Authentic American Architecture: Louis Sullivan

Frank Lloyd Wright’s imaginatively grand and organic architectural structures continue to captivate modern viewers today. Like every great artist, there exists behind him or her, a great teacher and fountain from which innovative ideas spring forth. For Wright, Louis Sullivan was not only that inspiration, but artistic spring board for his later architectural accomplishments that changed the landscape of American architecture.

Louis Sullivan is often hailed as America’s first truly modern architect for having left behind the standard imitation of historical styles for his own unique forms and architectural details. Coming out of the Chicago School or architecture, where some of his famous buildings still stand today, Sullivan revolutionized the design of tall (versus wide) buildings by creating unity and emphasizing the power of the vertical rise, pioneering the way for the advent of the “skyscraper.” Sullivan was no longer interested in basic functionality, and instead chose to focus on the idea that the exterior of any building should not only reflect its interior function, but interior environment and spirit as well. He believed that architectural ornament should be derived from the natural world, because therein, lay the apex of beauty.

An architectural return to nature was not just unique to Sullivan, but a characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement, prominent from 1890 until 1914, during which time painters, architects, and sculptors alike rebelled against classical and formal approaches to design. Art Nouveau buildings typically featured many arches and curved forms that mimicked nature, asymmetrical shapes, mosaics, plant-like embellishments, and mosaics.

Louis Sullivan imbued upon Art Nouveau his own spin: terra cotta. Sullivan’s masonry walls often featured terra cotta designs, which he preferred for its light weight and close appearance to that of stone. It has been said that it was his favorite building material as he often used the terra cotta as a canvas for intertwining vines, leaves, and geometric shapes.

The economic depression of the 1920s and the changing public aesthetic caused Sullivan’s work to fall out of favor and demand. Many of his beautiful buildings fell into disrepair or were demolished a few decades later. There are a few, however, that remain standing today as symbols of authentic American architecture. The Bayard Building, for example, is still erect in New York City with its light industrial structure and open-floor areas. St. Louis’s famous Wainwright Building stands proudly as one of Sullivan’s first steel-framed building designs with a one-of-a-kind façade. And finally, the Guaranty Building in Buffalo, NY, is a testament to his architectural and aesthetic adaptability, looming as one of the first steel-supported and curtain-walled office building in the world featuring Sullivan’s delicate and trademark terra cotta designs. Without Sullivan, the modern skyscraper may have looked quite different. 

Famous Furnishings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The landscape of American furniture design has a rich history dating back to the Colonial period.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art is honoring that tradition and spirit of American design in its exhibit called, “American Decorative Arts.”  We are simply amazed by their extensive collection, which can be viewed on the Museum’s website if one cannot make it to New York.  Their fantastic exhibit is broken into various periods that reflect Baroque, Rococo, and Gothic Revival influences in America.   

According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, between 1730 and 1790, American furniture design was heavily influenced by Baroque and Rococo styles of Europe. Both emphasize sweeping curves and exuberance.   Speaking of curves, Boston was actually the first Colonial city to implement the “S” curve in chair backs.  The “S” allowed the seated person to enjoy a shape that conformed comfortably to their spine, which experts believe reflected a growing American concern for comfort during this time. The most popular wood for furniture making then was black walnut, which was transported from Virginia and Pennsylvania to New England and the rest of the Mid Atlantic.  When it came to comfort, the “S” shape was not enough to satiate the public’s desire for relaxation and leisure.  Cabinetmakers started designing specialized furniture forms, like tables for card playing and entertaining guests with tea.  Many of these tables were bold, resting on dramatic claw feet.

The Rococo styles of the 18^th century were also known for their break from classical order and symmetry.  Designers sought to emphasize natural forms and lines with curves, carvings, engravings, and by incorporating natural materials into furnishings.  The Rococo style really took hold in seaport cities, where designers were inspired by engraved designs in pattern books and other imported objects from Europe.  By the 1780s, however, the exuberant styles of this period were already giving way to more classical forms that had come before. 

“American Revival Styles” is another featured period at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, covering the years between 1840 and 1846, during which time Romanticism motivated furniture designers to return to simpler ways of the past.  Styles adapted from ancient Greece and Rome became popular, especially for suburban houses.  For drawing rooms or parlors, furnishings based on elegant French models were in high demand.  Gothic Revival-style furniture, however, a branch of the Revival period, was a must for home libraries and even dining rooms.  

We are excited to be participating in such a richly steeped American tradition.  Come to any of our store locations to see if you can spot hints of the aforementioned traditions in our furniture selections.  We look forward to helping you add style to your home furnishings.  

Our Bright Idea

Now that you have the perfect furniture that exemplifies your family’s style while also fulfilling functional needs, it’s time to turn your attention towards the light. By light, we mean the table lamps, floor lamps, and other lighting fixtures that populate your home. People often complain that despite the fact that they have many fixtures, they have little actual light in the rooms of their home. We’re hoping to help you solve this conundrum with a few bright ideas.

Tip 1 – When considering the lighting for a room, it’s smart to ask which kind will serve the room best and what tools will be needed to perform its function. And by tools, we mean things like adjustable settings, mobility, etc.

Tip 2 – If there are built-in fixtures that you absolutely cannot get rid of, consider repainting the room or a portion of the room. Flat wall paint works well to diffuse light.

Tip 3 – Display lighting can be effectively around, above, or beneath any artwork you wish to highlight in your home. This can be great for family portraits or college diplomas, too.

Tip 4 – Proper task lighting is incredibly important. This type of lighting is used to brighten areas where you spend large amounts of time, like at your work desk or the kitchen counter. In particular, we recommend using lights in these areas that are directional, meaning that the light can be aimed at specific places in the room.

Tip 5 – It’s not all about functionality. Some lighting can function as pieces of art. Choose more decorative overhead lighting for the bedroom and the dining room. Additionally, creating layers of light by using multiple light sources in a single room can be quite beautiful.

We hope these tips will help you on the path towards efficient and stylish lighting. The key, of course, is to be able to see what you’re doing in a manner that is unobtrusive. A variety of lighting that allows for different options is the best way to go.