What does American mean in contemporary design styles? What interior phenomena was born in the New World? The American style in the interior design was originally a variant of the colonial style, which later became independent. It is somewhat eclectic, due to the multinationality of the people who formed it. This design is geometric, with luxury finishes, contrasting colors, and, sometimes, natural stone and precious metals.
Nevertheless, the American style is based on easily recognizable English classics. Having creatively rethought this style direction, the American design evolved towards versatility. It is difficult to classify it as a historical style, but also quite difficult to call it a modern trend in its pure form. First of all, it is a cozy, restrained, and completely neutral style for a residential interior.
The versatility of the American style is associated not only with the features of the layout, the choice of furniture or finishes but also with the fact that it can be easily fit in any country. In fact, an American-style interior is a choice of a certain lifestyle: stable, practical, respectable.
American design connaisseurs traditionally work with warm, natural tones: terracotta, beige, various shades of brown and green. Still, it can be served in bolder colors, for example, white or burgundy. Bedrooms in this style are often decorated in shades of pink or blue.
Ornaments used to set up an American-style apartment are most often floral and locally used (printed wallpaper or textiles). Typical metals for decorative elements are bronze and gold. Silver and black forged details are also typical of the modern American interior style.
So, let’s delve into its multiple design components.
Art Deco. Perhaps, this may be the main contribution of America to the world architecture and design. On city streets, you can see huge skyscrapers, in interiors – geometry, luxury finishes, contrasting colors. The style of cruise ships and old Hollywood movies is more popular today than ever.
King size. This represents a very large format of interior items. Varieties – queen-size (refers mainly to beds) and Californian-size: furniture of this format is quite spacious. But American design in the interior means not only an impressive setting, it also implies large areas that can accommodate it.
Colonial style. That is, furniture and accessories in the spirit of the XVIII-XIX centuries, made of natural materials only, being characterised by good quality in everything. The American style represents a mixture of interior styles from different countries, sometimes – redundancy in the use of accessories. The American colonial style means “capital” furniture made from natural materials, rich in finishes and the presence of hand-made details.
Shakers furniture. Its main properties are multifunctionality, compactness, the ability to quickly transform. Shakers were a group whose members were very pragmatic about life (including interior design): they believed everything must have a place. It was the American “shakers” who hanged chairs that are not needed at the moment on a hanger. They also modified the drawers in the closet to be more spacious.
Windsor chair. The name directly refers to England – and rightly so: that is the place where it was invented. Still, the Americans loved it so much that they began to use it at home, in their gardens, and even in the presidential office. At the same time, they have “invented” a variety of backrest design options. America’s love for English-style furniture is expressed, in particular, in the popularity of the style of a classic Windsor chair, which combines strength, comfort, and elegance.
Lloyd Lum. Strange and funny garden furniture from paper ropes to wire – a cheaper alternative to natural rattan braiding, named after the self-taught designer who invented it.
Tiffany. This is a technique for making lamps from colored stained glass with enamel. It is named after its inventor, Louis Comfort Tiffany, the son of a jewelry magnate. He himself has nothing to do with the production of jewelry – only to lamps in the Art Nouveau style. Lamps with stained glass in the style of Louis Comfort Tiffany are one of the key design elements of American Art Nouveau and naturally fit into an “American” interior.
Patchwork. The Patchwork technique was initially used to make blankets, less often – capes for furniture and tablecloths. Today, the patchwork technique is used for the upholstery of fashionable sofas. Patchwork textiles are one of the hallmarks of the American home.
Teddy Bear. This toy has been the main and favorite symbol of American interior design for over 100 years. Named after the US President Theodore Roosevelt, who took pity on a bear while hunting and did not shoot him. This event was the reason for the serial production of teddy bears. Bear images are very common in children’s furniture collections. In terms of population density of the famous Teddy bears, the “American” interior surpasses all others.
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