Aesthetics for an Aesthete

[atlasfever]

Hi All,

Disclaimer: I realize this is not a technical question, and refers to decor more than anything else. Further, it might by more about the philosophy of the design, and how it materializes. Clearly I spent too much time studying at the LSE

A comment from either Lady A or Jose&Chris that read (paraphrase) something like 'don't worry about what they did in the georgian period, but focus on what you can use with today's products to create a good feel' Ok, I've taken literary license there, but you get the drift. My new inspiration for my flat.

Background: Georgian, 1st floor flat. Original Shutters, oversized sash windows, fireplaces, cornice & front receiving rooms. Full refurb, but keeping all the old items.
Question:

The entrance of my flat is a 4x5 foot vestibule which will have a panelled bevelled mirror treatment. This opens to my two front rooms, which will be living & dining, will be (hopefully) rather elegant with georgian style crystal chandeliers, a picture rail with paintings/photography hanging, and dark oak floors, and walls/shutters all done in white. The furniture will be mid-century, bauhaus focused. You can see that I don't want to re-create a full georgian interior, just leverage some of the elements.

For my bedroom and ensuite, I was thinking of doing a 30s feel. I'm not sure if I go more deco or bauhaus yet, but the lighting fixtures and bed/furniture would be in that theme. I could continue the light fixture type from the front rooms, but I really appreciate those glass rod wall lights of this period, and the use of chrome, etc, so what do you think? Is it fine to mix it up? I thought it would be cool to have a different style to the room, rather than the same as the front rooms. I even thought of doing the built in wardrobes with bevelled mirror on the front, in a deco design.

For my ensuite, I would stick to this, but was hoping for a 30s barber shop. Using marble, etc, I was planning to leverage some of the bathrooms that I've seen at the Savoy for instance.

Thoughts? Feedback?

 

[Flyfisher]

Disclaimer: I realize this is not a technical question, and refers to decor more than anything else.

Well I'd take issue with your disclaimer for a start! As we get ever nearer to the decorative phase of our project I'm beginning to realise that matters of decor can be highly technical. Indeed, I think I'm more nervous about falling at the final hurdle than I have been during all the structural works.

 

[Lime]

Disclaimer: I realize this is not a technical question, and refers to decor more than anything else.

Well I'd take issue with your disclaimer for a start! As we get ever nearer to the decorative phase of our project I'm beginning to realise that matters of decor can be highly technical. Indeed, I think I'm more nervous about falling at the final hurdle than I have been during all the structural works.

Exactly so!
The final finish is ALL important to do credit to everything else that has been done.
For most people... or at least people not like myself.... the final finish is all they will see.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I think the quote from Joce was referring to lighting, as the Georgians didn't have electric lights, so extending it to decor in general might not be taking it in context. Just to throw a spanner in the works, I don't think the Georgians were ones for picture rails, but more likely a cornice pole ( a brass pole) just below the cornice. I have a feeling picture rails were more Victorian. I'm sure others will enlighten. It's not an era I am so familiar with as my house is 100 years newer!!!

It sounds like you would like to restore the structure of your Georgian property, but furnished it in a more modern (mid century modern) way.

 

[Nigel Watts]

I like the idea of having different rooms or parts of the house/flat in different styles. If you live in a fine old building, as you clearly do, you should respect its historic fabric including interesting additions, but decor and furnishings are another matter. In my house I have used a modern style for the basement, 2nd floor and rear extension but worked with an early Victorian theme for the principal rooms on the ground and first floors.

Some people may find the transitions in style too much and prefer a common thread running through the whole interior but persoanlly I would rather see each room done well and enjoy the contrasts between them.

walls/shutters all done in white

is where I part company from you however. I can't understand why anyone other then a monk would want the sensual deprivation of an all white interior. This is partly down an eye condition I have (gunk floating around in my aqueous humor, which shows up worse in bright, white spaces making them physically uncomforatble) but mainly because I love colour, preferably in strong or darker shades.

 

[atlasfever]

Interesting.

I actually love colour too, but at the staggering cost/bill for the paint job, I am going for white on white in the front rooms. I would prefer a dark bronze for all walls, but I can't just go paint it again as I have neither the time nor inclination to do it at 3.6m ceilings. However, you are correct, and for my bedroom, it will be rather dark walls.

I do find that a coloured wall against a white cornice to be rather fab. And, I noticed that at bedford square, many of the ceilings with decorative plaster designs have the background in one colour and designs in white. Great contrast. I was thinking of this, but (as a photographer), I'm quite certain that colour on the top lowers the feel of the ceilings, and that's not what I want. Otherwise, a taupe or mushroom would be fab.

and, yes, I have taken the comment from only lighting to everything else. why not?

 

[JoceAndChris]

I feel rather honoured to be quoted at all, even though plastic pigeon is right in that I was talking about lighting.

You must do just as you like atlas fever - as long as you respect the fabric of the building and get LBC if necessary, which I'm sure you will.

Nigel is very much in tune with my way of thinking, especially regarding white which is a hard hard colour to live with. I'd extend that to neutrals- sorry to all the neutrals lovers on here but I don't think they do justice to larger proportioned period properties (fine in the cottagey rooms to have a nice ochre or peachy cream wash). But each to their own.

Nigel's house, which I've been privileged enough to visit, is a really successful blend of different moods and eras of design. I think kitchens and bathrooms work well being contemporary. But I think one of the reasons it's successful in Nigel's house is because everything has been carefully chosen to harmonise with the architecture - a lovely modern kitchen in the old servants' basement where few period features remain, a modern extension with smart contemporary fittings and furnishings, but the drawing room and hall properly bedecked in 19th C splendour throughout. I like that more than putting mid 20th C furniture in a room with Georgian sashes, cornice and plaster detailing. However it's down to personal choice and I believe it's very fashionable to mix everything up.

My house is like stepping back in time, so much of the 19th C remains in the interiors - doors, windows, mouldings, boards, fireplaces, flagstones, brick vaulting, panels, servants bells, servants basement etc. Nobody has ever spoilt it or hacked it about, it's almost untouched by time. It's also a romantic isolated villa on a hilltop with far reaching views, accessed by a mile long track and with a Sleeping Beauty style, overgrown acre of wooded garden, and then 150 acres of uninhabited, wild, rural land surrounding. It's so Picturesque, and of its time (1820) that to put anything modern in it would be a terrible sacrilege. It's why I had to get it listed to stop the next people ruining it. Obviously I can't stop them filling it with glass and chrome but I hope the listing will protect against a huge glass conservatory going onto the central polygonal bay (just one of the mad suggestions that have been made for its "improvement")

What I'm trying to ramble towards is that interiors can only be decided by getting a sensitivity towards the mood of the architecture and the context of the building as it is now. Each period property is unique and requires a different approach. A flat in London, though it is part of a lovely and grand Georgian townhouse can have a freer and more overtly fashionable approach in my opinion, so Bauhaus away!