INT 232 History of Interiors, Art, Furnishing II

 

INT 232
Ruth Hernandez

Commercial Interiors/ History of Women in Interior Design 

Commercial Interior Design refers to the design of spaces meant for use in commerce, which may include office space, hotel rooms, dining establishments, shopping malls, etc.






The purpose of these interiors is functional in nature. In the past, the design of commercial interiors was characterized by simple, functional, and formal elements. However, over time, commercial interiors have become more creative and comfortable to reflect the personality of the organization.

Current Applications 




It is crucial to put special attention to the role of women in interior design history because they made a great contribution to its creation. As the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century saw interior design as one of the rare creative activities where women could have a career, it provided many women designers with an opportunity to succeed in decorating and designing interiors. The most prominent example in this context was Elsie de Wolfe who is regarded as the founder of interior design.

One Step Further: Sister Parish 


Sister Parish was another notable designer whose expertise lies in the creation of cozy interiors. She assisted in designing the interiors of the White House during the presidency of Kennedy and advocated a more comfortable and relaxed American style of decoration. She proved that beautiful interiors need not always be formal or intimidating but can create a cozy ambiance as well.




Reflection:
This subject gave me insight into the significance of women in the development of interior design, specifically commercial interiors. What I found fascinating was the manner in which they managed to overcome their gender barriers and create a career for themselves within an industry that was male dominated. 
I discovered that commercial interiors focus not only on aesthetics but also on functionality. In essence, this subject taught me a lot about design and its practical implications, it was really interesting.


References:

  • Abercrombie, S. (2007). A philosophy of interior design. HarperCollins.
  • Pile, J. F. (2014). A history of interior design (4th ed.). Wiley.
  • Troy, N. J. (2003). Elsie de Wolfe: The birth of modern interior decoration. Acanthus Press.


Comentarios

  1. Bianca D'Alessio15 de abril de 2026 a las 3:59 p.m.

    Ruth, I absolutely love the images you have selected for your blog. These are so beautiful and really show how much beauty women can place into a space!

    ResponderBorrar
  2. Allyssa Potter18 de abril de 2026 a las 10:32 a.m.

    Your focus on women like Elsie de Wolfe and Sister Parish was really strong and helped show how important their contributions were to the field! Love this post!

    ResponderBorrar
  3. Professor VanderNoordaa18 de abril de 2026 a las 10:59 a.m.

    Great Blog entry! 50/50 points

    ResponderBorrar

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