Week 1- Arts and Crafts

This week in History of Interiors II we learned about Arts and Crafts. 

 This period was a reaction to the Victorian Era and was a movement of ideas. The Victorian Period lasted from 1837-1901 which was around the reign of Queen Victoria. This period was a time of flourishing and advancements in consumer culture, communication, media, materials, and manufacturing processes. These things created new opportunities for interior design by making materials easier to access and helpful advancements. 

 Victorian furniture was elaborate with decorative elements from all sorts of styles. This style encourages decorative arts for everyone and became widespread. However, these pieces were not always made well and often cluttered spaces with the overwhelming number of styles present. 

 Arts and Crafts also began in England. A man by the name of William Morris started the movement, which also became popular in America. He was inspired by medieval architecture and believed that everything within a home should be both useful and beautiful. This was during the time of the industrial revolution which often made cheap, bad furniture in poor working conditions which did not result in real wealth for anyone involved. Arts and Crafts was a reaction to this, which created strong, beautiful, homemade furniture. 

            (Drawing Room- William Morris)                     (Modern Day Application)

 Morris both studied at Oxford and completed an apprenticeship under architect Phillip Webb, and at some point, studied painting and created some of his own. Webb ended up working for Morris after he formed his own company creating the “Morris Chair” and many others in a Medieval design. This chair was truly a symbol for the movement, being an honest design, using good materials such as leather, and was even adjustable. 

                     
                                   (William Morris Chair)                          (Modern Day Application)

 Edward Coley Burne-Jones also worked closely with Morris and was one of the most famous artists of this Era. Phillip Webb designed simple and original works and despise the industrial revolution. He emphasized clean white painted walls with exposed hardware throughout. 

 Edward Godwin was a trained engineer and self-taught architect from England who was inspired by Japanese design created lighter designs with the use of voids. Charles Voysey was also from England devoted to the Gothic principles and Japanese details, he designed furniture, wallpapers, fabrics, carpets, tiles, metalwork, ceramics, and graphic design. 

     
              (Charles Voysey Wallpaper)                                  (Modern Day Application)

 Another man by the name of Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect and designer who was influenced but the organic and calming feature of Japanese design. His interior design projects revolved around the setting and person whom he was designing for. He used simple geometric forms to create unusual furniture with exaggerated proportions, which were later painted with ornamental elements by his wife. 

                
                           (Argyle Chair- Mackintosh)                               (Modern Day Application)

 Gustav Stickley was an American in the second generation of the Arts and Crafts Era who had formal training in his uncle’s chair factory. He valued honesty and simplicity in the industry and excelled as a designer. Additionally, there was Charles and Henry Greene who were inspired by Japanese architecture and design with an emphasis on simple living, self-reliance, and the importance of the individual. The official term bungalow was given to their homes, and they primarily used wood, having metal details, and an emphasis on nature. 

 Take Five 

 My design philosophy has changed over the years and has grown in understanding since coming to college. I have always been inspired by nature and incorporating it into the home, such as sunlight and more natural materials. The older I get I have learned that more is less, settling for simplicity over ornamentation. Sustainability is key and I prioritize buying things that will last and are built well. 

 Some historical influences that have shaped my design are Prehistoric Times, Ancient Roman, and the English and Italian Renaissance. These styles then have influence on contemporary styles that I relate to such as Midcentury modern, modern farmhouse, and coastal Scandinavian. 

 My education at Judson University has shaped my future as an interior designer by helping me to learn about history, computer knowledge, industry connections and so much more.

 I would say that the most obvious current event is that Covid-19, with the return of more in-person work, opens the possibility for designing offices and more commercial buildings. 

 Some designers that I have taken inspiration from are architects and designers such as Renzo Piano, Robert Venturi, and Frank Lloyd Wright. 

 One Step Further: 

 While learning about the Arts and Crafts Era I discovered a company by the name of Warner House, who not only was founded during this period, in 1870, and still exists today! The Warner house started by producing the highest quality of silks around, their fabrics have been used in the White House and even Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. They produce wallpapers and fabrics, which they use to also sell blinds, curtains, cushions, furniture, lampshades, and trimmings. Their unique style and unbeatable quality have kept the in business for decades. 

 https://www.warner-house.com/timeline