Geometric Hallway With FF088

Geometric patterns look really good in a large space such as hallway because they give depth and size to the room pushing outwards the walls and raising the ceiling.

In the 1950s geometric patterns began to be freed from the ornamentation of the pre-war years and a clean and natural design was developed using just simple shapes and with no attempt at ornamentation. This was a very much in keeping with the new look emerging after the war of clean simple lines and unfussy and natural forms.

This found expression particularly in linoleum and the lino shown here is a typical blue pattern which could have been found in thousands of hallways, kitchens and bathrooms across the United Kingdom. As well as blue, which was probably the most popular colour, this pattern would have been available in greens and browns and possibly in a form of red. I will adapt this pattern to other colours and post them in the next day or so to see the contrast and the look that is obtained.

Another Swell Hallway with FF085

As promised yesterday, here is the same hallway with a similar pattern but this time in a lighter colour.

Again the floor covering is a new one and therefore quite reflective which helps to light the hall and provide some interest.

A Swell Hallway with FF084

Because of the way that lino is made it lends itself to design techniques that would be impossible with fabric or heavier material.

In the 1950s and 60s wallpaper designers began to experiment with flowing designs that resemble water or seascapes and this lino FF084 is an attempt to recreate the sort of designs that existed. It is a seascape design which has a quite reflective surface and helps both to create light in the room and to be easy to maintain.

Linos like this were usually produced in blue or green to mimic sea colours and they did have as much specular as is shown here although, it has to be said, once they were dirty the specular soon began to diminish.

This does however look nice and I will post a design that is the same but which uses a lighter blue so that you can see the difference tomorrow.

The Hallway 1950s style with FF079

Today we have the same suburban hallway again but this time with a different floor covering and a different wallpaper but still with a striking mid-century design.

The pattern is similar to the last one posted as I said it would be but this time it is in green and the wall covering has been changed to a green flower motif to help show off the floor. This is a favourite of mine.  Click the images for a larger version.

The Hallway 1950s style with FF078

Today we have the same suburban hallway again but this time with a quite different and very distinctive and striking mid-century design.

Simple geometric patterns have been used for ever as design devices and under the Victorians they were developed into quite complex and sophisticated patterns. However, after the Second World War designers continued to create much simpler and less intrusive patterning and the square received a lot of attention as a floor covering decoration. One reason is that it makes for a simple pattern to produce and another reason is that it shows up the dimensional is of a room and it gives to the room form and shape.

This can clearly be seen in the distinctive pattern shown here which uses a quite bright colour which shows how to use a distinctive pattern in a small area. As a lino for this particular hall, well, maybe not but this is, in a sense, make-believe. Having said that, I have to admit that this is a patterning that I like and I have therefore made some similar patterns which you will see over the next couple of days and from which you can see the effect of a more restrained colour.