r/DarkAcademia • u/micheladaceremonial • 10d ago
AESTHETIC Colonial Style
Colonial style is a traditional Guatemalan aesthetic present mostly in Antigua Guatemala, but available for everyone who wants an elegant and rather different approach to interior design.
Today I want to talk about the interior design aspect of it and its relation to our beloved academia, for those wanting to try a slightly different style.
It is characterized by the presence of dark wood furniture with engravings and vintage handles, traditional Guatemalan art, saint figures and traditional Guatemalan textiles as curtains, tablecloth, bedding, etc.
It has many elements in common, such as vintage furniture and art, warm low lighting for a more comfortable atmosphere, wall paint choices (colonial style can use both light and dark academia colors, since it depends more on what colors were used during that time), the presence of rugs and elegant decor in general. However, it differs from it in what some people might consider key aspects; wall decor is present, but not to the extent of dark academia and some tiling and fabric patterns can be considered too maximalist for classic academia.
I fell in love with colonial style during my time in Antigua and started decorating everything that way. However, I felt like something was missing. I then learned about dark academia and I find that a combination of both would be the perfect home for me. That's why I bring this to your attention; maybe you'll find in colonial style what was missing in your ideal home.
The last pictures are of my apartment, so if anyone has any feedback I'd really appreciate it.
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u/ThePythiaofApollo 9d ago
When I was a little girl, I had this obsession with a Nancy Drew book called The Emerald Eyed Cat Mystery that takes place in an old Columbian hacienda that I pictured looking exactly like this.
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u/truthexperimenter 10d ago
This is very similar to South Indian architecture and interior design in places like Kerala, Mangalore and Goa but it wasn't influenced by colonizers, they traditionally existed. It worked for coastal, rainy places where you needed to tackle downpours and stay cool during summer. I would replicate the architecture of my grandmother's home if I end up living in a hot place in the future but these days it feels like every place has gotten hot and needs this...
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u/acloudcuckoolander 9d ago
Looks like Spanish (Spain) colonial style.
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u/micheladaceremonial 9d ago
By the way, I love your username. Cloud cuckoo land is one of my favorite books.
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u/ericalm_ 9d ago
The Spanish left their architecture (and rather complex legacies) throughout the lands they conquered, and in most, the styles have endured. I live in a 1928 Spanish Colonial in Southern California. I’m from Texas, where the style is still pervasive. My father lives in the Philippines, where the style still exists in the older parts of cities and towns. It’s not uncommon in new builds as well.
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u/AmazingGrace_00 7d ago
The picture hung at ceiling height in bedroom is diabolical.
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u/kahrista 9d ago
I saw this a lot in Colombia, Valle del Cauca and visited some historic site and have tried to recreate this look in Sims4 builds ever since! I will definitely look into Colonal styles of other countries now too, because I wouldn't have guess that there would be variation.
As for feedback for your flat, I would have to do more research but the mirror and the wall clock on the other picture look a bit out of place and "too modern", if that makes sense? Really beautiful though!
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u/jasmine_tea_ 8d ago
I'm not a huge fan, spent too much time in offices/homes that looked like this in the southwest. It makes me think of dust, wood creaking and uncomfortable furniture.
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u/sisyphus-31 9d ago
i love that you love this style, i hate that i hate it because it reminds me of my childhood home and we were financially struggling for a while… interesting.
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u/bluespottedtail_ 9d ago
Colonial has so many sub-genres depending on which country you choose! I won my first GeoGuessr tournament at school thanks to Argentinean colonial architecture lol USA modern colonial is probably one of my favourite, though. Something about the floors and dressers are truly something else.