Frances Adler Elkins
Frances Adler Elkins (7 November 1888 – 26 August 1953), was one of the twentieth century's most prominent female designers.[1] She was the sister of architect David Adler. Their travels together in Europe inspired her passion for design. She found inspiration in the work of Jean-Michel Frank and Alberto Giacometti.[1] She developed an eclectic and bold style through the use of color and furnishings. Elkins had the tendency to mix time periods and styles in nearly every room she completed. During the 1930s, Elkin's reputation spread, giving her the title "decorator of choice" in San Francisco. By the end of her career, she had collaborated with Adler to complete fifteen large scale houses.[2]
History
Frances Adler Elkins was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1888. She did not attend college and married Felton Broomall Elkins in 1917. They had 3 children together: Frances Adler Elkins, Katherine F. Elkins Boyd and Charles W. Elkins.[2] Frances and Felton divorced in 1924 leaving Frances a single mother of 3. She turned to design to make a living, becoming quite popular in California.[1] She designed residential areas such as the Haas Apartment (California), the North Shore House (Illinois) and the Winslow House (California) as well as commercial buildings like the Del Monte Properties Company (California). She died aged 64 in San Francisco.[2]
Style
Elkins' style can be described as sophisticated eclectic with a combination of antique and modern themes. She tried to match the design to the client's personality and characteristics including color palette and individual pieces of furniture. Elkins also liked to use colors as contrast as well as a unifying factor in the room. She liked patterns and used a lot of stripes and checkerboard in her flooring and drapes.
Bibliography
- The Great Lady Decorators: The Women Who Defined Interior Design, 1870-1955 by Adam Lewis (2010), Rizzoli, New York. ISBN 978-0-8478-3336-8
- Frances Elkins by Stephen M Salny; Frances Elkins, New York Norton (2005), ISBN 978-0-3937-3146-0
References
- 1 2 3 Salny, Stephen (April 2005). "Frances Elkins A Fresh Look at the Designer’s Visionary Work in California". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- 1 2 3 "Elkins, Frances". Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD). Retrieved 11 March 2012.
External links
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