Hi everyone,
I have a job with a furniture company but thus far my role has been more in the development side of things, and less to do with strictly “design” aspects. Currently the design work is coming from contract designers. I’d like to take some innitiative to talk to my company owner some more at some point, and express my interest in seeing if they’ll give me a shot at coming up with some designs. I feel like I need to know more design history and particular style movements though in the event that they point to a particular period style piece. Much of the line is tasteful contemporary and “slightly” modern lounge chairs, guest seating, and some sofas.
Can anyone recomend some books for reference? I don’t know that I want a “tastemaker” style book on classical furniture that’s geared towards traditional residential furniture design, I’m thinking something that covers periods and examples if there is such a thing out there.
I own this and find it invaluable.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761989617/sr=8-2/qid=1206840168/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1206840168&sr=8-2&seller=
It’s 108 pages. Goes through each period from 400 years ago until now.
Starts with Medieval Syle (1607-1700) and goes through all the periods with photos and with all the details about what makes each style look like it does…
Other styles included are Renaissance, Gothic Revival, Rococo Revival, Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts, Prairie, Art Deco, Shaker, Contemporary, Vernacular and so on…
There are 35 styles in total that it covers… Each style is covered on two pages… One page is dedicated to photograph examples, while the page opposite has “call-outs” that explain what the different parts or designs in the chair are named. Also on the opposite page is a few paragraphs detailing the works of that period and explains what region of the US they came from etc…
I paid less than $2 for mine and learned a TON about the different periods… which I’m going to learn about at Kendall next fall anyway.
Actually this book made me appreciate finely crafted traditional furniture even more…