Wrought Iron Designs

Wrought iron designs signify a dynamic relationship with nature, one that references the four cardinal elements of earth, air, fire and water. It is beauty wrapped in architectural elements. And that is why Exterior Worlds recommends wrought iron to our clients.

In the construction process, possibilities for wrought iron design are based on a linear structure. It starts with building a sturdy and stable framework that is then filled with decorative artistry. By highlighting the technical aspects, the blacksmith stresses the material’s strength and, at the same time, validates the design aesthetic.

Thus, the typical working outline for the blacksmith-artisan includes the functional and aesthetic aspects, any economic considerations, construction methods that provide durability, solidness and rigidity, and the final dimensions.

We use wrought iron within the landscape lexicon to create easy transitions into exterior spaces such as using an ornamental iron railing across a multi-level courtyard. With a wrought iron fence, wrought iron gate or a fence around a luxury swimming pool, we can emphasize flexible living zones. Additionally, we have found that wrought iron can vary the experience as when we use it in an outdoor gazebo or as a wrought iron trellis that divides an outdoor kitchen from a grassy area. Sometimes it can be a simple focal point. A wrought iron wall element hung on a fence is an elegant addition to the landscape. A single antique ornamental iron object d’art is equally effective.

Wrought iron can accentuate your intention within a themed landscape. A Castilian cathedral grille, French gothic door-knockers, or elaborate iron lanterns from England in a formal landscape design, for example. We also encourage our clients to match their choice of wrought iron design to the architecture of their home.

In general, we think you are well served when you choose an ornamental iron design style that is natural to the region—which is perfect for Houston and our semi-tropical climate that so closely resembles the Mediterranean. Wrought iron recalls the ancient cultures that grew up along the Mediterranean—the Phoenicians, Arabs, Romans, Greeks, Moors and Carthaginians.

When the earliest settlers of the New World arrived on these shores, they brought the skill and artistry of wrought iron with them. It continued to flourish in the U.S. With the wrought iron designs of the Art Deco period in the 1920s and 1930s, Americans had their own outlook and muses. Specifically, they drew inspiration from the geometries of Native American art forms—for example, the stark and poetic pottery of the Hopi tribes, the intricate beadwork of the Sioux and the storied blankets of the Navajo.

Other American art deco artists were stimulated by regionalism—Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie style are two of the more well-known examples. Local flora and fauna were also spotlighted. In the Deep South, you can find magnolias and pelicans in art deco designs.

All that is to say—the beauty of wrought iron has captivated us for centuries. It conveys a sense of soul. It connects us to our history.

Since 1987, Exterior Worlds has provided high-end landscape design and services for the greater Houston area.