Interior Design

ELEMENTS OF STYLE

ELEMENTS OF STYLE
Today we are heirs to a legacy of fine building and to a continuing
fascination with the details and stylistic which give our houses their
character. In Britain and US the interest in old houses has become
something of national obsession. Today the houses we live in have
become a major concern and as houses are being developed on human
scale. Today the interiors of house effect our quality of life which we enjoy
there.
I as a student of Interior Design doing my B.SC ID , present a brief
presentation on Aspects of Style from Gothic style, Baroque style, Rococo
style, Neoclassical style, Eclectic style, Arts & Crafts style, Art Nouveau
style and Art Deco style. Interior decorating style are defined for the
characteristics of their time.

Styles & Periods

Gothi
c

Baroqu Rococ Neoclassic Eclecti Arts & Art

e
o
al
c
Crafts Nouveau

to
1620

16201700

17001760

1760-1830

18301880

18801900

Art
Deco

1900-1920 19201940

In the subsequent slides , three major styles are

explained. These are:

GOTHIC STYLE
BAROQUE STYLE

ROCOCO STYLE

Gothic Style
(1600-1620)

GOTHIC STYLE
Gothic Period:
Gothic period design was influenced by Roman and
Medieval architecture. Its initial design period was c.1150
to 1550, but saw a revival in the 19th century by the
Victorians.
Gothic design was the first true ecclesiastical style and
was symbolic of the triumph of the Catholic church in
Europe. The new age of soaring cathedrals meant the
initiation of new methods of building, to support this
extreme weight.

Gothic Style
Style had a religious symbolic base- think of old, ornate
churches and you will be on the right track. Pointed
arches and stained glass in complex trefoil or rose
designs were predominant, exposed, wooden beams,
large, imposing fireplaces, and emulated candle lighting
completed the ecclesiastical style. There was a strong
vertical influence, supported by the high arches and
peaks of the architecture. Light was also important, as
windows grew more and more expansive and light and
air flooded into the once gloomy churches of the
Romanesque period.

Gothic Furniture
Furniture was massive and oak, adorned with Gothic motifs.
Chairs, bed frames, cabinets were sturdy and featured
arches, spiral-turned legs and rich upholstery in dark colors.
Old church furniture such as pews, benches and trestle
tables finish the look. Victorian gothic reproduction and Arts
and Crafts era furniture can be used as an acceptable
alternative, as many of the same motifs crossed over.

Bed

Chair

Bed

 Britain had Oak and Beech as its native timber for

furniture production, but with the discovery of new land
and the establishment of overseas trade, other timber
species suddenly became available:
Oak
: 1500-1600
Walnut
: 1660-1723
Mahagony : 1715
Satinwood : 1765

Prior to 1500, the Gothic Period, teaching and learning

of craftsmanship was mostly overseen by the church.
Therefore, most ornamentation on Gothic furniture
follows the lines of ornamental stonework from the
Gothic Churches and buildings.

 The carpenter, blacksmith and the turner made the

furniture. It consisted of tables, forms, stools and chests.
The chest was the principal piece as it served not only
as storage, but also a seat or table. Tables generally
were loose boards on top of trestles.
The wealth of the country increased under the stable
Tudor government and a new middle class was formed
creating a demand for a new form of furniture.
Therefore the 16th Century can be divided into two
halves. The first part, furniture consisted of carving on
gothic framework, stools and forms were the only form
of seating available.

 Therefore the 16th Century can be divided into two halves.

The first part, furniture consisted of carving on gothic
framework, stools and forms were the only form of seating
available.
The second part, new pieces of furniture evolved. Buffets
or sideboards, fold top games tables, taller chests which
doors became cupboards or hutches and the draw leaf
table which is still common today.
Chairs were developed from chests and had upright back
legs, heavy turning and often carved panels

A simple timber planked chest

Plank Chest Simple Plank construction by a carpenter

and blacksmith. Metal straps and nails were used to hold
the timber together but because of the arrangement of
grain the timber often split. They often had handles to
carry it.

A simple timber planked chest

 Chest / Partly Framed Chest This was superseded by

the partly framed chest. It used dry pegged construction and
panel fitted into the frame allowed for movement without the
timber splitting. Panels from riven boards were hand
moulded and sometimes carved to give the linenfold effect.
The board is cut with a wedge and split.
Built In Seating Early settles accommodated up to six
people with simple linen fold panels.
.

