Wicker furniture

Jul23

Wicker furniture are present in the homes of mankind for thousands of years. They came in fashion often in modern times and disappeared again. Nowadays this type of furniture is referred with furnishing of gardens and patios. In old times, they could be found in the homes of peasants just as in the castles of the nobles – in a different way of course.
The name above is a summary of products made of floral materials with handmade weaving technique. Several plants are used for this purpose: willow twig, rush, bamboo, sisal (seagrass), rattan, cane. All of them are well paintable and warnishable, this way the not so old, boring pieces can be easily renewed. Basically, there are two groups of wicker furniture: the whole piece was made by this technique or only the back/seat is woven filling the frame. The latter can be found among classic English and French furniture as well as in simple pieces made by the Shakers. This type of furnishing became popular again thanks to the penetration of shabby chic and country styles.
When buying wicker furniture, prefer the ones made of natural materials instead of fake made of plastic. Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the proper pieces.

Antique-vintage-retro

Jul16

The following three words are commonly used in interior design and related books. Sometimes still it’s not obvious when to use which.
Antique: marker of furniture, objects of art, or artisanship older than 100 years, independently of style. Its age, originality, condition, the manufacturer and rarity is important for collectors (full collection in case of a set). A restoration gives them back their original pomp.
Vintage: marker of objects that are younger than 100 but older than 15 years, concerning rather to their condition than age. It is a classification of strongly used, shabby surfaced furniture and household objects which marks even a style. It means rethought, reused, modified/renewed objects also. Giving vintage look to a new object is a distinct genre. It is not equivalent with the shabby chic style.
Retro: marker of household and decoration objects of years from the 50s to (presently) the 80s. Their age is old „only”. It is also a marker of objects that are new but made look like in the style or shapes of this era. Collectors are motivated by nostalgia and emotional bondage but of course originality and condition are also important. Retro has a pejorative meaning, “out of fashion”.
In case of uncertainty, ask for help of a professional dating an object.

Staircase-bench

Jul11

Dead spaces created by staircases can be useful with a built-in bench, which not only provides comfortable seating but could be focal point in a big but monotone space

Patterns of wood

Jun25

In case of not solid wood products that have wooden patterns, the production companies try to help customers with the name which indicates the real wood it was inspired by. The fantasy name commonly has two parts: one of them is the name of the natural wood (e.g. oak), the other one refers to the color (e.g. mocha) but could refer to the origin (e.g. American) or to the surface (e.g. rustic) also. Almost all companies have different products under even the same natural wood name. This way the customer is in a hard situation if he or she would like to have an integrated look in e.g. the kitchen by choosing a laminated floor and countertop with the same pattern.
Let’s see some common types of wood of the temperate zone and their short characterization, without limitation (for raw, untreated surface).
Oak: The color is yellowish brown. The pattern is strong, gives an almost masculine look to the product. It is very durable because of the high tannic acid content. This is the most commonly used wooden material in furniture industry.
Pine: The color is from yellowish white to reddish brown, depends on the species. The pattern is strong, characteristic, nervure is frequently spotted with nodes. It is cheap, easy-to-work with, well stainable.
Beech: The color is reddish white (smoked flesh color). The pattern is homogeneous with hardly visible, soft nervure. It is well-turnable, well-bendable when smoked.
Maple: The color is white, sometimes with yellowish tint. The pattern is equable, soft designed because of the light color. It is sectile without splints, well bleachable and stainable.
Cherry: Reddish brown color which deepens with time. The nervure is decorative, softer than oak. It is well polishable with grinding.
Walnut: The color is greyish brown. Lacquering shows the nervure at the best. It is well carvable. The nervure of walnut root is rich, multicolored and strong. It is exotic, therefore it’s expensive.
If the same pattern and color is important when choosing products with the imitation of wood, it is recommended to take a sample of the existent furniture (e.g. a shelf) or the other chosen sample product to the shop for comparing them.
Ask for help of an interior designer for the perfect accordance.

