Design Ideas Inspired by Ken Burns''Prohibition'

Design Ideas Inspired by Ken Burns''Prohibition'

The timing of Ken Burns’ latest PBS documentary, Prohibition, couldn’t have been more ideal; the latest season of Boardwalk Empire had just started on HBO and I was missing half the references (George Remus referring to himself in the third person, by way of instance ) prior to my Burns education. The most powerful age in terms of design sway within Prohibition occasions was by far was the Roaring Twenties, a decade of wild fun wedged between the horror of World War I and that total bummer, The Great Depression.

We are predisposed to mention mid-century modernism frequently here on Houzz, but it is fun to check at what proceeded the zeitgeist of the Machine Age and its impact on layout. Cultural influences that arose during Prohibition comprised flappers, speakeasies, jazz, a lot of dancing (some of it burlesque), the automobile, girls declaring their equality, and conspicuous consumption. All these movements influenced design, and what arose in architecture and interiors then provides inspiration for designers today.

David Churchill – Architectural Photographer

Art Deco swank, dandy menswear fabrics, and of course, illicit beverages are a great way to kick this off ideabook.

Flappers: The fringe, the freedom, the dancing, the haircuts and the jewelry of the flappers still influence performers of fashion and interiors alike.

Table Tonic

Bamileke Feather Juju Hat

Burlesque: Everybody from Dita von Teese into the Actual Bit of New York are appreciating the resurgence of burlesque arts today. Feathers like those were popular with both flappers and burlesque dancers.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

Swanky nightclubs: Tassels about the drapes, rich fabrics, a crystal light fixture and Art Deco curves recall the age, and also the feel of those clubs that encircle the Volstead Act. At places like Harlem’s Cotton Club, patrons enjoyed the naughtiness of imbibing, dancing, and enjoying entertainment provided by jazz musicians.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

Speakeasies: These flirty curtains hide a multitude of exactly what teetotalers considered wicked and the government believed illegal: booze bottles.

Kerrie L. Kelly

Dandy gangster duds: Male ensembles really stepped it up during this age, with formerly working-class gangsters displaying their status by using their sartorial choices. Pinstripes, accessories, bespoke suits, hats, scarves, hats and other dapper accessories gave a man serious swagger. The costume designers on Boardwalk Empire have mastered this; my favourite wardrobe on the series belongs to the personality Chalky White.

Watch more menswear-inspired spaces

Dillard Pierce Design Associates

Baroque resurgence: Known as The Money Decade, the age brought back Renaissance touches, with heavily ornamented and gilded pieces gaining popularity among those flush with cash. Here, a glossy checkerboard flooring adds Jazz-Age design to the space.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

Ornate accessories that had gained popularity throughout The Gilded Age were reinvented with Art-Deco twists.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

Stripped classicism: A holdover from the turn of this century, interiors and architecture still celebrated the timeless structure of the Greek and Roman Empires, in Addition to the Beaux Arts School. The Roaring Twenties added its own bits of glitz to amp it up, just as this chamber combines the classical urn renderings with mirrored surfaces and rich burgundy hues.

Elizabeth Dinkel

Murals: Adorning the walls at a nature-inspired design was a holdover in the Victorian Era, while selecting somebody to paint mural in the house was a indication of wealth throughout the Cash Decade.

Winstaco – Modern Staircase Designs

Art Noveau: Before Art Deco there was Art Noveau, which celebrated the applied arts, with all new technologies and the natural forms of nature. The largest difference between Art Noveau and the Arts and Crafts movement was that the former used new alternatives provided by machines, while the latter concentrated upon handcrafting.

Tongue & Groove

Jazz: This trendy area is the perfect place for listening to some Duke Ellington, whose career took off throughout the 1920s. Art Deco touches include the club chair, the sunburst light fixture and the cabinet.

Mark English Architects, AIA

Have you ever had time to see Prohibition on PBS? It is a fascinating and interesting look at a distinct era in American history. After you see it, you may start to find touches of this era’s effect everywhere you look, by a sunburst mirror into the spire of the Chrysler Building.

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