The idea for my jewelry box stems from two aesthetics. Minimalism or the Art Deco with a stained-glass addition. Minimalism from a personal standpoint is how I view my life and my spaces. I prefer simplicity, cleanliness, organization and natural earthy vibes. For that reason, the first idea would be a very plain and simple jewelry box. I have a few routes in mind to either keep the wood unfinished and as bare as possible, have a rustic wood look, or use a dark walnut finish. These tones would pair really well with setup I have in my home home and the apartment I live in now. My living room furniture in the apartment and the hardwood floors and bedroom furniture in my hometown would match really well with the dark wood vibe. When my friends come to my apartment they call it a “man cave” because they say it looks like a bachelor lives there. I have very little furnishings or décor unlike most women so I understand the sentiment.
Below are a few pictures of my home and the overall tones and finishes I am going for.
In stark contrast, church architecture and intricacy has always fascinated me. Vaulted ceilings, pointed arches, columns, and stained glass are very sharp features that stand out to the eye. Especially in European architecture and cathedrals you see a lot of these works. I’ve had the privilege of going to Europe a couple of times and visiting some of these feats of design. On the left is a picture I took inside St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The exterior architecture is more of an English baroque but I prefer to look at the intricate detailing of the walls combined with the very present gold accents. This gives off more Art Deco vibes in regard to the carvings with gold detailing. On the right is a picture I took in Italy in the Duomo di Milano. While the architecture itself is a more French gothic style, the focus is really on the interior stained glass pieces that reflect this sort of symbolism.
This is the same idea I would like to incorporate for the jewelry box. Maybe something that you would find at your grandma’s house with dust on it but nonetheless representing this styling.
Below are two sketches I created to reflect these very opposing aesthetics. The top as you can see is a very minimalistic approach with maybe a walnut wood finish and a simple graving of someone’s initials. On the bottom you see a more vibrant approach with the stained glass section on top and an art deco pattern with gold accents and a brass hinge. Still 50/50 on what direction I will go because I genuinely like and would be content with both products. I’ve never worked with stained glass so that could be a fun challenge to undertake.
Citations:
Dark Walnut. Flooring Brother Discount Floors. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.floorbros.com/vinyl/amtico/wood-72-x-48/dark-walnut/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2cWgBhDYARIsALggUhpP45VqPoxJ88PveBUwm3w9cQipAvB6gaNhXfmR5jCkKhMhjBIHmZ8aAme8EALw_wcB
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Hi Rachel, I also like stained glass art and I think using it in a jewelry box would look very elegant. I also know nothing about the process of the medium, but you should look into it, and give it a try! Something like the stained glass could really take your project to the next level, I can’t wait to see if you pursue it.
I definitely agree with your take on the intricacy of church/cathedral architecture. I’ve also always been fascinated by the extreme levels of detail and quality of artistry that was able to have been achieved so long ago. While I’m also a fan of the more simplistic/minimalist, “man cave” approach to interior design, I think that the colorful and intricate nature of the stained glass design could be a nice accent to the room. Maybe a combination where the lettering is stained glass but the rest of it is rustic wood?