The luxurious style of the Great Gatsby era gained a new wave of popularity at the beginning of the 21st century. This is a tribute to the aesthetics of the post-war period, gravitating to fantastic forms and brilliance. Does it sound a bit distant from a harsh reality? We hasten to convince you – even the open spaces of a small kitchen will allow you to create such an exciting and unusual interior.
Art deco is an extremely consistent style. Being created in the Art Nouveau era is a kind of response to the lack of spatial discipline reigning in modernist interiors. In the Art deco style, it’s worth decorating the whole house or apartment if you are a fan of the movie “The Great Gatsby”. Playful and glamorous luxury will fill every room. Although arranging a living room or bedroom is relatively simple, designing a kitchen in this style can be challenging. This article will help you understand how to do this.
The rise of Art Deco: an insight into the main peculiarities
The amateurs of the Great Gatsby and interior decorators that work with this style are crazy about extravagant arrangements. This is what we mean by that: inlaid parquet floors, marble finish, glass lamps. All these are elements of the decorative style that is traced back to the 1920s. Notwithstanding this long period of time since this style was started, it continues to be a trend to which stylists refer with admiration.
It should be noted that this style does not include only the particular art of arranging the kitchen when it comes to an art deco one. It also refers to architecture, graphics, and painting. Interesting fact: did you know that art deco originated in France, after which it gained popularity in other countries, even reaching America? This is why it is sophisticated, implying the use of various geometric shapes. There is more to come. This style involves a combination between classical forms and ethnic ornaments. Therefore, such accents as the African, Aztec, Egyptian, or Greek ones can be met. There is no doubt that art deco is bold and charming, as it tends to use color contrasts, repeat patterns, imply gloss and exclusive elements. When it comes to an art deco kitchen, what you have to remember is that it should be consistent, but with a twist.
Art deco style: main features and rules
Art deco combines elements of different concepts, such as scientific progress, which is directed toward beauty, and antiquity, which includes the cultures of Asia, Africa, and European traditions. If you prefer exquisite luxury, comfort, functionality, and originality, the art deco kitchen is the best choice. Let’s see how it works and what are the main rules to be considered.
Art deco design tips
Art deco kitchen: using only the best materials
Art deco does not agree with any compromises. This is why an interior design built after this style should include only the best materials. For instance, in the past, the noblest types of wood were used for art deco furniture, such as:
Another trend within this context is considered to be veneered furniture, which is complemented with ivory or peral shades. As you have probably thought, leather is used to cover the chairs.
Color palette
There is no doubt that colors affect us emotionally. This is why you should consider carefully the appropriate color shades as each of them has its own features, which you have to discover properly before starting using them.
White kitchen in Art deco style
Light shades of color can bring visible changes in any style. In this particular one, they have a primary role. White nuances bring harmony into the amalgam of decorative elements. At the same time, this background creates an interesting contrast and emphasizes the black-colored part of the decor.
There is more to consider. You can also opt for gray in combination with soothing blue or sand, which will offer a delicate touch to the kitchen.
Beige kitchen in Art deco style
The gentle and soft gamut has a similar role to white and, at the same time, serves to play halftones and soft transitions. Use the “tasty” tones of beige: peach, cream, coffee. In this embodiment, the kitchen will look very warm and comfortable.
Black kitchen in Art deco style
It should be noted that coal-black will be appropriate only for spacious rooms. In order to soften the effect of dark colors, we suggest you consider the use of glossy surfaces, glass, or mirrors.
Does it seem to you that a black kitchen cabinet looks too gloomy? Here is a solution: decorate it with an white trim and you will notice the change yourself.
Blue kitchen in Art deco style
By using this color, you will notice the soothing effect it will have on the kitchen. This shade will bring aristocracy to your room. Therefore, you should opt for noble metals, wood, and stone to match this idea. As partnering colors, consider a light shade of beige with a yellow one, now-white and gray.
Purple kitchen in Art deco style
If you want to bring in some elements of royalty, opt for purple. Furthermore, wine-purple shades will match perfectly a touch of gold. As regards the textiles, don’t hesitate to introduce such fabrics as velvet and silk. At the same time, if the space is not a large one, consider lilac shades.
Kitchen finishing and materials in Art deco style
As mentioned earlier, it is important to use materials of high quality as they will last longer. Furthermore, they will serve as a great background for other elements.
Floor
The ideal choice, both from an aesthetic and from a practical point of view, is stone, porcelain stoneware or ceramic tile. The color of the floor should be combined with the walls, but it should not repeat it.
You probably recall that the Art deco design is characterized by the use of a checkerboard pattern or piano keys – black and white squares or masonry of rhombuses with contrasting inserts in the form of square dots.
