Greene & Greene Furniture: Poems of Wood & Light – by David Mathias
My favorite furniture style is Craftsman, but sometimes it can be a bit too stark and blocky for my tastes. That refers mostly to the Stickley and Roycroft designs. The Craftsman styles that originated in England tend to be more decorative than I prefer (though not always). Designs by Frank Lloyd Wright fit my sense of style better. And then there is Greene & Greene.
If you are unfamiliar with Greene & Greene, you owe it to yourself to see their work. If you don’t live in California and don’t have access to their work in “real life,” then a book like this is a great alternative. There are several books available about Greene & Greene and each one seems to add to the collective knowledge rather than replace any other reference. In this case, author David Mathias has provided many photographs showing design details which I have not seen elsewhere. Also included in this book are reproductions of some of the Greenes’ original drawings; something which sheds additional light on the architects’ design process.
The text in the book details the influences on the Greenes’ work, as well as the effect the local geography and climate had on their designs. There is also an examination of the various design elements that the Greenes used and how they were implemented in different houses. The text and photos complement each other well.
The element of the Greenes’ designs that attracts me most are the rounded and eased edges. Everything they designed has, to my mind, a sensuous quality to it. If I were to walk into a Greene & Greene designed house full of their furniture, I would probably want to touch everything I saw. The designs practically invite that kind of intimacy.
For a good grounding in Greene & Greene design, this book is a good place to start. In truth, it is complete enough that you could finish with the book, too, and still have an excellent understanding of the Greene & Greene style.
(Finished 3/29/12)