4.21.2007

Less Is More


East Aurora, New York – I’m in heaven.
Last night, my sister (visiting from Arizona) and I embarked on a weekend road trip. First stop: East Aurora, a quaint village 20 miles south of Buffalo. I’ve been eager to explore this area because it was an Arts & Crafts (A&C) hub in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There was an artists' colony here called the Roycroft Campus, started by Elbert Hubbard.
A&C is a design movement I’m infatuated with right now. It started in England in the mid-1800s (ever heard of William Morris?) and spread to America a few decades later. It was all about craftsmanship, beautiful materials, nature… moderation, simply your life, less is more.

Textile and wallpaper patterns had organic motifs. Furnishings were austere, with simple lines and little ornamentation; wood, stained glass and copper were common materials. The same sensibility was applied to structures. Here in America, A&C gave rise to the bungalow, cozy little houses with low-pitched roofs and wide, overhanging eaves. These modest homes were meant to work in harmony with nature.


American A&C architects/designers include Gustav Stickely (New York), Greene & Greene (Pasadena, Calif.) and the aforementioned Hubbard. Frank Lloyd Wright is connected with the A&C movement, although he certainly developed his own design language.
So, my sister and I are staying in the Roycroft Inn, built in 1905 and tediously restored in 1995. The rooms are gorgeous! We did a little dance when we entered our giant, cozy room.


There’s wood paneling on the walls and ceiling, with the exception of a few walls covered with brick-colored wallpaper with a muted floral motif (it looks very William Morris). The furniture is made of solid wood, mostly oak. The bathroom is enormous; there are two sinks, a jacuzzi tub and thick robes. The windows have wood shutters (and they are dust free!). The room feels so warm and soothing, yet spacious and immaculate.


No detail has been overlooked here. Our key even has style: it’s attached to a leather keychain stamped with our room number, 211.
More later. It’s check-out time!
(JM)

Labels: ,

2 Comments:

Blogger Carl Yost said...

I'm so jealous of your trip -- that hotel looks awesome!

(P.S. Skaneateles was a great day trip with my parents. Thanks for the recommendation!)

12:29 PM  
Blogger wrightfan said...

Jenna-

You are so right, the Roycroft Inn is spectacular. I stayed there a couple of years ago and would go back in a heartbeat.

While you're in the area, don't miss FLW's Darwin Martin House and Greycliff.

Blue Sky Mausoleum (Forest Lawn Cemetery, I think) is also worth a look. It is quite dramatic, in a very spare and elegant sort of way.

Have fun and keep us informed about your trip.

12:05 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home