Joined or Joyned Chest c1530

Gothic
Furniture

Gothic Colour
Colours were rich and dark, of
the Victorian era. Purple, ruby, black,
ochre, forest green and gold added
complemented the heavy furniture and
rich design. Wallpaper was ornate and
heavily patterned in natural flowers and
foliage. Also popular was trompe-loeil
architectural features or stenciled
designs. Walls were painted in flat
colors, to depict stones, and often
covered in wall hangings- especially
tapestries. Obviously stained glass was
a significant feature, and these were
ideally accented with pewter, wrought
iron, suits of armour and candles.

Gothic
Influences
The
church
most
heavily
influenced
gothic design, and this
medieval
ecclesiastical
style
shines
strongly
through. Architectural
influences
were
mostly from Roman
and Medieval design,
with elaborate carved
wood
and
open
tracery.

Tracery work

In architecture, tracery is
the stonework elements
that support the glass in
a Gothic window. The
term probably derives
from the 'tracing floors' on
which
the
complex
patterns of late Gothic
windows
were
laid
out. There are two main
types, plate tracery and
the later bar tracery.

Tracery work

Gothic architecture
are mostly found in
churches
and
cathedrals.

Windows:
Windows
were
simple,
unglazed
square
openings
divided by series of
wooden or stone
mullions. Many of
the houses had
internal shutters .the
grand houses had
glass usage in the
16th century. Smaller
houses has glass
usage from 17th
century.

 Glass was very

thin and rather
grey in colour
as it was blown
from the crown
glass and then
made
Stained glass
were
used
during this time
period.

Windows:
During the 16th century the
glass panes were arranged
diagonally later in 17th
century they were arranged
in rectangles.
windows during this period
could not open as they
were fixed and later they
were
made
openable
because they could make
the mechanism for the
hinges and windows to
open.

Gothic
Windows

Gothic
Windows

Stained Glass

Stairs
Stairs were straight
type.in better houses
stairs were in the
centre of the houses.
All stairs were closed
strings .Balustrades
were
fixed
on
diagonal
braces
rather on the steps.
Doglegged and spiral
stairs were common.

Walls
Walls they had flat plasterwork
on bricks and stone and then
they were lime washed.
In some grand houses the
walls had panelling of timber
.panelling was then decorated
by wall hangings (tapestry)
Tapestry were painted cloth or
made
on
looms
with
techniques of weaving .
Carved decoration on panels
were of linen fold pattern .

Carved linen fold panel

Wainscoting &
paneling

Fireplace
In
Grand
Homes
Fireplaces and Door
Surrounds could be
seen as an elaborate
feature.

Ceilings
Ceilings of upper floor were
coved or coffered and
hammer beam & vaults
ceiling.

Floorings
Floorings used were of
brick, granite, slate, painted
wood floor ,cobble stones
and the floor was then
covered with a rush matting
or carpets. carpets were
generally a luxury.

HAMMERBEAM
ROOF

Vaults
ceiling

Gothic Doors

Gothic
architecture
have
pointed
arches
and
lancet arches.

Gothic architecture
is not merely about
ornamentation ,this
style
is
mostly
found in structural
architecture.

Tudor &
Jacobean Style

Tudor & Jacobean Style

Tudor and Jacobean periods
were seen as turning point
towards classisized decoration.
Timber framed houses were
replaced by reconstruction with
stone and brick.
Fireplace was a dominant
element in the style of the
room.
They never used fabrics in the
eating zone as they tended to
retain smell of food. They used
plastered walls in eating zone.

 The
principal
building
materials used by them were
stone, brick and timber.
The
interior
door
had
elaborate
decorated
developments like that of
fireplace.
External doors were made of
planks upto 26(65 cms) wide
and were usually oak.
The planks were fastened by
horizontal battens reverse
with the nail heads being
exposed to give decorative
finish.

 Long galleries to
display
portrait
photos.
Gilt
detailing
inside and outside
the home.
Geometric
landscaping in the
back of the home.

FRONT DOOR

 Use of glass
was seen in
small and large
houses. Bigger
windows without
shutters
admitted more
light
and
provided
incentive
for
carved,
or
painted
decoration
inside the room.

 Coffered
ceilings
and
hammerbeam ceiling were used.

COFFERED
CEILING

HAMMERBEAM
ROOF

CORBELS

 Tapestries serving a triple

purpose of keeping out chill,
decorating the interior, and
displaying wealth.

