Note how the pastel background makes the bold colors stand out in this March 1925 magazine cover.
The 1920s was a period of incredible change, not only in social realms but housing as well. Just as women's clothing went from floaty Grecian lines to sharp angular shapes so did homes and furniture styles, moving from the rustic Arts and Crafts to the modernity of Art Deco with its silver chrome and glass furniture pieces. Does this Spark an idea?
Arts and Crafts Homes
One of the most popular styles of homes in the beginning of 1920s was the Arts and Crafts style which featured natural elements of wood and stone throughout the home. How the home was made was the important element, focusing on the craftsmanship that went into the construction. Windows had small lead panes and the roofs were gabled, extending over porches or verandas. As the streamlined Art Deco style became more popular, these fussier homes lost their favor.
Revival of Styles
After World War I, a sense of nationalism and interest in the American Revolution was revived. This lead to the comeback of the rectangular Colonial style home. Doorways and windows were framed by white woodwork. By the front door, white pillars stood gracefully. Other styles saw a revival as well, including Spanish Mission with white or beige stucco and a red-tile roof or the Tudor home with its wood-framed stucco sides and high pitched roofs.
Bungalow
Bungalow belts popped up around a variety of cities in the United States. As the country moved towards streamlined designs and a greater number of people in the middle class, the bungalow with its open floor plans and built-in cabinetry fit the bill. The front door typically opened into the living room and the hallways were economical in space. Often a one-story building, porches and verandas were easily accessible from the home.
Furniture Styles
Art Deco became all the rage during the 1920s. The furniture was distinguished from the Arts and Crafts movement with sleek lines in chrome and black lacquered wood, metal ornaments that celebrated curved lines and geometric shapes. Bright colors were used, often against a pastel background. However, in homes that were in a revival style of construction, older furniture names with similar sleek lines were used. Duncan Phyfe, Chippendale and Heppelwhite were the antiques or reproductions sitting in a room.
Tags: Arts Crafts, front door, pastel background, porches verandas, sleek lines, were used