How to Glam Up Your Kitchen With Art Deco Elements
Splash out on some silver-screen glamour from the roaring '20s to style your 21st-century kitchen
Art Deco is a design style that originated in France in the 1920s, before being embraced by the rest of the world in the ’30s. The style is characterised by bold geometric shapes and intense colour, luxury and opulence. To get a feel for this style, think of the glamour of the roaring ’20s. Grab a glass of Champagne and watch The Great Gatsby if you haven’t already seen it; it’s sure to make you fall in love with the exuberance of this era’s style.
Designer tip: Framing white cabinetry with a black trim is a subtle way of bringing the Art Deco black-and-white scheme into your home.
Geometrics
Geometric patterns are a signature element of Art Deco style. Rectilinear and curvilinear patterns through tiles, in flooring, on rugs and even in cabinet detailing were an essential design feature of the era. Look out for repeating patterns in the form of zigzags, chevrons and diamonds all laid out symmetrically.
Checkerboard pattern was also popular at the time. A common floor treatment in Art Deco-styled homes was either linoleum or tiles in black and white, with a checkerboard pattern.
Geometric patterns are a signature element of Art Deco style. Rectilinear and curvilinear patterns through tiles, in flooring, on rugs and even in cabinet detailing were an essential design feature of the era. Look out for repeating patterns in the form of zigzags, chevrons and diamonds all laid out symmetrically.
Checkerboard pattern was also popular at the time. A common floor treatment in Art Deco-styled homes was either linoleum or tiles in black and white, with a checkerboard pattern.
Round the edges
In contrast to bold geometric shapes, parallel lines in Art Deco architecture were softened by grand sweeping curves. Add some soft curving features to your kitchen design with some curved open shelves on which to display crockery or even Art Deco-inspired ornaments.
In contrast to bold geometric shapes, parallel lines in Art Deco architecture were softened by grand sweeping curves. Add some soft curving features to your kitchen design with some curved open shelves on which to display crockery or even Art Deco-inspired ornaments.
Designer tip: Curved custom cabinetry can be expensive. Use modern materials such as Corian to create sweeping curves at the end of your kitchen countertops or for simpler curves, everyday materials such as laminate, stone and timber can all be used.
Lovely bakeware to inspire
Lovely bakeware to inspire
Lacquer it up
Art Deco style was all about glitz, glamour and shine. By the 1930s more and more people were travelling and bringing home unusual inspiration. African safaris were popular, which lead to animal prints and finishes such as pearl, exotic timber veneers and tortoiseshell appearing in homes.
The key to using such opulent features was a high-shine lacquer finish. Solid woods were highly polished and kitchen cabinetry was often finished in gloss regardless of material. Mirrored finishes were very popular at the time. Look out for decorative mirrors with sunburst or fan detailing, or mirrored tiles.
Designer tip: If exotic timbers are a bit too out there for you, choose a timber veneer with a simple grain and team it with dark accents such as a black trim and handles.
Art Deco style was all about glitz, glamour and shine. By the 1930s more and more people were travelling and bringing home unusual inspiration. African safaris were popular, which lead to animal prints and finishes such as pearl, exotic timber veneers and tortoiseshell appearing in homes.
The key to using such opulent features was a high-shine lacquer finish. Solid woods were highly polished and kitchen cabinetry was often finished in gloss regardless of material. Mirrored finishes were very popular at the time. Look out for decorative mirrors with sunburst or fan detailing, or mirrored tiles.
Designer tip: If exotic timbers are a bit too out there for you, choose a timber veneer with a simple grain and team it with dark accents such as a black trim and handles.
Bold colour
Art Deco-style interiors were anything but boring. They were brought to life with splashes of vibrant colours in bright and exotic shades. Popular hues included bright yellow, peacock blue, turquoise, emerald and red. In the kitchen, colour was sometimes introduced in the backsplash, with the use of high-gloss colourful tiles in geometric shapes or with exotic flora and fauna patterns. Highly contrasting colours such as green and orange were often used together to create maximum impact.
Designer tip: If bold colours are not typically your first choice then consider introducing colours in the form of easily changeable accessories.
