Greetings from the other side of 2020—If you’re alive, congratulations! Let’s just set the bar that low on the “how’re you doing” front a little while longer as we keep slogging through the rest of this weird moment, shall we? What a wild ride. With us all locked down at home we’ve been not surprisingly inundated with new projects. We’re all rife for necessary improvements as they stare us plainly in the face everyday while also, the times as they are, adapting an induced localized escape from it all—somehow in the same space and time. If that hasn’t sent you zooming off to professional counseling yet, let me know, I have a list of solid contacts.
Running to flights of fancy this winter in full-on escape mode with you, we’re accommodating your endeavor with a fresh focus on a peculiar romance with beauty in an almost other-worldly future’s past tête-à-tête. Sit back at home and explore with us some treasures from ours.
In reviewing the fashion trends and runway looks that have influenced the interior movements of this season, we’ve found joy and beauty in the extravagance that celebrates life. Lavish tufted upholstery seemed to overwhelm the fashion industry in such a manner that it billowed into fanciful Rococo designs. The bold and ornate Rococo style holds nothing back, making every ordinary thing seem like a soirée, celebrating the mundane in your private paradise. We always need a reason to celebrate, now more than ever, and, as we close this fickle and eventful year, aesthetically pleasing design remains to offer comfort and excitement in your space.
TUFTS & BUTTON UPHOLSTERY
The origins of tufting and button upholstery were that of function: it was used to keep cushions intact and in place. Thus, the tufting of fashion and interiors seems to be a case of form follows fashion… follows function. However, modern interiors take this fashion trend to the next level with technology that does not limit them to cushions and upholstery. Synthetic buttonless tufting provides opportunities for the look of upholstery in a new age. Furniture of all kinds can have the look with the technique of tufting, and walls and ceilings can have the appearance of tufting even without said technique.
As the inflated intricacies of tufting are replicated, one sees the repetition of these lines infused in the remainder of the space (seen here in the suspended spheres—so active!).
CREATIVE TUFTING
The modern take on tufting naturally progresses to creative tufting that seems both minimal and messy. With the use of long consecutive folds, tufts can appear almost topographical, as though one is viewing the map of a mountain.
The rejection of traditional patterned tufting results in uneven lines that carry a relaxed, even unfinished, air. Taken to the extreme, furniture looks sloppy and amorphous, all while providing a unique piece that reflects modern and vintage design.
TRADITIONAL ROCOCO STYLE
The over-the-top fashion is reminiscent of the traditional excess and glam seen in the Rococo style. Here, that excess is made more subtle with monochromatic color schemes that seem less busy and more minimal.
However, ornate frames and embellished lighting subtly demonstrate the baroque style that is ever present. Additions of color and leafing create a gilt utopia that cannot be ignored.
The frilly use of drapery echoes the superfluous fabric folds in fashion that are so welcome in traditional Rococo style, while painted walls provide florid applied decoration that takes up no space.
NEO ROCOCO
A more modern approach to the applied decoration and architectural elements of Rococo can be seen in the stark contrast of rich color with monotone neutrals. A mix of extravagant detail and creative modern light offers the ability to create a busier Rococo look of sumptuous textile and intricate prints.
A more subtle use of limited design elements makes this Neo Rococo style ideal for emphasizing your favorite pieces of decor or furniture, creating a look of effortless class and space for energy.
MINIMAL GLAM
If the flurry of froufrou detail and French curves is unwelcome, whether as a result of the nature of the space or personal preference, simplified and minimal curves may be a better fit. One can keep the style by retaining the shapes, the lines, and the colors of French extravagance while eliminating superfluous details. In blurring the fine embellishments, the generalities of Rococo style can create a minimal glam with dynamic arches, curved furniture, or rich color that contain a whisper of the baroque.