Week 9- Art Deco and the Rise of the Interior Decorator

 


This week we talked about the art deco movement, along with the rise of the interior decorator. This period started because of tension between 2 groups, the functionalists and the decorators. Functionalists tend to focus on simplicity and mass production. They wanted to create designs made for everyday living. Decorators, on the other hand, focused on aesthetics. They wanted the design to be very luxurious and ornate. Out of this tension, art deco was born. Art deco leaned more towards decoration and style rather than strictly function. The movement began in france and spread to other parts of Europe. Art deco is known for being very bold and glamorous. It used geometric patterns like chevrons and stepped forms that were inspired by skyscrapers. Designers also used high-end materials such as ivory, ebony, chrome, glass, and lacquer. Unlike modernism, which tried to remove decoration, art deco embraced it. It was a central part of the design period and made it feel exciting during a time of technological growth. I learned a lot about this period, specifically the rise of interior decoration as a profession. Before this, architects mainly handled the interiors. As time went on, though, homes became more personally stylized. Interior designers became responsible for selecting furniture and lighting. A major contributor to this period is Elsie de Wolfe, dortothy draper, and Billy Baldwin. Each of them helped interior design become more respected as a profession.




Favorite Examples


Chrysler Building—stepped form and decorative metal details. 



The Normandie ocean liner shows how art deco combined craftsmanship, technology, and decoration into one space!


Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann- used rare materials like ebony and ivory to show how art deco focused on luxury and craft





Current Applications:


The rockefeller center- uses original art deco interiors with geometric patterns, polished materials, and dramatic lighting.


The Greenbrier- a modern luxury hotel that still uses bold colors and patterns



Art deco-inspired tiles- a lot of kitchens and bathrooms today use patterns like chevron and zig zag


Statement fixtures reflect art deco and increase of interior design




One Step Further: Dorothy Draper


For my one step further, I chose dorothy draper. She was very influential because her designs were so bold and very confident. She was very versatile, using black and white contrast along with bright colors and geometry. Her main focus was large public interiors like hotels and making them feel dramatic but welcoming at the same time! I also found it fascinating that she had no formal training, just a natural feel for interior design. Her work proves that it is possible for design to be both expressive and intentional at the same time.


Reflection


I really liked this period because it feels different than other movements that we have studied recently. Instead of focusing on one thing like function or simplicity, art deco is able to focus on multiple things like personality and luxury. It made me think about how design doesn't have to be minimal to be successful. I was also interested in the part about the rise of the interior design career path. This movement is interesting because it allows for flexibility while also using structure and design principles. 

Comments

  1. Nicol TorresMarch 21, 2026 at 9:29 AM

    I really liked how you explained the tension between functionalists and decorators, and how that led to the development of Art Deco. Your examples, especially the Chrysler Building and the Normandie, helped clearly show the bold and glamorous qualities of the style.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Makayla OlarMarch 21, 2026 at 9:41 AM

    Allyssa!! The Chrysler Building is also one of my favorite examples of the Art Deco period! I also really love the fixture images you chose as an example of this period seen in today's design.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Professor VanderNoordaaMarch 23, 2026 at 7:25 AM

    Allyssa,
    I am so glad you are in this course. I really enjoy your perspective as a student of architecture. I feel you see the details of all the elements ( furniture, lighting, finishes, pattern..) that make Art Deco special. I love the light fixtures that have that Art Deco vibe. Well done! 50/50 points

    ReplyDelete

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