HOMES & INTERIORS

Art Deco decoded

An opulent interior with Eichholtz furniture and accessories (eichholtz.com/en/)

Art Deco is almost a century old and yet its opulent, glamorous influence still holds a big design sway in modern interiors. Emma Clegg evaluates the history and asks local designers for their advice on how it works in contemporary spaces

The Art Deco style has been a consistent and influential thread in contemporary interior design in recent years, and its signature features are those that most of us will recognise around us, in architecture, furniture and interior elements. But what are the historical roots of Art Deco and what defines the style? And why does it have such a strong presence today?

Art Deco (1925–1940s) takes its name from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. This was the concept of the Société des Artistes Décorateurs (Society of Decorative Artists), a group founded by a group of artists in 1901. This established the influence of decorative artists who were designers of textiles, furniture, and other ornamentation. Previously considered as ordinary artisans, they were given a recognised status as specialists in ‘arts decoratifs’. The style, first publicly seen during the 1925 exhibition, was one that had gathered pace since the society’s formation in the early part of the century –in 1925 it was referred to as ‘New Moderne’ and it was not until later that the term Art Deco was adopted.

The 1925 exhibition highlighted the new style of architecture, interior decoration, furniture, glass, jewellery and other decorative arts in Europe and throughout the world. The style – which grew out of the more organic, fluid and nature-based decorative designs and motifs of Art Nouveau (1890-1910) – was a backlash against the traditional designs popular at the time and against the past, seeking to embrace a new world that maintained decorative elements, but was defined by sleeker, more urban references.

Art Deco is purely decorative, with no philosophical undertone, and was influenced by the geometric forms of Cubist art, the machine-style of Constructivism and Futurism, as well as Art Nouveau. It was also a response to the advances in modern technology of the 1920s, and this is expressed within its characteristic smooth lines, geometric shapes and streamlined forms. The style also has a glamorous, aspirational luxury, emanating from its typical materials of silver, crystal, ivory, jade and lacquer.

The geometric shapes of Art Deco reference Greco-Roman Classicism as well as the faceted forms of Babylon, Assyria, Ancient Egypt and Aztec Mexico. The trapezoidal, zigzagged and triangular shapes, chevron patterns, stepped forms, sweeping curves and sunburst motifs can be found in every form of Art Deco, from architecture to jewellery.

The work of many artists and designers defined and captured the Art Deco era, with names including René Lalique and his ornate, luxurious glass and jewellery, Jean Després and his geometric jewellery, ÉmileJacques Ruhlmann and his sleek furniture, illustrator and graphic artist René Vincent, and painter, sculptor and metal craftsman

Burlington mirror (atkinandthyme.co.uk)

RIGHT: An Art Deco inspired open plan kitchendiner-lounge by Etons of Bath

Jean Dunand, known for his lacquered screens. Another big figure was architect Le Corbusier who built his Esprit Nouveau Pavilion for the 1925 Paris exhibition, a white box building in the middle of a forest which had a tree in the centre, emerging through a hole in the roof. While his architectural mindset was anti-decorative and anti-luxury, his modernist approach was integral to the movement.

These artists and others shaped the character of Art Deco, embodying the relaxation of traditional ideas with the optimistic espousal of fun and excess. as the world emerged from the hard times of the First World War. The movement dampened in the 1930s by the politically unstable times leading up to the Second World War in 1939. However the impact of the style was a dazzling beacon of light alongside the period of the Jazz age and the 1920s, and it’s one that is entrenched in history, and that still holds sway.

Clair Strong

Art Deco is a look that harks back to the ‘Roaring twenties’, a time of glamour and prosperity and, for me, it is a style that blends well with the simple lines of modernday homes. Art Deco’s calling cards are eye-catching geometric patterns and strong colours and these bold structured lines work particularly well in bathrooms.

For a classic Art Deco-inspired bathroom, you need to choose sanitary ware with the bold, angular shapes that were the hallmark of the period. Look for fluted bases and brass knobs and faucets which speak to the opulence of the 1920s. The Riviera Collection from Burlington Bathrooms celebrates Art Deco styling with subtle reinterpretations to work in today’s modern bathrooms.

In the 1920s, a staple of Art Deco design was the curvy, interlocking patterns of shells and this pattern looks wonderful as bathroom tiles. Mandarin Stone does a stylish Glacier Glass Scallop Mosaic tile, available in five chic shades in a sophisticated opaque finish. Alternatively, Fired Earth has a beautifully, elegant, cool grey-veined white marble scallop tile for a clean, classic nod to the Art Deco trend.