Shutters DIY

Jun20

Creatively repurposed old shutters

Brown kitchen cabinets

Jun8

Dark brown kitchen cabinets are not so popular recently, though combined with sutable elements (lighting, countertop, backsplash, wall colour) can be very attractive

Wooden panelled fridges

Jun6

Wooden panelled refridgerators are perfectly fit into classic style kitchens

Rococo

Jun4

Rococo came to be in France at the beginning of the 18th century and was popular until the 1780s. The origin of the name is the word rocaille which is a mix of pebbles, cement and seashells. The new style was a kind of rebellion against the rigidity of Baroque. The nobles desired more free, playful and more decorated surroundings after the death of Louis XIV. It culminated under the reign of Louis XV., in which his lover, Madame Pompadour had a great role also.
Rococo is actually a decorating style. Everything was decorated with carvings and gypsum decors, mostly gilded. There were twisty vine scrolls, flower and fruit garlands, C and S volutes, shell motifs around pictures/mirrors, on furniture (especially on console tables, commodes and tables), on the walls of the rooms and also on the ceiling. Genres came in fashion in painting which reflected the idealized thoughts and desires of the nobles about the world (e.g. A. Watteau, F. Boucher). Slightly looser themes weren’t taboos anymore at all, not only mythological figures were depicted without clothes and/or in piquant settings. Toile de Jouy pattern visualized the pastoral idyll which was „born” in that time. Chinoiserie was an important part of Rococo also which brought the far Eastern culture in the royal courts. Furniture was lacquered, decorated with painted scenes, ormolu and inlays became popular. Colors were muted, white and pastel shades were fashionable. Thanks to the formation of the European porcelain producing, miniature statues and figures appeared. These were placed on the mantelpiece or console table as decorating elements. Their theme was joy or love. There were many lace trimmings, ribbons, bows and embroideries on the clothes, powdered wigs and gloves were important accessories. The institution of salon appeared where the chosen companionship gathered and lived a vivid intellectual life. Rococo style gave a special surrounding for this.
From today’s point of view, Rococo might be a bit „too much”. However, it can be replaced into today’s interiors also with holding in the amount of gildings and decorations and handling the main features as only examples. Ask for help of an interior designer for this.

Decoration motifs 1.

May23

Classic architectural and furniture decoration motifs: acanthus leaf, caryatid (female figure used instead of a column), egg and dart

Dark brown furniture

May7

Light, painted furniture are more and more fashionable nowadays thanks to the popularity of shabby chic, vintage and country styles. Most of us immediately think of painting the antique and inherited dark(er) brown furniture to make them fit in the white, grey or cream interior where only the very light shades of wood are used for furnishing. But old pieces can be fitted in a stylish way without painting them, in their original pomp.
A showy piece of furniture can be a real focal point in a fashionable „white” interior. In fact, the dark color doesn’t fade into the view, on the contrary, it strikes the eye and underlines the light surroundings. So it’s expedient to choose a beautiful or a valuable piece of furniture which we gladly show to our guest also.
Using an antique piece will show a much more integrated view where the floor is made of darker wood. We can unite the sight by brown picture frames, upholstered chairs with dark legs, antique brass/black lamps, dark stair railing – depending on the purpose of the room.
Pastel colors (light blue, light green, powder etc.) used by the styles mentioned above don’t preclude placing dark, even lacquered furniture in the room. Naturally this is true in case of any color hue, if the colors of the furniture and the room are matched. If the surrounding remains light (proper lighting), the upshot will be truly sophisticated and invitingly cozy.
Really dark painted walls are braver but more and more frequent solutions in homes. An inherited piece of furniture can prevail here, in its original condition. If we choose a cold shade of color, for example dark blue, dark grey or even black, the piece of furniture will mark out from it by not only its lighter shades but its warm brown surface contrasting with the cold color of the walls. Maybe this results a more masculine style, but the coziness remains.
If we are doubtless sure of painting it white, it’s worth of combining them: leave some parts of the furniture in original color, namely dark brown. This can be the top of it in case of a chest of drawers, the tabletop of a table but any other combination looks good. This way we can show its beauty beside integrating it in its surroundings.
Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the proper antique furniture.