Mattress

Jan23

Never buy a bed mattress by someone’s opinion/recommendation! Always try the different types of mattresses and choose the most comfortable one.

Ancient Egypt

Nov30

Ancient Egyptian seats

Varnish

Nov26

Varnished surfaces are common on antique furniture. This is a high-gloss and hard coating which is transparent enough to show the nervure of the wood. It was applied from the end of the 17th century to the 1920-30s, until the appearance of artificial lacquers.
Shellac is an animal-origin resin, the phlegm of the lice called Laccifer lacca, living on trees. Varnish is the alcoholic solution of this. Its color range is from yellow to brown.
The surface of the furniture has to be prepared properly for varnishing. The wood is grinded in several steps with more and more fine grinding paper. The surface is burnished for reaching the desired color then the next step is immersing with vegetable oil. The latter highlights the nervure of the wood. The pores of the wood are sealed during priming. A completely flat surface is created by using pumice-dust and 7% varnish. The first polish is done after drying with a so-called varnish ball and 7% varnish. The second polish is done after grinding, with 5% varnish. The final polish is done with 2% varnish and polishing ball (e.g. linen, industrial cotton wool, raw wool). The polishing is actually the removal of the oil from the layers. This gives the final shine of the furniture.
Varnish is a very durable and noble but expensive and sensitive surface. The direct sunshine and heat (for example near the radiator) can harm it. It needs proper care: only alcohol and solvent free detergent can be used and avoid wax and silicone-containing products. It mustn’t be cleaned with wet rag. Remove dust it with a soft cloth. Repairing of the injured varnish is a time-consuming task, leave it to a professional.
Ask for help of an interior designer for placing your antique furniture properly, even in modern surroundings.

Decoration motifs 2.

Oct24

Classic architectural and furniture decoration motifs: palmette, volute (scroll), meander

Different handles

Sep12

Use different handles/knobs on the lower and upper kitchen cabinets or doors and drawers – the effect will be more stirring

Around the tree

Sep7

Tree bench – cosy sitting place below the autumn foliage

Upholstery decorations

Sep3

Upholstered furniture is often custom made also, mostly because of the lack of space. In this case, we generally settle for discussing only the sizes, materials to be used and their colors with the manufacturer. However, only a few people think about adding some plus to the planned furniture which makes it really unique and an ornament of the home. In the palette of classic styles there are accessories which deserve to spend the time with.
Bolting decoration is for highlighting the contour of the furniture and for hiding the upholstery joints. Nowadays the metal bolts are not individually nailed in but can be purchased in a band. There is a version in which just every fifth or sixth bolt is real, the others between have no spikes. We can choose among several colors at professional upholsterers (e.g. antique copper, black, matte silver, golden).
Keder is also for highlighting the contours and suggests professional workmanship. This is actually an embossed, sewn hemming. An edge with a different color than the upholstery provides an elegant look. We can even play with it, for example if the sofa and the armchairs are the inverse in color of each other. Namely the upholstery of the sofa is similar to the keder of the armchair and vice versa.
The fringy passementerie on the bottom of the seating furniture hides its legs. This commonly harmonizes with the color of the upholstery. Its length depends on the height of the leg of the furniture. If is the legs are not so decorative, it’s worth to apply this: the sight will be more complex, however the cleaning ability remains.
Trimmings are a woven, maybe embroidered decoration ribbons which are placed on the joining of the wooden frame and the upholstery. They are applied mostly on chairs, having also decorating and covering functions. They usually harmonize with the color of the upholstery except when the aim is to show the contour of the furniture.
Deep buttoning is known by Chesterfield furniture. Upholstery fabric is sewn in the cushion and fixed on the back. Button is sewn after this in the hole. This is mostly a handmade procedure. The button is covered with the fabric of the upholstery. It is very spectacular in the case of leather and fabric also.
Ask for help of an interior designer for similar solutions and designing unique furniture.