Classic Art Deco bathrooms combine luxurious materials and patterns, and wallpaper is a great way to add a touch of retro style. I have been using Deco Martini from Divine Savages, which is a bold graphic wallpaper which comes in an array of metallics as well as teal, blush, arsenic and powder blue. It’s a shining homage to 1920s decadence and adds instant glamour to any room, but particularly a bathroom where you can afford to go bold!

A show-stopping glamorous mirror is a must in any Art Deco-inspired bathroom –hexagonal shapes with elegant brass frames work well. Light fixtures in the 1920s were dramatic, elegant and futuristic looking and I like to use globe shaped wall sconces reminiscent of Parisian street lighting. Alternatively, a striking chandelier in a bold, geometric shape will finish off a room’s Art Deco appeal. clairstrong.co.uk

BELOW, FROM LEFT: Divine Savages Deco Martini wallpaper (divinesavages.com), Glacie Blue Scallop tiles from Mandarin Stone (mandarinstone.com), and Asperia Art Deco Wallpaper Emerald Green Gold (wallpapershop.co.uk)

Woodhouse & Law

With the centenary of the birth of Art Deco soon upon us, it’s great to see that the movement has come full circle, finding a new sense of purpose and form in our homes today. This is a very different ‘Twenties’ this time round though; whereas the style initially heralded in a new wave of modernism, this time the trend goes handin-hand with a need for cosiness and comfort, a need born from a turbulent few years for all of us. This urge to cocoon ➲

has been reflected by the arrival of some serious curve appeal. Whether in cabinetry, mirrors, or sofas, these curves, so synonymous with the Art Deco style, add a softness of touch that instantly makes a space feel relaxed and at ease with itself.

What makes Art Deco so enduring, however, is its flexible, undemanding air. It doesn’t come with a defined colour palette, nor does it come with its own philosophy. Instead each piece is designed solely for its decorative, aesthetic appeal, allowing it to be integrated into contemporary schemes with a seamless ease. This is reflected by recent designs from some of Europe’s leading design names. Take for instance the Visione range recently launched by German fabric house Zimmer + Rohde, taking its inspiration from the architectural styles of the Golden Twenties. The striped pattern combines hand-stitched embroidery, subtle colour tones and a jacquard background to create a design that feels opulent, yet warm and inviting too; one comfortable within a contemporary setting just as much as that famed age of jazz, beads and bobbed hair.

Etons of Bath

Simply put, Art Deco interiors are all about the glamour and luxury often associated with the heyday of Hollywood. Its origins were also rooted in fine craftsmanship and the use of rich materials while its bold geometric forms and bright colours mean that the style can be recreated in even the most contemporary of interiors. At Etons of Bath we introduce touches of Art Deco into many of our Georgian and Regency projects for that glamorous edge. More fulsomely, we recently designed a stunning contemporary Art Deco kitchen-diner and pantry in the extension of a large country house. The brief was to design a kitchen that did not look like a kitchen. The materials used are a mix of rich woods and marbles, gold inlays and fluted wood, plaster and marble detailing. The tall run of units conceal a fridge, oven and counter top units. etonsofbath.com

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Deco Martini wallpaper from Divine Savages, design Clair Strong

Wild for rewilding

The Rewilding Britain Landscape garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May showcased the beauty of native plants and a back-to-nature approach

Elly West looks at the benefits of rewilding to create mini-ecosystems that encourage wildlife and connect us with nature. It’s happening nationally and regionally, and we can do the same in our gardens to create biodiversity in our own spaces

All around us, the landscape is seeing subtle changes as rewilding takes a hold in both urban and rural locations. Driving around, I often notice verges left uncut that were previously tended, resulting in more wildflowers and meadow edging our roads, along with larger areas of grassland previously mown short. Rewilding as a concept entered the dictionary in 2011 and it’s become a worldwide movement involving both grassroots groups and major international conservation organisations.

The idea is basically that humans take a step back and leave land to nature, restoring natural processes and wilderness areas, and creating ecosystems that don’t need managing. This can be on a grand scale, for example, removing dams in North America and Europe, and restoring rainforest in Costa Rica, or at a more local level with something as simple as greening up the city.

