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Traditional Neoclassical Federal Design & Home Decor in the United States
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American Federal Style is a distinct type of Neo-classical Design. American Federal architecture and interior decorating were encouraged as a political statement as well as an aesthetic.
This article explains the historical importance of Traditional Neoclassical Federal style and how you can create this much loved type of interior decor in your own home.
From period appropriate colors and wallpapers to historic fabrics, furniture, and accessories, you will find plenty of information, pictures, and resources about Traditional Neoclassical Federal Design and Home Decor in the United States.
The Neoclassical American Federal style was an intentional adaptation of the Neoclassical genre by America's Founding Fathers. Harkening back to the democracy of Ancient Greece and the Roman Republic, Neoclassicism was embraced as a representation of and inspiration for the new nation's ideals by those who supported a Federalist style of government after the Revolutionary War. Federal design peaked in popularity between 1785 and the 1820s, but because it has a timeless and classic quality, its influence lives on.
Federal style integrates English and European influences and was concurrent with the Georgian period in England. Federal neoclassic architecture, furniture, interior design, and home decor is plainer than the Georgian colonial style, with simpler decorative motifs often framed as panels and friezes. It is luxurious yet understated, with graceful lines and a simple elegance that appealed to the tastes and philosophy of the founders of the new United States of America.
The Federal style is often confused with the American Colonial style (which pre-dated the Revolutionary war and the Federal period) and the Early American style which coincided with the Federal period but refers to the more rustic, casual style that characterized most homes. Federal refers to the formal neoclassical style adapted by the affluent.
This parlor is part of the Metropolitan Museum's Decorative Arts collection. It was built c. 1810 by William C. Williams in Richmond, Virginia Source: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Note the careful spacious furniture arrangement and placement of select accessories which is a hallmark of Federal home decor.
Popular Motifs in Federal Style Decor
& Characteristics of Federal Furniture and Accessories
The quintessential symbol of the Federal period is the American Bald Eagle. Other popular motifs included Greek and Roman style portraits and busts of patriotic leaders like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, urns and urn-shaped designs, stars and stripes. Themes drawn from nature included acanthus, tobacco leaves, shells, coral and birds.There was an emphasis on oval shapes for windows, hardware, decorative embellishments and even architecture (like the White House’s Oval Office). Oval sunburst designs and reeded columns were important elements in just about anything from exterior decoration to fireplace mantels and furniture inlays.
Prior to the Federal era, the homes of the Colonial period featured a central hall opening onto four square rooms. Federal design, however, favored curves above rectangles and rooms often had simple curved plaster walls and rounded Palladian style arched doorways and windows. Ceilings, doorways, and mantels were often adorned with simple plaster garlands and swags draped in curvilinear arcs.
Federal Style furniture, like all Neoclassical design, is typically light, graceful and simple, with clean edges and straight lines. Regional styles ranged from hand-painted details (Boston) to elaborately carved chair backs (Charleston). Decorative features included tapered legs and the use of contrasting veneers and inlays of geometric designs. Brass feet and drawer pulls with round brass rings were popular on earlier and larger pieces of furniture.
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The Federal Color Palette
For Period Decorating
The Federal Period in America uses a range of white, buff, and gray neutrals in homage to the Greek and Roman statuary it draws inspiration from. It also tends to feature slightly more saturated colors than the light and delicate palette of the concurrent Georgian period in England.
Federal Blue and creamy off-white is perhaps the color scheme one thinks of first, but yellow, rose, lilac, cinnamon browns and shades of green from pale to bold were popular, along with the patriotic palette of red, white and blue. Brass hardware and Pewter and Silver accessories provided an additional touch of elegance and formality. Floors were polished wood or covered with machine woven carpeting was imported from Europe.
Remember, computer monitors do not accurately and consistently depict colors, so the photo should be considered an approximation.
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Classic America The Federal Style & Beyond
More
than just wonderful photos, this book is a good read that links
interior design to the socio-politics, history and architecture of the
period.
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Coming next time in Part II
Federal Period Interiors: Names to Know
and in Part III
Federal Period Fabrics, Wallpapers, Rugs, and Accessories
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