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Architecture
7 Renaissance Design Features Right at Home Today
Your home may be taking design cues from the Medicis, from a single silk pillow to a sky-high ceiling over that four-poster bed
In many ways the modern Western world began around the 1400s in Florence, Italy, when medieval ways of thinking were pushed aside for major changes in art, architecture and interior design. Mainly affecting the powerful and wealthy (including the church clergy), the Renaissance took inspiration from the ancient Romans and Greeks. But rather than copy them, architects and artists in this period used those ancient styles to create new ideas in design.
What goes around comes around, and you can see from these examples how the Renaissance still influences design today.
What goes around comes around, and you can see from these examples how the Renaissance still influences design today.
Ceiling details. Renaissance ceilings were often beamed or coffered and painted in rich colors. While the ancient Greeks and Romans used stone, wood coffers seen in the grand Renaissance palazzos are still used in design today. They really add impact but are best installed on high ceilings and rooms with a grander scale.
Ornate floors. Renaissance floors were brick, tile or marble and were patterned in checkerboard or often more complex geometric designs, predominantly in earthy tones. With the introduction of underfloor heating (incidentally, a Roman invention), tiled floors have become an alternative even in colder climates. Durable, easy to keep clean and now available in a variety of shades and designs, tile floors are enjoying a renaissance now.
Patterned walls. Walls were generally smooth and neutral in color. However, they were often painted with patterns, which would now be translated to wallpaper. But these paint techniques have also been used over the ages, influencing the introduction of stenciling.
Mural fresco painting. Mural fresco painting adorned the walls of the more palatial Renaissance homes. Again, this highly decorative painting has influenced many elaborate wallpapers, while hand painting is reserved for the experts.
Four-poster beds. The Renaissance saw the invention of the ornate bed as we know it. Hand-carved four-posters on raised platforms had a canopy for rich-colored drapes to keep out the cold. While bed designs have evolved, many of us still can't resist a four-poster, so the basic design has been adapted for modern lifestyles and changing tastes.
Silk. Silk was the favorite textile of the Renaissance, used in bright colors for drapes and loose cushions for benches and chair seats. Furnishings were quite minimal at this time, but chairs began to increase in variety as an alternative to stools and benches. Thank goodness the early designs have evolved in favor of comfort!
The trend for high ceilings has continued for centuries. Today high ceilings still give the impression of stature and grandeur.