Art Deco in the Kitchen: Key Design Elements and Inspiring Examples.

Features

To decorate a kitchen in the Art Deco style, you should rely on its main features:

• Geometricity. Complex shapes are harmoniously combined with clear lines and contours.
• Decorativeness. All kinds of figurines, paintings and other art objects emphasize the originality of the setting.
• Expensiveness. Fakes and cheap imitations of materials are unacceptable.
• Symmetry. The architectural elements are thought out to the smallest detail and form a single composition.

Kitchen color

Art Deco does not tolerate flashy colors – it is characterized by muted tones. Black and white prevail in the kitchen decoration. Strict monochrome is diluted with accessories of calm, unobtrusive colors: if blue is used, then it is deep indigo, if green – it is olive or dark emerald. The colors of natural noble wood are popular, as well as all shades of gray.

The photo shows a stylish kitchen interior in the Art Deco style with marble design and an unusual ceiling.

The Art Deco style, like no other, is distinguished by its shine and contrast. The luxurious shine is achieved by adding precious metals to the decor. Lighting fixtures, furniture fittings, mirrors and frames can be gold or silver.

The photo shows an elegant art deco kitchen in white and gold tones.

Finishing

Art Deco implies an abundance of space, but the idea can be implemented in a small apartment, for example, a Khrushchev-era building. A good option would be a combined kitchen-living room – geometric patterns will help to hide the modest size of the room, and mirrored and glossy surfaces will add light and air, advantageously complicating the room.

• Floor. The most suitable option for an Art Deco kitchen is ceramic tiles. They are practical, have a wide selection of textures and are aesthetically pleasing. Tiles can imitate stone (marble, granite) or be monochromatic, the main thing is that the floor matches the walls and ceiling. If the floor is supposed to be wooden, light tones are excluded – only dark noble wood (oak, mahogany). Both parquet and high-quality laminate will look good.

The photo shows a chic indigo-colored kitchen with gilding, which is set off by a glossy tile floor.

• Walls. Wallpaper with a characteristic pattern and decorative plaster are suitable for the dining area. The accent wall can be decorated with stripes, an ornament with exotic motifs (for example, zebra skin) or a fresco. Contrasting elements will play to maintain the style.

• Ceiling. A complex top is another calling card of the kitchen in the Art Deco style. Stucco molding, suspended structures or beams made of expensive wood will emphasize the pretentiousness of the setting.

• Apron. The apron can also be the highlight of the interior. Traditionally, tiles are used for its decoration – with or without an ornament – or mosaics (mirror, glass or combined).

The photo shows a spacious kitchen, the peculiarity of which is a black and white apron made of hog tiles laid diagonally.

Furniture and appliances

When choosing furniture, you need to be guided by one rule: the set should look rich and sophisticated. The table and chairs of the dining group are usually combined with each other. A table made of noble wood or glass will do, and chairs with curved legs and carvings will match it. You can choose either soft seats upholstered in velvet or genuine leather, or hard ones with metal elements. A spacious kitchen also includes a sofa or corner, creating a cozy place to receive guests.

Art Deco differs from traditional styles in that kitchen appliances are not hidden, but come to the fore. High-tech stove, oven or hood sometimes become the center of the interior, they attract attention and should look accordingly: massive and expensive.

The photo shows a magnificent kitchen with a table repeating the pattern on the accent wall, and chairs with elegantly curved backs.

The doors of the kitchen unit are decorated with a diamond-shaped frame, glass or decorative inserts. The most common are glossy facades, which perfectly match chrome surfaces.

The photo shows an interior with an abundance of gloss on the facades, apron, countertop and floor.

Curtains

The fabric used in the kitchen interior, like many elements of art deco, should play to support the style: an abundance of textures, patterns and shine will only benefit. If the kitchen is small or the area near the window is closed by furniture, Roman blinds with patterns and folds will do.

The photo shows spectacular curtains of a deep blue color, which perfectly set off the interior in white tones.

Several materials can be combined in the window frame. But it is advisable to hide the cornice under the ceiling – this technique makes the interior richer.

The photo shows a kitchen with combined floor-length curtains, the pattern of which echoes the upholstery of the chairs.

Lighting and decor

Lighting in the kitchen in the Art Deco style plays one of the most important roles. Lighting is made multi-level: a bulky theatrical chandelier made of crystal or a modern one made of metal and glass is successfully combined with built-in ceiling lights. Both the apron and the set can be equipped with lighting. Original lamps often hang directly above the table.

The photo shows an Art Deco dining area with unusual metal lamps above the table.

The decor of the kitchen in the Art Deco style is always recognizable – in it you can see not only frescoes and paintings, but also American posters and movie posters from the 20s. The dishes, like other decorative elements, have shine and exquisite shapes and serve as an interior decoration. In addition, there is always a place for original mirrors in the kitchen, which add chic to the atmosphere.

The photo shows a kitchen, the highlight of which is a fresco with a plot by the artist Alphonse Maria Mucha. Another interesting find is wall sconces in mirror frames.

Popular interior items are works of art borrowed from the peoples of Ancient Egypt and the Far East: vases and figurines.

Photos in the interior

Since the splendor of Art Deco requires a lot of space, kitchens in this style are more often found in spacious rooms, where the arrangement does not cause difficulties. A kitchen with an island has a special magnificence, which always looks monumental and stylish.

It is more difficult to arrange a small kitchen in the Art Deco style: in a small space, when decorating, for example, a kitchen-studio, you should use fewer textures so that the interior looks more concise. At the same time, it is unacceptable to save on the main elements: decoration and furniture. But the use of mirrors, visually increasing the space, will be very useful.

The photo shows a large kitchen island, which serves both as a cooking surface and a bar counter.

To increase the area, the kitchen and living room are often combined. The dining area is moved into the room, thereby freeing up space for luxurious furnishings. But it is worth remembering that Art Deco interiors need a lot of air: they do not look good if the abundance of things clutters up the space.

The photo shows a combined kitchen-living room, the zones of which are united by a common ceiling design and repeating patterns.

In addition, the art deco style does not tolerate disorder. Many polished and mirrored surfaces look impressive, but require constant removal of streaks, drops and fingerprints.

The photo shows a kitchen with an abundance of golden details, carved patterns and gloss.