Tudor
Furniture
Chair in tudor style

Wooden box in tudor style

Cupboard in tudor style

Wooden box in tudor style

Baroque Style
(1625-1714)

BAROQUE STYLE
This
architectural
style
originated in late 16th-century
Baroque style period is famous
for its ornamental and artistic
work.

Entrance
Baroque period had
elaborate
doors
specially the front door.
These
door
were
positioned on top of the
steps.
There
were
often
canopied by shell or
placed on a porch.
Columns were most
expensive frame to a
door.

Doors
Doors
were
large and had
only two panels
,later
4-6
panels could be
seen in their
design.

Doors
The hinges
on the door
were
very
ornamental.

BAROQUE
DOOR

Windows
The windows of the
Baroque period were like
doors (front door)styled
very elaborately.
Curtains were very less.

Windows
Circular and oval windows
were a feature of this
period.

Staircases
Staircase was made of
wood commonly oak and
was closed string forms.
Balustrades
were
twisters. Doglegged and
spiral
stairs
were
common.
In better houses, the
stairs were a luxury and
also a status. They used
stairs in the center of the
house in the central hall.

Ceiling
The ceiling of this period
was not plastered and were
more of coffered style.

Ceiling
The rich people had
plastered ceilings from the
under side of the wooden
floor above. The junction
between the ceiling and the
wall were marked by
cornice.

Floors
Baroque houses had stone
flag floors, marble were
used in two or more colors
so that they produced
illusionistic pattern. The
surface appeared to vary in
depth.

Floors
The floor patterns had
parquet or even marquetry
patterns.

Floors
Woven carpets from
eastern Mediterranean
was considered very
expensive and were
used in the houses .
Carpets were luxurious
on wooden floor.

Walls
Walls were patterned by
means of painted stencils.
Later , they were replaced
by block printed papers(
the first wallpapers).Rich
owners covered their walls
with woven or painted
fabric hanging.

Walls
Wood paneling
termed
as
wainscot was a
fashionable
form of wall
lining.
Oak wood was
sometime
painted
to
resemble
walnut or like
marble.

Balconies
Balconies reflected the
status of the house and its
owner.
Balconies were of ironwork.

Lighting
Hanging
candles.

lights

with

Ornamental work

Furniture
S and C
famous.

scrolls

were

Furniture

Fireplace
The fireplaces were very
beautiful, the over mantle
was done exquisitely.

Rococo Style
(1700-1760)

ROCOCO PERIOD
Late Baroque is
an 18th century
artistic movement
&
style.
It
developed
in
Paris, France as a
reaction against
the grandeur and
strict designs of
Baroque, as seen
in the palace of
Versailles.
Palace of Versailles

ROCOCO STYLE
Rococo style used light
columns, graceful approach,
asymmetrical design(one half
of the design doesn't match
the other half).

ROCOCO MOTIFS
Acanthus leaves motifs could be seen during this time
period.

Acanthus leaf
motif

ROCOCO FURNITURES
S and C scrolls were common in this time period.
Lengthened cushion back can be seen on the chairs.
Mahogany wood was used.

ROCOCO FIREPLACES
Glass was used on the fireplaces.

Early Georgian Style

(1714-1765)

Doors:
Fanlight

Door
is
the
principle
ornamental feature,
panelled
doors
were very tall and
later had a fanlight.
The front door was
painted in dark
colours or they
were grained to
imitate wood. They
had handsome ring
handles.

Doors:

Doors:

Windows:
Casement windows were used, mainly double hung
windows.
Mainly softwood was used which was protected by white
lead paints. This paint work was a typical Georgian work.

Walls:
Wooden panelling was seemed in three part division,
frieze ,field & dado and they derived all this from the
proportions of architecture, column and base of a
classical order.

Walls:

Wooden
panelling
was done to the full
height of the room, so
less expensive wood
was used. And they
were painted with flat
oil paint with very
fancy effects. The
walls were decorated
with
tapestry
stretched
on
silk
brocade, wallpapers
were used ,cornices
were ornamented.

Ceilings:
This period had elaborate
painted ceilings and these
painted ceilings had scene
from court of arms. There
were geometric patterns
taken up on ceilings.

Ceilings:

Floors:
Wood floor planks
were mainly used
(oak).
Oriental
carpets and English
Turkey and floral
carpets
were
fashionable
floor
coverings.
People
used floor cloth in
dining rooms. The
patterns were mainly
set in diagonal and a
times gave illusion on
a floor.

Floors:

Staircase:
The
staircase
during his time
were
very
simple and were
more of open
string.

Lighting:
Enclosed lanterns were used with an oil lamp inside .