British Interior Design in the 1950s

From Drab to Fab BRITISH INTERIOR DESIGN IN THE 1950s A TIMELINE Austerity As Britain was rebuilt after the war, new builds were smaller and 1950 more minimal, with a focus on filling homes with the essentials and keeping everything simple. Scandinavia The simple yet stylish (and easily mass produced) designs of Scandinavia were a huge influence on 50s interiors. Designs were clean, functional and durable. 1951) Ercol Furniture Exhibited at the Festival of Britain Ercol's 1951 collection set the bar: smaller. simpler pieces with sweeping lines and low on detail. Bertoia Sidɛ Chair Harry Bertoia's side chair celebrated the industrial, 1952 using wire rods and moulding them to create this iconic, stark and comfortable chair that is popular for both indoor and outdoor use. Coronation of Elizabeth II Millions of Britons celebrated with street parties, with over a million watching the ceremony on television in their living rooms. 1953) G-Plan Launches G-Plan became one of the defining brands of the 1950s and is still going strong today. Re jecting the ornate style of pre-war Britain, G-Plan's focus on utility and comfort meant they became a bestseller. Lucienne Day Designs Wins Several Auuards The bright and o ptimistic fabric prints of Lucienne Day were hugely popular in the 50s, and their colour schemes (lime and olive green, mustard yellow, browns) would be adopted into British living rooms. 1954 Series 7 Chair Arme Jacobsen's Series 7 chair is an undeniable design classic. Made with a single piece of plywood, it has reimagined what a chair could be. It's practical. stylish, comfortable, economical and stackable. 1955 Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show The explosion of Elvis signalled the beginning of American popular 1956) culture moving over to the UK, reflected in British design. Sputnik Launched Russia's alien looking satellite inspired culture and design everywhere, with focus moving from the past to the exciting potential of the future. 1957 American Influence From the checkerboard tiles of a diner style kitchen floor, to the designs of Ray and Charles Eames, elements of 1958 American design crept into British interior design in the late 50s, creating what we would now call a "retro" look. Consumerism The age of austerity soon grew into a ne w consumer age as mass production and industry grew. Time-saving luxuries such washing machines, dishwashers and microwave ovens 1959 as were introduced into the kitchen. PRESENTED BY: 1960 jamesmayor Simple furniture, beautifully made