Art Deco-style interiors were anything but boring. They were brought to life with splashes of vibrant colours in bright and exotic shades. Popular hues included bright yellow, peacock blue, turquoise, emerald and red. In the kitchen, colour was sometimes introduced in the backsplash, with the use of high-gloss colourful tiles in geometric shapes or with exotic flora and fauna patterns. Highly contrasting colours such as green and orange were often used together to create maximum impact.
Designer tip: If bold colours are not typically your first choice then consider introducing colours in the form of easily changeable accessories.
Add some bling
An essential part of Art Deco style was creating drama and introducing the sense of grandeur seen on the silver screen. Highly polished chrome, brass, stainless steel and gold finishes were used in abundance.
Dazzling metallics and mirror finishes were employed in the manufacture of furniture, fashion and in architecture. Handles were the icing on the cake in Art Deco-style kitchens, and were often chrome or gold toned with curved or geometric forms. They often included cut glass that looked like crystal.
Designer tip: Keep the style and detailing of your cabinetry simple and then choose a striking handle to be the hero piece of the design. Alternatively, go bold with reflective surfaces such as this mirrored island bench front, for added glamour and impact.
An essential part of Art Deco style was creating drama and introducing the sense of grandeur seen on the silver screen. Highly polished chrome, brass, stainless steel and gold finishes were used in abundance.
Dazzling metallics and mirror finishes were employed in the manufacture of furniture, fashion and in architecture. Handles were the icing on the cake in Art Deco-style kitchens, and were often chrome or gold toned with curved or geometric forms. They often included cut glass that looked like crystal.
Designer tip: Keep the style and detailing of your cabinetry simple and then choose a striking handle to be the hero piece of the design. Alternatively, go bold with reflective surfaces such as this mirrored island bench front, for added glamour and impact.
Symmetry
Symmetry of design was another important element of the era. Symmetry is created when patterns or objects are repeated or mirrored along a central axis. Here, the mirrored geometric form of the pendant lights above the island bench creates perfect symmetry, echoed in the placement of the island stools.
Designer tip: If having everything symmetrical doesn’t suit the shape of your kitchen, aim for balance with asymmetrical design. This relies a bit more on your ability to judge balance by eye, and involves positioning patterns or objects that are not identical but are of equal visual weight on either side of a central line.
How to bring balance to an asymmetrical room
Symmetry of design was another important element of the era. Symmetry is created when patterns or objects are repeated or mirrored along a central axis. Here, the mirrored geometric form of the pendant lights above the island bench creates perfect symmetry, echoed in the placement of the island stools.
Designer tip: If having everything symmetrical doesn’t suit the shape of your kitchen, aim for balance with asymmetrical design. This relies a bit more on your ability to judge balance by eye, and involves positioning patterns or objects that are not identical but are of equal visual weight on either side of a central line.
How to bring balance to an asymmetrical room
Stepped forms
Stepped profile is the epitome of the Art Deco shape. It can be seen in well-known architecture, pattern, interior and furniture design. The famous Chrysler building in New York boasts a stunning spire comprising of crescent shaped steps made from stainless steel. This form can be seen clearly in the design of this tiled backsplash, as well as in the way the bases of the upper cabinets step down from the range hood, and how the line of the stove steps down from the countertop.
Tell us
Does you kitchen have some pre-existing Art Deco touches you’d like to share? Include photos in the Comments below.
More
Read more about decorating styles
Stepped profile is the epitome of the Art Deco shape. It can be seen in well-known architecture, pattern, interior and furniture design. The famous Chrysler building in New York boasts a stunning spire comprising of crescent shaped steps made from stainless steel. This form can be seen clearly in the design of this tiled backsplash, as well as in the way the bases of the upper cabinets step down from the range hood, and how the line of the stove steps down from the countertop.
Tell us
Does you kitchen have some pre-existing Art Deco touches you’d like to share? Include photos in the Comments below.
More
Read more about decorating styles
Black and white is the definitive colour scheme of Art Deco style; it is both striking and glamorous and is sure to make a statement. Another way to bring some Art Deco touches to your kitchen is with geometric patterned tiles in black and white as a backsplash.
Or, you could accentuate black cabinets with white detailing as seen here, or vice-versa if you prefer a lighter, fresher look.
Foolproof kitchen colour combo: black and white