Arts & Crafts

 The Arts and crafts movement was one of the strongest anti-Victorian reactions. The book talked about designers and architects that were for the arts and crafts movement sought to counteract the ugly side of industrialization, focusing on humble objects. Including crafting furniture with integrity, this movement focused on craftsmanship and creating a welcoming, comfy, and homey feeling. This movement did well at creating unity in the arts. Not the hierarchy and dramatic ornamentation and overly decorative style of previous periods. Not that ornamentation is bad, but there needed to be a better balance, with a purpose to support the ornamentation. There was more admiration for simplicity and being clear and concise with their designs. This lead to some of the well-known architects, Voysey and Mackintosh, who included more geometric designs. 

 

One of my favorite houses for interior design, that stood out to me was “The Red House". Its white walls and ceiling and contrast from exposed wood are very powerful. I thought it is kind of similar to the farmhouse style that is so popular. I also liked the Willow chair by Mackintosh because it is modern for that time. I really am drawn to a more modern style with geometric patterns and black furniture. Another piece that stood out to me was the swan by Charles Voysey. I like that it has this feeling of movement throughout it, more organic. 

One Step Further:

I already mentioned how the willow chair stood out to me, and that is why I chose to research Charles Mackintosh. I was surprised when I was reading through our book, there wasn’t a lot in the chapter about Mackintosh. I after I did this, I realized he was my favorite architect and designer in the Arts and Crafts movement was Charles Mackintosh. He stood out to me because I love how expressive and dramatic, he was with his chairs. He also understood the importance of revolving his designs to integrate with the setting and created unique designs according to each individual person. This is so important to create something to reflect someone, or a space well. His style would usually stick to incorporating geometric designs which was another reason I like him. Some specific furniture designs that stood out to me, were the chairs that were different from his tall back chairs. Such as the club Cassina chair, Lacquered Domino side table, and Willow chair. As for his architecture and interior design, he was ahead of his time. He didn’t play into the overly designed interiors but kept it simple and focused on contrasting elements that made his interior design stand out. Another reason I like Mackintosh is that his wife was involved in some of his projects. She would paint silver, gold, or violet designs, but the fact that they worked together is neat.

Current Applications:

1. The picture below incorporates characteristics from the arts and crafts movement especially through the use of wood cabinetry, flooring, and tables in a rich stain. Not only does it have a lot of wood, but visible wood joints, you can see the joints on the table if you look closely. There are loose seat cushions on the bench which was a common thing after the Morris chair was designed. I also noticed the dining table and chairs are similar to chairs inspired by Gustav Stickley and his spindle chair design. 

2. The picture below is similar to the Arts and Crafts style through its use of warm earthy colors. This leather couch also reflects that style because of its sturdy, functional, and durable material. This living room includes a fireplace which is another characteristic that is generally an integral part of the style. Lastly, this space included leaded glass windows which are common arts and crafts elements.

3. Below is another example of the arts and crafts style. The stone choice of backsplash in the kitchen shows a natural element contrasting the wood but still including an organic feeling. This kitchen reminds me of “The Red House” due to its clean white paint contrasting the wood.