Whatever the scale, it is hoped that significant rewilding could protect us from climate change, heatwaves, forest fire and flooding, while boosting wildlife and helping endangered species by creating safe habitats. It also, in some cases controversially, includes reintroducing native animals such as beavers, wolves, bears and lynx.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has a Neighbourhood Nature Areas scheme, offering people ideas for adding ecological value to small areas of land, such as road verges and small open spaces. The advice for such areas is to use plants that are good for wildlife, including spring bulbs, herbaceous perennials and wildflowers. The Council is also creating new wildlife habitats in parks by planting new wildflower meadows, habitat grassland, and planting new trees. In order to create wildlife havens in such areas it’s important for them to avoid regular mowing and cut back to one or two cuts annually, and the same applies in our own gardens. Taller grasses will allow more plants to flower, providing a muchneeded source of nectar for struggling pollinators such as bees and butterflies. These relatively simple steps boost biodiversity and create habitats running right through our city and surrounding towns.

The rewilding agenda in Bath is reinforced by The National Trust which is in the process of creating a three-mile ‘Green Corridor’ in 40 hectares of land at Bathampton Meadows close to the River Avon. Designed to connect urban areas with green spaces, the improvement of the water meadows will benefit wildlife such as the greater horseshoe bat and wading birds, and increase the number of wildflowers to encourage more butterflies, such as the small blue.

Gardens can provide vital havens for wildlife, and can showcase rewilding, as proven at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with the ‘Rewilding Britain Landscape’ garden winning the top accolade of a Gold Medal and Best in Show. Designed by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt, who are based in Bruton, Somerset, it demonstrated a landscape in the south-west of England following the reintroduction

of beavers, and featured a flowing stream, complete with beaver dam. Native plants were used, including cow parsley, purple loosestrife, devil’s bit scabious, field maple and hazel. The overall effect was a beautiful and calming swathe of green speckled with whites, creams and the odd splashes of purple and yellow.

Although we probably wouldn’t want to rewild our entire garden – which, after all, would take away from the entire concept of a garden being a planned, tamed space for our enjoyment – we can certainly do our bit by leaving parts of the garden to nature and avoiding pesticides. I love including areas of meadow in the gardens that I design, either in a designated space, or bordering a lawn. Our gardens act as nature corridors, linking spaces for animals to hunt, live and breed, and the more we can encourage a mini-ecosystem of biodiversity, the more likely it is that natural predators will feed on pests, eliminating our need for chemicals.

A patch of nettles will act as a caterpillar nursery for butterflies, plus a quick search on the internet reveals you can harvest the nettles to make pesto, soup, tea and even beer! Don’t be in a rush to cut back dead plants and seed heads that might be providing food and shelter for beneficial creatures. Wait until spring when new growth starts to show again, so birds can feed and insects use them as overwintering sites. If we all do a little bit of rewilding, this adds up to a huge overall area for wildlife to find food and shelter.

Growing native plants is generally a good bet, as they are naturally adapted to our growing conditions, but with summers getting longer and hotter, think about choosing plants that are drought-tolerant as well, such as sea holly, sedum, lavender and grasses, and install a water butt under a downpipe to catch your roof water run-off. And if you’re rethinking your plot boundaries, now is also the perfect time to plant a wildlife-friendly hedge. n • ellyswellies.co.uk • beta.bathnes.gov.uk/neighbourhood-nature-areas • rewildingbritain.org.uk/local-network/somerset-rewilding-network

Plant of the month: Sea Holly

Although these spiky thistle-like plants are beautiful in summer, with their blue, purple, or silvery bracts, they keep their value well into winter as the flowers fade to beautiful architectural seed heads, giving a skeletal structure to the faded border. Bees love the flowers and birds will enjoy the seeds, so don't cut them back until they go soggy. Sea hollies like dry, well-drained soil in full sun and hate winter wet, so incorporate some grit into the planting hole if you're gardening on clay, or grow them in pots or planters. From a design perspective, they are well suited to gravel gardens and rock gardens, and combine well with hardy geraniums, Verbena bonariensis and grasses. Sea hollies have a long taproot, so don't like to be disturbed once established, but they cope well with poor soil and drought.

Many varieties, including the popular bright-silver ‘Miss Willmott's Ghost’, are biennial, meaning they produce leaves in their first year and flower the following year. Plants will self-seed freely, but are easy to pull out if you end up with too many.

Kingdom of Sweets Priddy

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S&J Roofing Bath have over 40 years experience within the roofing industry. We are family run business that has the reputation for delivering quality work within budget and on time.

Our showroom is located in the heart of Bath on Walcot Street, please book an appointment where a member of the roofing team will discuss all your roofing requirements over a cup of coffee or come and view our roofing products.

We are approved members of the FMB which assures you the customers that our work has been carefully checked to ensure we uphold the standards of the largest federation.

