Miami is one of America’s great cities, and it’s not hard to see why. Along with its beautiful beaches and booming party scene, it’s also known for its unique design sensibilities. Head on over to South Beach, and you’ll be able to visit the Art Deco Historic District, which is filled with stunning examples of this design movement.
While the historic district represents the largest concentration of this style, Art Deco’s influence extends far beyond Miami. For instance, it wouldn’t feel out of place to see Art Deco floor tiles in Delray. Today, we’ll discuss this design style and explain how the right tiles can bring it into your home.
What Is Art Deco?
Art Deco was the American response to the design movements developing in Europe during the first half of the 20th century (e.g., Bahaus, Cubism). The name comes from a shortening of a French World’s Fair that proved a major influence on the style: Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes.
Art Deco is split into several different substyles, which shows how it evolved geographically and over time. For our purposes, here are the three most important substyles:
- Skyscraper Style, AKA classical Art Deco – This ornate style combines luxury materials and decorations. It was used primarily in skyscrapers in the 1920’s.
- Streamline Modern – This style reflected the economic hardships of the 1930’s, rejecting ornamentation in favor of industrial design motifs.
- Tropical Deco – Miami architects took Art Deco ideas and used them to express local culture, which means this style features more nautical elements, reminiscent of cruise ships.
It’s important to note that there was another architectural style influenced by Art Deco’s ideas, but which consists of a different style: Miami Modern (MiMo). Despite the similarities, MiMo is less symmetrical than Art Deco and more drawn to strange shapes like amoebas.
Bringing Art Deco Into Your Home
Now that you have a deeper understanding of Art Deco, you may be wondering how to bring the style into your home. Our friends at WhyTile have put together a collection of some of their favorite Art Deco looks.
Given the stylistic variety that Art Deco came to represent, it’s useful to narrow down what you’re looking for when working with an interior designer. A Skyscraper Style design is going to look very different than something inspired by Tropical Deco, for example.
You could also take one or two Art Deco flourishes that you’re fond of, without committing to the entire design style. For instance, we’re big fans of the chevrons that feature in many Art Deco walls and floors.
Homeowners might also be interested in Art Deco’s use of gold, which adds a luxurious ambiance to any space. However you choose to approach Art Deco, you can take comfort knowing that it has inspired generations of designers.
Looking for Floor Tiles in Delray?
You’ve come to the right place. D&B Tile has been helping South Floridians find the perfect tile for generations. We’ve helped homeowners design homes in a broad variety of styles: Art Deco, MiMo, Mediterranean Revival, and more.
Do you have any questions about what we can do for you? Would you like to speak with a design expert, who can show you the products we get from the best tile suppliers? Please don’t hesitate to contact us today.