FUTURE PAST - ANCIENT GREEK STYLE

Unlike today’s temporary contemporary construction, homes in Ancient Greece were built to last - in fact, some are still occupied to this day.  Stone building materials were used on both palaces and whitewashed cliff dwellings.  Regardless of the home’s size, interior design in Ancient Greece centered around the family’s hearth.  Even back then, the open concept was popular!

When crafting furniture, artisans followed Egyptian design lines, and the materials used did not differ much either from those used by Egyptians.  Greek carpenters added ornamentation to furniture with copper, bronze, and iron embellishments, and wood veneer trim.

The backless stool was the most common form of Greek seating.  Easily portable, they also were created in a folding variety, with plain straight or curved legs that typically ended in animal feet.  Couches were also used in Greece as early as the late seventh century.  These were rectangular in shape and supported on four legs, two of which were longer than the other, creating support for an armrest or headboard.

Homes were not cluttered with excessive furniture, and what there was were simply designed and utilitarian, although beautifully made.  Persian design had strong influences on Greek interiors – those who could afford it used colorful Persian tapestries and rugs to adorn their walls.

To mimic this style in your home try these Grecian formulas:

1.  Bright, whitewashed stucco walls with gently rounded arches, wood paneled beam ceilings, and bright blue shutters and doors

2.  Mosaic tile in Greek motifs on bathroom walls, floors, and shower stalls

3.  Crisp white bed linens with a Greek key border

4.  Backless stools as seating around a simple wood slab dining table 

5.  Scour architectural salvage companies for sculpted Doric or Corinthian columns, or find reproductions made of plaster or lightweight material 

6.  Low white sofas combined with simple wood tables

7.  Chairs with woven rush seats

8.  Blue and white striped area rug

9.  Add a reproduction Greek amphora or two to complete your style

 

FUTURE PAST - ANCIENT EGYPTIAN STYLE

Although there is a vast difference between the way the peasants and the wealthy furnished their spaces, burial rituals of Pharaohs, Queens, and other wealthy Egyptians have allowed artifacts to be extraordinarily well preserved and studied in museums worldwide.

Most ordinary Egyptian homes were sparsely furnished, and the furnishings they possessed were simple and functional, the most common being a three or four legged low stool.  Due to wood being expensive, the lower classes had chests and baskets made of reeds to store their belongings.  Tables were not normally used – people squatted on the floor using a wooden board to write on.  Meal preparation was also done on the floor, and those who did not use the low stools sat on the ground atop reed mats and pillows.  Beds were mattresses constructed of straw, wool, and reed mats.

It was a far different story for the nobility whose homes contained high quality pieces crafted by artisans.  Although the stools were still utilized, they were much nicer with seats of animal skins, woven leather strips, or plant materials – some were painted and carved as well.  This early culture even invented the folding stool, an example of which was found in the tomb of Tutankhamen.

Elaborate carvings with inlays of gold and ivory on other seating pieces were common amongst the royal families.  Tables were used by the upper echelon for dining, gaming, and shrines.  Storage chests used by the rich were very ornate – embellished with paintings or inlays depicting scenes.

Using stylized art forms from this civilization, artisans created magnificent paintings, wall murals, sculptures, and pottery –often depicting beliefs and offering a glimpse into the life that existed during this time in history. 

Designers today still reference the styles used in Ancient Egypt, as their advanced culture continues to mesmerize even now.




FUTURE PAST - PREHISTORIC STYLE

We hope you enjoy our new series exploring design through history and how these timeless styles are interpreted in the modern world.  First up....Prehistoric

That was then.....

That was then.....

This is now....

This is now....

Life in Prehistoric times brought new meaning to the term “minimalistic”.  Nomadic societies needed to be able to move their belongings from place to place - so the necessities were of utmost importance, such as stools for seating and storage for food items and clothing. Decorative elements were secondary, though evident, and offered function as well as style.

Pottery crafted from clay, gourds, or carved wood were used to carry food and water.  Baskets made from woven sticks and reeds also served transportation requirements.  From various archaeological excavations, discoveries of artifacts have included gaming dice, jewelry, and objects carved from stone, possibly used in rituals.

Original art was evident on cave walls – very common during the prehistoric era.  So many of these delicate works made from rubbing charcoal or stone, and blood or droppings have amazingly survived the elements over time.

One of the best preserved villages was discovered in 1850 following a wild storm in the northern Europe location known as Skara Brae.  Inhabited before Egyptian pyramids were constructed, it is some 5,000 years old, yet the semi-subterranean village is remarkably preserved. 

Built from closely fitted flat sandstone slabs and linked by covered passages, each house consists of a single room with fitted stone furniture – dresser, two beds, centrally located hearth, and small floor tanks presumably used for preparation of fish bait.

 

A contemporary interpretation of prehistoric life is found in the late Dick Clark’s “Flintstone” residence.  Built on 23 acres in the Malibu Hills, this 2,500 square foot home consists of one bedroom and two bathrooms, and is designed with irregular shapes and stone colours. 

Simplistic designs for furnishings and accessories are still incorporated into modern products and interiors evoking a super stylish “form follows function” interpretation.