Market Monday: Kate Morton & William Morris

"Wars make history seem deceptively simple.  They provide clear turning points, easy distinctions: before and after, winner and loser, right and wrong.  True history, the past, is not like that.  It isn't flat or linear.  It has no outline.  It is slippery, like liquid; infinite and unknowable, like space.  And it is changeable: just when you think you see a pattern, perspective shifts, an alternative versions proffered, a long forgotten memory resurfaces."

 Kate Morton is the brilliant author of this quote.  I just finished reading her book, The House at Riverton, and I loved this paragraph for a couple of reasons.  First, it summed up succinctly the way I've felt about  history in just a few lines.  Second, the same can be said about design.  It seems linear until you think about what determines a trend.  Following the outline of one style to the next you can see how what is happening in the world has everything to do with how we choose to adorn ourselves, our homes.  Studying history in conjunction with my love for art and design gives me little thrills as I see the one affected by the other.  The Victorian opulence being followed by the Arts and Crafts is the example I'm thinking of today and Kate Morton's books have a way of weaving beautiful stories including details of the architecture and details from the lifestyle that make history really come to life for me. This particular novel was a perfect choice because it is set in time as everything was shifting from the very conventional to the more free spirited movement.

So while the Victorian has never been one of my very favorites in terms of style, I can appreciate all that hand crafted detail and the pretty feminine lines. I've spent some time the last couple of weeks studying it so that I can better understand the Arts and Crafts movement since I'm working on a home being built in that style.
  
Which leads me to my second feature: William Morris.  He was a big player in the movement from Victorian to Arts and Crafts.  {I'll be talking more about this later.}

I especially love the paper products with his patterns on them.

{source source source}

Sam Moore Custom Chairs 50% Off

Two weeks to go until our Big Sale and I've already been placing orders for excited clients.  Sam Moore is one of the lines that will be 50% off March 16th through the 19th at Noble House and this includes custom orders.  I love this company for their reasonable prices {even before the sale} and the fun fabrics available in this line.

Their site may not be so pretty, but the chairs definitely are.  Check them out online, then if you live close by come sit in a few of them on our showroom floor.  Oh, and if you love history like I do, check out the story behind Sam Moore.  I also love that they are made in the beautiful USA.

{I don't get paid by my company to post about our events.  I'm doing this because I'm excited about it and know that half off is a steal when it comes to custom orders.}

Danish Modern: just scratching the surface

I've started reading a new book {above}about one of my favorite design styles.  The Danish Modern movement started in 1930 and reigned for 40 years overlapping Mid-Century and Art Deco, two other favorites of mine.

{yes, I know, I have a lot of favorites, but I can because I'm sincere.}

Eero Saarinen's Tulip dining table {above}is a piece I would LOVE to own someday.  And especially so now that I have a thing for marble.  Reading about his contemporaries is a delight.  Guys like Frits Henningsen, Alvar Aalto and Tapio Wirkkala are a few lesser known names from this time period.  I'm only 22 pages into the book and I can tell it is going to take me awhile because I'm simultaneously googling every name I come across to see what I can find on him.  

More to share as I go, I'm sure.

{borrowed images from here, here, and other places...}

J'aime tout ce qui est français

There seems to be an underlying theme to my week. An old friend trying to get her French inspired business off the ground, getting depressed while watching Les Miserables and remedying it by watching the translated version of the beautifully illustrated The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. {Watch it here. Seriously, the very best thing you could do with a spare half hour if you have one.}  The theme continues, but I think I've made my point.

Going along with it {why fight a good thing?} I decided to dig up a bunch of really great French inspired images to top off a very lovely week.
Above clockwise: French Industrial table, a quatrefoil chair by Hickory Chair, escaping escargot, a light airy French inspired interior with all the romantic curves you'd expect, and an apartment from Eastern France with a couple of my favorite modern chairs.

speaking of chairs, a whole slew of today's most recognizable chairs come from France. To get a great run down on the history of those styles, visit Design Sponge.  

{I want one of those red metal chairs for my place.}

Great Vintage Art found on Etsy.

restoration hardware

Etsy est la source de toutes choses français.  

{Etsy is the source for all things French.}

Clockwise:  Boucles d'oreilles {earrings}- oreiller utterfly {butterfly pillow} - parasol pin - Brush Your Teeth - Postcard Tags - French Bulldog Notebook


Bonsoir mon cher ami!