S&J ROOFING

Set in one of Bath’s most prominent locations with stunning south- westerly views, an immaculately presented Grade II listed period townhouse with accommodation set over 4 floors and a most attractive large terraced garden to the rear.

No. 19 is set off Widcombe Hill towards the top of this exceptional rank of Grade II listed Georgian properties set in an elevated position above the city. Macaulay Buildings is one of the most prominent and outstanding locations within the city of Bath, renowned for its exceptional views over the adjacent countryside, city of Bath and beyond towards Bristol.

The current owner has lived in the property for over 50 years, however, has maintained it in immaculate order throughout.

The accommodation is set over 4 levels with 3 principal reception rooms and 4 bedrooms, however, the accommodation could be utilised differently if so desired.

The large kitchen/breakfast room with an Aga is also at garden level adjacent to an attractive dining room having French doors opening out to a stunning good sized terrace garden, all benefiting from a south-westerly aspect.

Within the property are a number of notable period features, including the notable cantilevered stone central staircase, period fireplace surrounds and detailed cornicing. All the rooms are of generous proportions with a light and airy feel throughout.

Viewing is strongly recommended by the sole agents Cobb Farr Residential

Cobb Farr, 35 Brock Street, The Circus, Bath; Tel: 01225 333332

Macaulay Buildings, Bath

• 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

• Wealth of period features

• Stunning Views • Grade II listed townhouse

• Large terraced gardens • Immaculately presented • Sought after location

£1,950,000

Leigh Farmhouse, Bradford-on-Avon

Guide Price £1,200,000

An attractive, detached 4 bedroom period farmhouse offering comfortable accommodation arranged over 3 floors with panoramic countryside views and sitting in mature gardens of approximately 0.5 acres.

• 4 bedrooms • En suite facilities • Wealth of period features • Level garden and views • Double garage

St James's Square, Bath

Guide Price £700,000

A two-floor maisonette with the benefit of two good size bedrooms, an attractive west facing courtyard garden and a single private parking space, set in one of the most sought-after residential locations within Bath.

• Grade I listed • Spacious drawing/dining room with views • 2 Double bedrooms, 1 en-suite • Study • Attractive west facing courtyard garden • Single private parking space to rear

Why we value the story of your home

Stories have been told for as long as time. It is one of the oldest arts; stories have been passed through generations, bringing to life ancestors we never knew. Stories have brought fictional characters to life and alien lands to our fingertips. We get to experience the past, present and future through the words on the page. Stories fill and excite our imaginations, they can influence our decisions but, most importantly, those truly amazing stories, those that you can’t put down or even forget, they wonderfully hold a precious and special place in our hearts.

‘If only the walls could talk’, how often do people recite those or similar words as they wander around a period home, fascinated about the property’s history, who could have lived there, what they did, and how this home has come to be as it is today. We often wish walls could talk, as we walk under hundreds-of-years old beams, glide across uneven floors, and smile at every squeaky door and unexpected nook.

When you consider where you live, it was a house before you moved in, but over the years, with your touches to the décor, the improvements you make, and the countless memories that it has brought you, the house you bought becomes your home. You, too, have become part of its history, your time there is another string of stories that are to become the rich tapestry of its walls. No matter why you have made the decision to leave, part of you will always be there and part of this beautiful home will always be with you, too.

People buy houses for many reasons but emotions of course play a part, whether you’re a lover of contemporary homes with their sleek lines and minimalist design, or prefer something full of character and quirky or original features. From the moment you view a property you are soaking everything in, your senses are ablaze with what is around you and your head battles to take charge. As you start to learn what the house has to offer something will click, and whether that’s the moment the gate opens or as you step into the entrance hall, standing by the kitchen sink or enjoying the view from the bedroom window, suddenly it will hit you that you are home.

Before you view a home it is difficult to build an emotional connection. Of course you have the photographs and videos, but they tell you the facts about the house and its condition. These are the details for your head: does it have the right number of bedrooms and the outside space you seek. What this information doesn’t provide is the story of the home, what it is like to live there, how it feels and what lifestyle it can offer you.

This is why our sellers’ insights add another dimension to selling your home, and from the feedback from buyers and sellers alike, they are an element to our marketing that really brings a property to life. Our dedicated storyteller loves crafting these stories, interviewing the sellers to gain a detailed insight into their time there. Armed with a blank piece of paper, she listens and takes notes as our homeowners open up about how they fell in love with their home, some of their wonderful memories and their favourite places.

“Every seller loves their home for a different reason. Once they open up with their tales it is an honour and a pleasure to see their amazing home through their eyes. I discover things that they would never think would be of interest, and I never know where each conversation is going to take me. I only review the photographs beforehand so, like a buyer, I am in a way viewing as a blank canvas, I let the stories lead me to what to ask next.” states our bespoke storyteller.

