Art Deco Home Design

Art Deco Homes

Art Deco, as defined by the Wikipedia Encyclopedia, was an early twentieth century movement in the decorative arts that also grew in influence to affect architecture, fashion and the visual arts. It was a major style in Europe from the early 1920s, though it did not catch on in the U.S. until about 1928, when it quickly modulated into the Streamline Moderne during the 1930s, the decade with which Americanized Art Deco is most strongly associated today. Art Deco is characterized by use of materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, lacquer, inlaid wood, sharkskin, and zebra skin. Art Deco was an opulent style and this opulence is attributed as a reaction to the forced austerity during the years of World War I. Art Deco was a popular style for interiors of cinema theatres and ocean liners such as the Ile de France and Normandie.

Art Deco Homes

Art Deco plan style generally consists of very simple and modern geometrical designs. Walls are usually smooth texture stucco, or stone and roof systems are a very shallow pitch or flat. Modernized designs avoid multiple design elements that other styles use. Modern and Art Deco ornamentation is generally subtle parallel lines, zigzags and other simplistic motifs not used in excess. Other common features are glass blocks, streamlined metal railings, smooth finishes, and concrete foundations. Though curved walls are sometimes found within this type of design, Art Deco homes are generally quite boxy and simple. Like their commercial counterparts, modern homes also have boxed shapes of varying sizes and distances to give the structure depth.

Well-Known Art Deco Artists and Designers

Aleksandra Ekster
Jules Leleu
Walter Dorwin Teague

You can search for Art Deco books at Alibris, or choose from the selection at Amazon.com:

Art Deco Homes

Pictures of Art Deco Bathrooms

Well-Known Art Deco Designs

Well-Known Art Deco Architects

Well-Known Art Deco Artists and Designers