Last month while on my way to Yoga class with a friend, I stumbled upon an absolute architectural gem in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. Heading into the basement of a multi-story building on Colorado Boulevard, I first noticed the beautiful, ornately-carved, oversized solid wood doors of the ladies powder room. As we made our way to class, I saw a placard with the building’s name, which read: “The Fish Building, 26 E. Colorado Blvd.” We were 20 minutes early to class, so I chatted up the staff commenting on the lovely Art Nouveau style of the building.
“Take them up in the elevator,” our yoga teacher instructed the receptionist at the front desk. My ears perked up immediately and my heart almost skipped a beat. What’s in the elevator? I wondered with anticipation. I had a feeling I was in for a treat.
As the receptionist dug up the key to the antiquated lift, she informed us only residents of the building were allowed to use it. Now my curiosity was piqued! As the three of us stepped into the mirrored cube, I almost fainted with elation. I had never been so close to original, hand-crafted, Art Deco architectural details before. The reflective walls of the elevator were framed by swirling, honey-colored shapes made of solid wood (typical of Art Nouveau), and there was a patterned wood medallion (also known as parquet) inlay at the center of the floor. No detail was overlooked, as this is one of the foremost characteristics of the period.
(As a side note, I use Art Deco and Art Nouveau interchangeably when describing this building because the details reflect influences of both movements.) The curved, organic lines are from the earlier period, Art Nouveau, while the geometric shapes, chevrons and color schemes are from the latter Art Deco. The Fish Building in Pasadena was completed in 1929 and therefore falls squarely into the Art Deco period; however, the Art Nouveau details in the building are unmistakable.
It’s important to remember the ethos of these aesthetic movements and their relationship to the social and artistic climate at the time. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, the Art Nouveau movement was a reaction against the preceding (and rather stuffy) Victorian era. Art Nouveau cultivated a close relationship with the fine arts, incorporating hand painting and sculpture into the architecture and interior design. Nature was the dominant theme, and therefore curvilinear forms reigned supreme.
Fast forward a few decades to 1925, when the World’s Fair in Paris, L’Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Moderne, first introduced the style that would forever be referred to as “Art Deco” for short (an abbreviated version of the preceding French name). While earlier movements, like Arts and Crafts, focused on function and minimal ornamentation, Art Deco was a primarily fashion-oriented style and was all about the “fluff.” This style mirrored the social progress and art movements of the day. The largely geometric, rectilinear shapes drew upon cubism and African tribal art, while the zigzags and chevrons were designed to represent electricity and radio waves. The goal within this movement was to find a “new style” in every detail, and even the stepped forms in furniture and light fixtures suggested the architectural silhouette of skyscrapers that stretched across a metropolitan skyline.
That being said, within the Fish Building, it’s easy to distinguish Nouveau from Deco. Both periods exude a bold, eclectic and unique style that is an unabashed departure from preceding periods—each with their own distinct details. Here’s how to add a little glitter from the Golden Age to your personal décor…
When adding a dash of deco to your interior, think glamorous, exotic and over-the-top. Look for materials that shine and reflect, like glass, chrome, lacquer, metallics and mirrors. This period was all about luxury, so velvet and leather are upholstery staples. Rich materials like ebony, zebrawood and ivory were commonly used in furniture, so look for glossy, dark woods or lacquered furniture pieces. When it comes to color, go for drama. In addition to the glistening, creamy hues of Hollywood-style glamour, colors were also bold and theatrical. In fact, the dramatic pairing of jewel tones (such as emerald, sapphire & ruby red) with black and gold or silver has become iconic of the Art Deco era. In addition to incorporating these materials and colors into your space, seek shapes and patterns that are geometric, and try adding pieces with repetition and symmetry.
Think sleek, think chic, and you’re on your way to Deco glamour!
Photos Credits: Fish Building photo via http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16662912/26-E-Colorado-Blvd-Pasadena-CA/; Art Deco photos by Christie Carmelle
Again, The Stylist is not just about style in regards to clothing, but also about the style interwoven into our surroundings–the design of interiors, exteriors, and architecture of buildings towering above us as we walk through downtown. Speaking of downtown, Los Angeles is about to get a new boutique hotel that is already bringing a lot of press and excitement. The Ace Hotel is confirmed to be opening its first LA outpost in the United Artists Building in the Historic Core on Broadway. Here’s some history and stunning visual inspiration that will hopefully inspire you artistically–and perhaps help you bring a special flair to your own home!
In 1999 in Seattle, the first Ace Hotel was opened by friends Alex Calderwood, Wade Weigel, and Doug Herrick (Calderwood and Weigel are the founders of Rudy’s barbershop) at a former Salvation Army half-way house.
In 2007, Ace Hotel Portland was opened in the former Clyde Hotel and now features Stumptown Coffee and the European style-tavern, The Clyde Common. There you can sip on crafted cocktails, drink local Oregon beers, and nosh on rabbit, oxtail and game hen.
A Palm Springs location was also opened, which boasts of their swim club, bars, and on-site diner King’s Highway. Aside from it being a relaxing getaway spa destination, there are DJ’s at the pool every Sunday and they also throw special parties for events such as Coachella.
Just a year later in 2010, the Ace Hotel New York was opened, which is the former Hotel Breslin in Midtown Manhattan. This location also has Stumptown Coffee and Chef April Bloomfield’s The Breslin restaurant (which was awarded a Michelin star). There you can dine for brunch, lunch or dinner and sip on delicious cocktails named after some of your favorite musician’s albums.
Aside from the renovated theatre which will seat 1,600, Ace Hotel LA will also have 180 rooms, a pool, restaurant and bar. It is set to open Summer 2013…If you don’t live in LA already, put it on your calendar to stay at the Ace next summer and grab dinner, a show, and pool time with friends!
