Three design lessons to learn from the 1990s

It could be argued that few periods have seen such aesthetic contrast as the 1990s. This was a decade that took us from the frill-tastic hangover of the 1980s – incorporating theatrical flourishes and a generous use of fabric, pattern and paint – to the less-is-more practicality and minimalism that characterised the early 2000s. Having perused the House & Garden archives from January 1990 to December 1999, Rémy Mishon highlights distinctive ideas that could work just as well today.

Lesson 1: introduce a theatrical look

As seen on this cover from August 1992, bedrooms were often the crowning glory of houses in the early 1990s, providing an opportunity to create elaborate fabric arrangements and to fill the space with pattern and colour. The best examples retained a sense of drama, while also being comfortable. But these treatments were not always confined to bedrooms.

In the Paris apartment below, the hallway has been transformed into an opulent space that creates a sense of anticipation for the rooms beyond. Walls and doors lined in tightly pleated red and green striped fabric provide a sumptuous backdrop for antique furniture and a large painting, while a pair of kilims stands out on the black-painted floor.

The Parisian home of American actor and model Marisa Berenson (below) has a charming extravagance. In front of the sweeping, double-swagged bed hangings in the same Braquenié floral print as the walls is a scroll-armed daybed she inherited from her grandmother Elsa Schiaparelli. Together with the under-curtains and lamp, the plain upholstery balances the strong pattern and ensures it does not overwhelm the space.

Wendy Nicholls of Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler has enhanced the architectural features of this Palladian-style villa in Barbados (below) with an elegant vaulted bed canopy, which mirrors the curved lines of the french windows. The delicate blue trim and sheer organza curtains with darker blue rosettes are complemented by a Simon Playle chinoiserie fabric on the headboard and valance.