Mission Style vs Art Deco
What a Week at the Grove Park Inn Taught Me About Two Iconic Design Movements
Spending a week at the Grove Park Inn is like moving into a live museum of Mission style architecture, and that’s exactly what Eric and I did this year. Eric was there working the CHPRMS conference, connecting with hospital marketing teams who use Reputation.com’s software to improve how they communicate with the real people navigating our healthcare system. While he focused on making hospital messaging more human, I turned the Grove Park into my temporary office and observation studio.
I handled contracts, STR inquiries, rental requests, and HOA business from quiet corners framed in stone and oak. And for my birthday, Eric sent me to the spa for a massage, a facial, and an entire afternoon without screens, which is in fact, the greatest gift you can give someone whose work life lives behind a screen.
The week also gave me time to reconnect with two friends from West Henderson High School, Tracie Brown and Daniel Wankel, along with his wife Anne, who live in Hendersonville. We had hoped to meet up with my transaction coordinator, Danielle Hoffman, too, but she wasn’t feeling well. Between visits, work, and evenings by the giant stone fireplace, I kept noticing just how grounding truly intentional architecture can be. We were surprised to find out the massive historic hearth now uses gas logs instead of real wood, but it still radiates that signature Grove Park energy.
And, of course, the gingerbread competition was on display. My favorite: a gingerbread Tiki Bar with architectural commitment so serious it could have applied for historic designation.
Gingerbread Tiki Bar display at the Grove Park Inn gingerbread competition with detailed sugar palm trees and characters.
But here’s what I didn’t expect: the rugs would become the design puzzle that followed me all week.
Walking those hallways, I kept stopping to study the carpets. The bold florals. The organized geometry. The stylized lines that felt both deeply Mission and just a step away from early Art Deco. It made me see both design languages with fresh eyes, and it sent me on a hunt for affordable versions that won’t require mortgaging a kidney.
Below is the full breakdown of how Mission and Art Deco differ, how they overlap, and how the Grove Park Inn quietly demonstrates the unexpected connection between them.
Mission Style at the Grove Park Inn
Mission style is the backbone of the Grove Park. Heavy timber beams, stonework you could anchor a ship to, and furniture built with the same stubborn reliability as the NC Condominium Act.
Here we are in the middle of it:
Joy and Eric at the Grove Park Inn sunset bar with mountain skyline visible through large Mission style windows
Even the bathrooms carry through the Mission aesthetic with warm wood and tile:
I love the shape of this pedestal tub! Historic Grove Park Inn bathroom with hex tile floor, pedestal tub, white subway tile, and Mission style wood trim. This was the bath in our second room located in the original building of the Grove Park. The rooms was lovely but the plumbing in this hotel’s main building was 3-star. Also the step up into the bath was awkward and in both rooms we stayed.
Mission style is rooted in the Arts and Crafts movement and is defined by:
honest craftsmanship
real wood
visible joinery
simple lines
earthy palettes
The Grove Park is one of the country’s best preserved examples.
The Rugs That Sparked My Art Deco Curiosity
Here’s the first rug that caught my eye. Mission in its bones but rhythmically organized in a way that flirts with Deco geometry.
Green Mission style floral rug at the Grove Park Inn with Arts and Crafts block patterns and stylized blossoms
Then this peach and gray floral rug stopped me in my tracks. Still Mission, but the layout? That’s a Deco cousin waving from across the room.
Peach and gray Art Nouveau inspired hallway rug at the Grove Park Inn with flowing botanical poppy and tulip motifs.
How to Bring the Look Home Without Spending a Fortune
Quick Guide: Mission vs Art Deco
| Feature | Mission Style | Art Deco |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Late 1800s to early 1900s | 1920s to 1930s |
| Philosophy | Handcrafted honesty, simplicity | Modernity, glamor, geometry |
| Materials | Oak, stone, hammered metal | Chrome, glass, exotic woods |
| Colors | Earth tones | Jewel tones, black, gold |
| Motifs | Nature, leaves, floral blocks | Sunbursts, zigzags, stylized forms |
| Feel | Grounded, warm, functional | Bold, symmetrical, dramatic |
| At Grove Park | Furniture, beams, architecture | Rug geometry, stylized florals |
Where to Find Grove Park Style Rug Knockoffs
1. Overstock
Wide budget-friendly selection.
overstock.com
Search: arts and crafts rug, william morris rug, peach gray floral rug
2. Wayfair
Great Mission & Art Nouveau variety.
wayfair.com
Search: Safavieh Heritage Collection, art nouveau floral rug, botanical rug
3. Revival Rugs
Vintage and Art Nouveau-inspired finds.
revivalrugs.com
Search: art nouveau, botanical, floral
More Reliable Sources
4. RugsUSA
Affordable botanical and vintage styles.
rugsusa.com
Search: vintage floral rug, botanical green rug, art nouveau rug
5. Amazon
Surprisingly strong Nouveau knockoffs.
amazon.com
Search: art nouveau rug, arts and crafts rug, william morris rug
6. Rug Studio (Higher-End)
Best close-match reproductions.
rugstudio.com
Search: Morris & Co, arts and crafts wool rug
Pro Tip: The best keywords are: Arts and Crafts, William Morris, Art Nouveau, Botanical Green, and Peach Gray Floral. These consistently bring up styles closest to the Grove Park Inn rugs.
You can get similar aesthetics without the Grove Park price tag.
Search:
“Arts and Crafts rug”
“Mission style rug”
“William Morris rug”
“Deco floral rug”
“Art Nouveau rug”
Art Nouveau sits between Mission and Deco stylistically, which makes it the perfect keyword for budget friendly versions.
Local spots worth checking:
Area rug outlets
Facebook Marketplace (with caution and gloves)
Final Thoughts
That week at the Grove Park reminded me why I love both Mission and Art Deco. Each style has its strengths, its story, and its place in American architecture. The Grove Park Inn showcases Mission so beautifully that it becomes impossible not to notice the subtle overlaps with Deco hiding in plain sight.
And yes, you can bring the look home. You just need the right keywords, the right structure, and the right willingness to mix the styles intentionally instead of accidentally creating a design version of an HOA violation.
If you want help selecting rugs, staging your home, or navigating the aesthetic identity of a Greensboro property, I’m here with an opinion to share on style and aestetics but have a firm belief that your own personal style has no “wrong” way.
