Greater Sydney is no stranger to the art deco style.
Evidence of the much-celebrated era are spread throughout the city and surrounds, whether it be in old movie theatres, town halls, churches, hotels, offices, apartment buildings and private homes, all contributing their own ‘tip of the cap’ to the 1920s and ’30s beyond the streets of Sydney.
Further afield, think luxury cruise ships, jazz clubs, glittering swing dance parties, New York skyscrapers, seaside mansions, and the awe-inspiring waterside estate of The Great Gatsby.
The style is elegant and opulent, and in its day it was daring, bold and exotic. It represented free-thinking, a strong economy, happier times; evolving technology, premium craftsmanship, and it symbolised wealth, power and sophistication.
It was a style that influenced all things design across the world, from fashion, jewellery and cars, municipal buildings and ocean liners. Art Deco was boldly modernist with geometric shapes, clean lines, metallic highlights, luxe fabrics, bold colour, exotic materials and textures.
Now, a century later, is art-deco making a comeback? Well, we’d be more inclined to believe that it never really left us!
Whether you go all out and recreate an art-deco home from the era, or you pick up just some of the design elements to implement in your new home, rest assured, it will remain a timeless style to adore into the future.
Here are some art-deco features you can borrow.
Curves: Softly rounded corners are one of the hallmarks of the style, accentuating shape, balance and proportion. Curves bring an interesting, asymmetric element to the facade, or accentuate a grand portico or generous balcony.
Black accents: Black or charcoal-coloured doors, architraves, window frames and balustrades like that of the railings on an art-deco ship.
White rendering: The natural way to keep the whole look fresh while ensuring the black accents pop. Elegant, contemporary, simplistic and stunning.
Motifs: Classic shapes and patterns including sunbursts, parallel lines, fans, chevrons and triangles were used to layer understated appeal to a modern-art-deco façade – repeated in the interior design with mirrors, intricate ceiling mouldings, cornices, fireplaces, and joinery.
Flat roof: The roof doesn’t always have to be flat but the idea is to allow the art-deco shape, curve and balance of the exterior to take centre stage.
Horizontal lines: Linear mouldings etched into the facade highlight clean lines, generous proportions and elegant street appeal.
Internally, an art deco-inspired home should implement expansive light-filled living areas, a sumptuous master suite, lavish bathrooms and fabulous outdoor entertaining – just as it would do in any 2021 home.
Next, we’ll discuss how to bring a touch of 1920s art-deco elegance into your 2020s home’s interiors.