Week 10 & 11: Rise of the decorator/women in interior design

In Rise of the Decorator. There was a need for design professions who were able to furnish interiors that would match a particular style, and the  building they were housed in. Before the job of interior decoration, an architect would have to hire various Craftsman to complete different elements of the interior design. The job of the decorator was to furnish an interior, and this would include. Obtaining furniture, art and accessories and any other aspect to create a strong interior design plan. There was also a growing need of wealthy people to live in houses that would reflect status.

One of the artists involved in this period was Dorothy Draper. She used traditional furniture in nontraditional ways, and her style was fun and appealing. She even created America's first design firm and it is still in existence. For characteristics and style, she was known for the dramatic use of black and white on walls, as well as flooring and other pieces. Should also use clear, vivid colors. The methods and materials she used was that she would focus on large public spaces. And do stripes that were mixed with different fabrics should use vibrant, flashy colors and plaster moldings. To contrast well with the vibrant colors, she would combine them with dull black and white shades.  When it comes to interior design, women historically have struggled to find a place at the table. Even though women dominate the field in numbers, they still face complex prejudices.

One Step Further: Petra Blaisse

Blaisse had many different techniques she focused on. She liked creating fluid transitions between the interior and exterior. She also focused on tech and fashion based fabrics and materials. Large scale curtains and screens were also preferrable. The size of rooms was important to her because bringing the scale to a level of detail was key because in her mind, she wanted to think of how the architecture will serve the human, not just visually but how does the architecture make you feel, what sounds do you hear and what does it make you think of. The senses are an important aspect of architecture because to her its about color, imagination, and even scent and what is the overall climate of the atmosphere. She also likes collaboration and enjoys working with other architects and engineers. When she has plans for including plants into her work, she talks to gardeners and explores their plants. Understand the profession of others to execute your ideas. She also does a good job of easily distinguishing between tools such as curtains if they should serve as objects to provide for the building, or for the background to compliment the interior and exterior.

Overall, she was very fascinated with curtains and the important role of movement. She stated that curtains traditionally have certain shapes or go in directions, but if you change that movement, it can alter the environment of the room. This is also because of the visual shift in patterns and the colors from the curtains revealing different background effects for the space. She also liked to design curtains that pertained to certain cultures. She advocated for the idea that curtains are attached to the architecture and not seperated. One time, Blaisse designed a curtain that had helium balloons in them so that it can give the illusion that the curtain is alive, and the room feels like freedom. Overall, a big aspect of architecture for her was the interior, and how the environment speaks to you through your mind.

References: Petra Blaisse Interview (youtube.com)

                    Movement - The curtain's role | Petra Blaisse | TEDxTilburg (youtube.com)