Shopfront: Retrospectives invariably renew interest in an artist and such is the case with Tamara de Lempicka, the painter whose images reflect the zeitgeist of Paris in the 1930s, writes Eoin Lyons

Most of her better-known works are included in a current exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. It's become a must see and what often tends to happen with such a popular show is that the style of the art is taken up either by fashion or furniture designers.

While the furniture here was designed long before the exhibition opened, expect to see more 1930s influenced furniture in coming months. The more refined elements of the 1930s look are always chic: in Milan, B&B Italia was inspired by 1930s designer Jacques Rhulmann.

Tamara de Lempicka was a great manipulator of image, not just through her art and how she allowed herself photographed: it extended to the buildings in which she lived. In the 1930s her Paris apartment was designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens, one of the most sought-after architects of the day, and was an extension of her personal and artistic style.

The all-grey interior with curving shapes and metallic finishes was a softer version of the hard Bauhaus look, just as her art was perhaps a softer version of Cubism.

Which brings us back to the pieces pictured here: they're all not strictly 1930s but you can see the influences. The extendable table by Eileen Grey, Lempicka's contemporary, is an exception of course.

Neither are any of the pieces art deco, which tends to be much more decorative. Instead the Hollywood-ish Mood sofa at Brown Thomas has gentle curving wings and Minima's oak-stained to ebony cabinet has a Japanese feel.

Casa Milano oak cabinet stained to ebony with brushed steel handles €4,100 at Minima, 6 Herbert Place, D2 (01 6627894);

Tamara de Lempicka at the Royal Academy in London runs until August 18th, tel 00 44 207 3008000