Summary:

The main argument of this reading focuses on the idea that Elsie de Wolfe was an interior decorator who emphasized the idea of individuality and feminism in interior decoration/furniture. She was a firm believer in creating designs that were specific to individuals (specifically women who were married to wealthy men), while still being practical and comfortable. She was also known for using a combination of historical and new styles within homes, she wasn’t really opposed to any idea because she wanted to create whatever vision her client had in mind. 

Like I mentioned, de Wolfe worked with many women who were married to wealthy men. She met a lot of these women through the Colony Club that she designed. C.W. Harkness was the wife of a wealthy male and she was one of de Wolfe’s first clients. She lived in a very large house and wanted the interior to match the exterior. De Wolfe completed the project for her and it ended up highly resembling the Colony Club. Many of de Wolfe’s designs resembled the work she had done at the Colony Club. 

She also worked for a woman named Mrs. Ormond G. Smith. She was hired to decorate her entire house which included a large quantity of different types of rooms. This example shows how she valued individuality because she was able to individualize each room in the home. She used English, French and Chinese styles. She was known for mixing lots of different styles in order to achieve what her client had envisioned. 

Interpretation: Espresso Roma Individuality 

The main theme that I noticed when interpreting the reading was the idea that individuality of buildings and spaces is an important aspect in design. I think that Espresso Roma is a great example of individuality when it comes to the interior and the exterior of the building. 

The exterior of the building is unique and individualized, especially compared to the buildings surrounding it. Espresso Roma is painted a bright orange with blue accents. The buildings around it are just plain brick. It is clear that whoever owns Espresso Roma wanted it to stick out, but they also probably had a very fun and unique personality which can be seen through their design choices. 

The interior of the building also expresses individuality. It is not the most aesthetically pleasing decoration to look at but it is definitely individualized. The black and white checkered floors add a fun and functional element to the space. The wooden beams all around the store also give it a unique look, and it also kind of ties the design into other designs that you would usually see around Oregon stores. The yellow ceiling is also another fun aspect that is unique to Espresso Roma.

I think that whoever designed Espresso Roma did a good job of making the decoration individualized while also keeping it functional and comfortable. This is a good comparison to the work that Elsie de Wolfe did.