Art deco is rich, eclectic, bold and – above all – personal. Although the term appeared in the 1960s it refers to the flamboyant era of 1920s and 1930s.

The beauty of this trend is that it can mean so many things: audacity of a skyscraper, extravagance of a cruise liner, silver screen glamour or the excitement of the mechanised world. It melts the boundaries between the modern and the traditional creating a unique blend of geometric form and vibrant colour. As an inspiration it’s an extremely potent era and quite popular with the interior designers. Think France, Egypt and the Mediterranean …and put it all together. Here are a few tips on how to make it work and create your own art deco kitchen.

Tips on how to make your kitchen an art deco space

1.    Fine finish

When it comes to form, we would suggest Ogee or Chamfer edge details

It’s a little thing, but the way your worktop’s edge is ended can add that small touch that makes the space complete.

2.    Colour craze

Gold, black, yellow, white, red – contrast makes art deco work. Think about the gold and glitter of the Great Gatsby or the charm of Greta Garbo: each colour is a statement, it catches the eye, it’s a focal point. We can suggest a few worktops that fulfill these criteria:

3.    Prolific pattern

Art deco kitchen requires bold shapes. Imagine the movie poster of Metropolis – lines are well defined and contrasts are vivid. If you want to create this effect in your kitchen, marble is the best material to work with. There are marbles with distinctive, multi-coloured veins that will complement the idea of having a defined pattern on your worktop:

…or you can go one step further and choose a patterned worktop from the Motivo Collection; this would be a very modern addition to your 1930s stylised kitchen, a combination created in a true art-deco spirit:

If only your kitchen space allows, go geometric not only in patterns but in shapes. Have you thought about using marble or quartz for our backsplash? It does not have to be all rectangular. Imagine bold shapes, sharply angled edges and defined corners. Even if you are choosing tiles – remember, art deco kitchen needs bold shapes and likes colour.

Here’s a little inspiration

5.    Modern motifs

This trend is artistic but not overcrowded. Remember to give your art deco inspired space room to breathe. High polish will add to that – gloss metal elements, lacquer surfaces, even polished wooden accessories or cabinets standing on ornamental legs.

You can visit Period Living for some more inspiration

This era is full of ideas for fantastically looking modern kitchens. When it doubt – if it says ‘jazz’ there’s a good chance it’s art deco!

If you want to find out more about art deco, this is a great guide Art Deco 1910 – 1939, by Charlotte Benton, Tim Benton & Ghislaine Wood.

If you want to know more about quartz, marble, granite or stone worktops, contact us directly on 01376 550 009.