Walls
Decorate the walls with wallpaper or paint, tiles with characteristic motifs. This style allows both plain wallpaper and various ornaments, Egyptian and African hints. The emphasis is on paintings or other elements of decor. Many designers also prefer to combine different finishing materials.
The so-called backsplash needs to be decorated with materials that are easy to clean – with tiles or paint, other parts of the room can be pasted with wallpaper. By the way, you can use the wallpaper in the cooking zone. And, if you want to use gold, but are afraid of an obsessive effect, use a gilded mosaic.
Ceiling
Both direct and multi-level finishes will look harmonious. Use built-in spotlights or thin stucco curbs around the entire room. Mirror surfaces look very lovely.
The main decoration of the ceiling for Art deco is considered the chandelier. It’s best if they are massive and elaborate, often using crystal or forged parts. Bright representatives of the modernist direction are also pertinent. You can use either one chandelier, or combine it with spotlights. Another excellent option is the use of several lamps at once over the dining area.
Kitchen furniture in Art deco style
If you are looking for the best choice in this sense, we suggest you stick to such materials as wood, glass, or metal. When it comes to sofas or chairs, consider leather. What about a perfect combination of kitchen furniture? Here it is: islet tables made of glass and metal, bar counters, and exquisite bar chairs.
If your dining area is full of space, then it is appropriate to use a massive table. You can cover it with a beautiful silk cover, and choose chairs with curly graceful legs and a high carved back. For small rooms, on the contrary, use exciting and concise modern style furniture.
The kitchen set can be plain, made in neutral colors (ivory, light wood) or quite contrasting (black and white, silver, dark wood).
The facades are mostly closed, hiding household appliances. Glossy surfaces are popular.
Decor and textile in the Art deco kitchen
Considering a large amount of accessories, they would be perfectly matched by a neutral background. When it comes to painting, consider large panels with ladies from the 1920s, geometric lines on furniture, interesting-shaped mirrors, or unusual lamps. Don’t forget that it is also about the era of jazz, which means that you can opt for mirrors with gold frames in the shape of the sun.
This style is reflected in geometric, African, and antique motifs. In this sense, statuettes of athletes, ancient Greek heroes, and folklore characters will come in handy.
Windows can be curtained with plain window blinds, Roman curtains in black and white stripes, or classic curtains. Revive the design with the help of floral ornaments and fresh flowers.
The interior of the kitchen in the Art deco style is an entertaining combination of sophistication, chic and functionality, and each element of the room, from furniture to textiles, must be in place and create a holistic picture.
Art deco kitchen+living room
Notwithstanding the fact that the art deco style is consistent, it includes many contrasts. For instance, it is peculiar to this style to combine black with white within nobly finished furniture with bold lines. It does not only combines practically the colors but also adds elegance to the environment. The result is a perfect kitchen + living in art deco style. One of its main features is the admiration for oval forms, which gives the room a unique visual character. If there is a kitchen island as well, the effect will be striking. Everything is about directness, which can be felt in the curved shapes but also in the ornaments of the cabinet.
Geometry and ornament
You can often notice geometric shapes in the kitchen+living room, which is peculiar to art deco and was given a modern character. Modular cabinets in the form of cubes are arranged attractively, creating geometric bodies. The patterns on the floor are fascinating.
Game of contrasts
The use of black and white also defines the Art deco style. This color pair is combined with the depth and intensity of a brown wood, which has a fantastic effect. Here can be a play with various surfaces: from brilliantly white cabinets, through a black, smooth fragment in the middle, to tiles on the wall imitating marble. A kitchen arranged in this way looks chic and straightforward.
Kitchen-living room in trendy colors
Art deco is also a specific style in which decorations are applied in moderation but create a stylish impression. In the room, you can place numerous decorative elements.
Small kitchen in the style of Art deco
The luxurious interior implies the presence of a large area, but in a small kitchen or a room combined with a living room, you can create a design of the jazz era. Fill the interior with light colors and carefully approach the use of decor. To visually enlarge the space, use mirrors, it is one of the most recognizable elements of Art deco. Try to use quality natural materials.
In a limited number of square meters, you need to start from the parameters of functionality. This means that the cooking and eating areas should be delimited. Light sources, as well as the arrangement of furniture and combined decoration, will help create separated zones. Place the kitchen cabinets along one wall or realize the L-shaped layout – this will give a little more missing space.
For the dining area, a window sill, replaced by a countertop, a small oval island, or a bar counter, is perfect.
Kitchen design in Art deco style: Photo gallery
Art deco style impresses with its richness of colors and shapes that are kept stable by bold lines. It is complex, at the same time, simple that sometimes it is difficult to determine the balance between the two concepts within a design of this style. This is why it would be easier if you took a look at the next photos to understand the information provided by us and get inspired.