Going through this process in a way is a goodbye by the sellers to their home. Many often state that after speaking to our storyteller they kind of fall in love with their house all over again. Yet move they must, and so their story is passed on to potential buyers, and it is often this part of our marketing that really grabs their heart and attention as they see the property in a different light. The power of storytelling is nothing new, so why not utilise an art form whose value has been known for centuries?

If you are thinking of selling your property in Bath or Bristol, we can’t wait to discover the story of your home.

Scan here and see what the market is like for your home

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Grosvenor Place O.I.E.O £280,000

Grade l listed · Georgian · Second floor · One double bedroom · Good decorative order · Close to local amenities · Holiday lets permitted · EPC C rating · Approx 494 Sq. Ft. Cavendish Crescent O.I.E.O £525,000 Philip Street

O.I.E.O £370,000

Modern Build · Two sizeable bedroom · Central location · Communal roof terrace · Bike storage · No onward chain · Lift access · EPC C rating · Approx. 631 Sq. Ft.

COMINGSOON COMINGSOON COMINGSOON

Alexandra House O.I.E.O £525,000

Modern Build · Riverside development · Two double bedrooms · Close to city centre · Private balcony · Open plan sitting room/ kitchen · Lift access · EPC B rating · Approx. 831 Sq. Ft. Beautifully presented · Two double bedrooms · En-suite | Private entrance · Spacious private patio · Beautiful communal garden · Storage vaults · EPC D rating · Approx. 1228 Sq. Ft.

Great Pulteney Street O.I.E.O £550,000

Grade l listed · Georgian · Second floor apartment · Two double bedrooms · City centre location · Stunning views · Communal garden · EPC D rating · Approx. 1128 Sq. Ft.

FORSALE Widcombe Crescent O.I.E.O £350,000

Georgian Crescent · Grade I listed · Double bedroom · Fabulous views · Sought after location · Close to the City Centre · Beautifully presented · Bright and spacious · EPC C rating · Approx. 579 Sq. Ft.

FORSALE

Hope Place O.I.E.O £750,000 Heather Rise O.I.E.O £375,000 The Empire

O.I.E.O £595,000

Modern Build · First floor apartment · Gated community · Allocated underground parking · Lift access · Stunning communal gardens · Tennis court · Stunning panoramic views · EPC B rating · Approx. 1058 Sq. Ft. Modern Build · Two double bedrooms · First floor apartment · Private front door · Two allocated parking spaces · Gated community · Communal garden/BBQ space · Close to local amenities · EPC B rating · Approx. 900 Sq. Ft. Two double bedrooms · Stunning views over the Weir · Communal garden · Amazing facilities · Lift access · City Centre location · Allocated parking space and guest parking · EPC C rating · Approx. 1076 Sq. Ft

LET AGREED LET AGREED LET AGREED

Great Pulteney Street £1,950 pcm

Green Park £1,950 pcm

Clarks Way, Rushill £1,350 pcm Cleveland Walk £2,500 pcm

Palladian £1,800 pcm

Bennett Street £1,400 pcm Gay Court, Batheaston £1,495 pcm

Minimum 24 month Tenancy · Master bedroom with en suite · Luxury Bathroom · Balcony · Private parking space · Council Tax Band: C · EPC Rating D

TO LET TO LET TO LET

Immaculate throughout · Part furnished · Two double bedrooms · Minimum 12 month tenancy · Gas Central Heating · Georgian features · Council Tax Band D · EPC Rating D · AVAILABLE NOW FULLY FURNISHED · Sorry no students · Two double bedrooms · Open plan living room/ kitchen · Secure gated parking for one vehicle · Enclosed communal garden · Minimum tenancy 12 months · EPC Rating C · AVAILABLE NOW Lower Oldfield Park £1,600 pcm

LET AGREED LET AGREED LET AGREED

Two bedrooms · Gas central heating · Sorry no pets · Redecorated throughout · New carpets · Garage & parking · Council Tax Band B · EPC Rating C Three double bedrooms · Unfurnished · Two bathrooms · Immaculate throughout · High specification · Min 12 month tenancy · Gas central heating · Council Tax Band D · EPC rating D

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UNFURNISHED · 880 sq ft two double bedrooms · Redecorated throughout · New kitchen & bathroom · Pets considered by negotiation · EPC Rating D · Council Tax Band C · AVAILABLE NOW

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Southgate Street £1,500 pcm