The Elegant Style of The Great Gatsby
Elegance. Opulence. Luxury. These are a few words describing the affluent home designs depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby. Here are ways you can add that glittering look to your own home.
Elegance. Opulence. Luxury. These are only a few words describing the homes of the affluent characters depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby. The stunning sets created for the recent film adaptation, highlighting the epic beauty of the Roaring Twenties, have inspired interior design trends reflecting this period in American history. Although the film portrayed the ultimate in luxury decor, recapturing the rich style of the 1920s is possible simply by adding one or two pieces reminiscent of the era.
Art Deco Design
The Art Deco movement influenced art and interior design during the 1920s. Art Deco highlights bold geometric patterns, symmetrical designs, and clean lines. Art Deco Posters and other works of art from this time period were incorporated into the design of The Great Gatsby movie poster and the gold monogramming featured in the film.
The Art Deco style of architecture is also captured in many famous skyscrapers and well-known structures built in the first half of the 20th century. The city of Philadelphia‘s numerous examples of Art Deco architecture can be photographed and framed to add the retro style of the ’20s in your home. Some of the better-known Art Deco buildings around town include Suburban Station, the WCAU building (now the Art Institute of Philadelphia), and the Ruth & Raymond Perelman Building, currently part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Besides art work, geometrically patterned wall paper or window treatments reminiscent of the period will enhance a black-and-white or monochromatic color scheme by adding dimension without overwhelming a room.
Luxurious Fabrics and Rich Color
Long, silky curtains blowing in the summer breeze gave The Great Gatsby film a visual lightness and elegance. The rich color scheme of rose, wine, and lavender described the interior settings in the novel, and deep reds were also used as a backdrop color in many scenes in the movie. Shiny metallic fabrics also lend the impression of opulence, and can be added proportionately to enhance home decor with small touches such as accent pillows, lamp shades, or window treatments.
Luxurious Upholstered Furniture
The timelessness of comfortable yet stylish furniture displayed in the film’s mansions and lake cottages works in every home decor. Daisy and Jordan escape the summer heat by resting on oversized upholstered sofas and lounge chairs in the Buchanans’ sitting room. Plush, quilted fabrics are characteristic of furniture inspired by The Great Gatsby era. In Gatsby’s bedroom, dark furniture designed with sleek, simple lines demonstrates the overall design of the recent movie, which was described by Architectural Digest as “a captivating fusion of dashing period style and 21st-century sensibility.”
Accents Add Sparkle
Ornate accent pieces, such as gilded frames or mirrors, and jeweled, fringed, and beaded table-top accessories evoke 1920s glamour and are easy additions to any room. Multi-tiered crystal chandeliers add sparkle to foyers and dining rooms. Small decorative pieces such as monogrammed, antique-style perfume bottles, crystal vases, or candle holders plated with shiny metals or sparkling glass can be placed on tables, mantles, or shelves to elevate the richness of any room.
Photo Source: Flickr
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Jennifer A. DiGiovanni
Jennifer DiGiovanni is a freelance writer and a partner in a real estate investment firm focusing on residential properties. She previously worked in the financial services industry and has earned an MBA from Villanova University. Jennifer enjoys writing about real estate, home improvement and small business.
