Woods

May8

Usage of natural wood has a prominent role in interior design. Mankind used it in their homes from the very beginning, because it always meant an easily accessible, workable and decorated material. Floor covering, furniture, wall paneling, domestic objects, decorating ornaments were made of it, moreover still whole houses are built using only wood.
Wooden materials are separated into two groups: softwood and hardwood. It refers to the hardness of the material, how resistant it is against mechanical impacts. The elements of the previous group (e.g. pines, aspen, willow) are much more easily workable, but the latters (e.g. oak, beech, ebony) are much more durable.
When using wood, care should be taken to ensure, the used material is not faulty, since the durability and aesthetics of the product is the issue. The stunted growth (e.g. tortuosity, knur), spots caused by pests (e.g. fungus, dry rot, wood-beetle) and by inappropriate storage (e.g. casting, crack) worsen the capabilities of usage. A good professional notices these and chooses only fine quality material.
The surface of the wood should be treated. This could be oiling, when the oil soaks into the surface, but the nervure and the original color remains clearly visible. This is true for waxing also. Lacquering creates a translucent protective layer on the surface of the material. After burnishing the nervure remains visible also, but the color changes. Painting covers both the color and the pattern of the wood (in case of a less decorative wooden material, this is a good choice).
Examine with a professional’s eye the wood furniture or building elements, bought used or brand new. In case of uncertainty, ask for help of a wood specialist about the chosen pieces before purchasing.
If you also would like to see the beauty of solid wood in your home, ask for help of an interior designer for planning.

Wall clocks

May3

The good wall clock not only functional but fits perfectly into the style of the interior

Wallpapered cabinet

Apr26

Put wallpaper into boring cabinets for making them unique furniture

Spring details

Apr7

Spring is in the details

Hiding arches

Mar20

Arch was very popular some decades ago, especially in shaping inner doorways and pass-through windows. Nowadays most of us want to get rid of them while renewal. If these arches were created by drywall, it’s easy to remove them. But it is time-consuming, dirtier and more costly in the case of the arches were built as part of the wall. Not sure if the owner has an opportunity for this. Let’s see some methods to hide or integrate them without demolishing.
Curtaining is the simplest solution. This can be used not only on windows but inner doorways also. Cover the upper, curved part of the arch with drapery and form a rectangular shape by the side curtains. We can apply a blind instead of drapery in the case of windows.
Inner openings without doors can be closed by a rectangular door if the upper part of the arch is built up. If the opening is not tall enough for this, but there is enough space on both sides of it, we can place an outside-wall sliding door also. The door panel should be oversized to cover the curved part. Place it on the side from which the sight of the arch is more annoying (from communal area, front door).
Put a mirror in the unused pass-through window and a console table or a chest of drawers under it. Although the arch remains, the picture in the mirror distracts one’s attention from its shape and makes the space useful.
Inserting shelves into the arched pass-through window results an excellent storage and displaying space. This way decoration objects are in the focus instead of the shape.
Ask for help of an interior designer for further solutions.

Variations 7.

Mar3

Variations for a theme: fruits

Visual space improving

Feb20

Many people encounter the problem that the size or shape of a room in an apartment or house is not suitable. If there is no money, time or opportunity to break down the wall, changing visual effects can improve the overall picture and the sense of space.
Colors will help in this. In general, cold colors make the room more spacious, warm colors narrow the space. However, it’s not all the same, how these colors are dark/light or saturated/unsaturated. Besides these, all the rooms have six sides (commonly): the four walls, the floor and the ceiling. Let’s use all of them for getting the desired effect!
The too high ceiling is not always an advantage. Even the furnished room can be rigid and hollow. If the ceiling is painted in dark color according to the walls and floor, it is felt closer, so its height can be visually lower. The total effect will be much more friendly and inviting even if a cold color was chosen for this. The opposite effect can be reached with the combination of dark walls and light ceiling, if the ceiling is low.
If a room is tube-like and feels tight and narrow, it is practical to paint the opposite short wall dark, this way it will feel much closer. On the contrary, if the two side walls are darker, the opposite wall seems to be much farther. This is a sensual illusion but improves the feeling of coziness.
Also in general, the floor should be the darkest among the six sides because it anchors the space and provides a steady base. On the contrary, the too light floor compared to the others makes the sense of insecurity when entering.
Contrast is determinative in all the cases above! Example: sand floor, white ceiling and pastel blue walls > these colors are visually close to each other, so the total effect will be six light sides, independently from the fact that the floor is the darkest among them.
Ask for help of an interior designer for the perfect planning.

Old wall paneling

Feb15

If there is no money or time for exchange the old wall paneling, let’s paint it for a fresher look

Paisley

Feb13

Paisley pattern is a drop-shaped, floral pattern curving at the end. It can have different names in different cultures, for example: cypress, mango, almond.
It has eastern origin which got to Europe by the East India Company in the second half of the 17th century. Later it became really popular by the silk and wool cashmere scarves which were imported and brought home from the Indian colonies. Their prices were quite high.
The mass production of the printed paisley patterned fabrics started in Marseilles and this was followed later by England and Holland. However, the weaving machine, which appeared during the industrial revolution, made possible to copy the pattern. The largest production company was in Paisley in Scotland, the pattern was named also after this town. They worked with five colors since 1800, while other companies worked with only two colors. 15 colors were used since 1860 on the same piece which was still the quarter of the color usage of the original imported fabrics. It was produced in Paisley not only as a woven wool fabric but as printed cotton also. The latter was much cheaper, this way it reached a wide range of people. The original fabric was still imported in a big amount because it was so popular.
The beat generation in the 60s loved to wear paisley patterned clothes. Nowadays paisley has kept its oriental character but it fits for several classic styles because of its wide range of size and color. Even the align of the pattern isn’t set. It appears not only on upholsteries but on wallpaper, carpets and accessories also.
If you also like this pattern, ask for help of an interior designer for the choice fitting for your home.

Thonet furniture

Jan23

Michael Thonet became world-famous as the pioneer of bent furniture. He was born in 1796 in Germany. He experimented with streaming technology since 1830, where wood is bent to form with streaming and it keeps its shape while cooling in the form. At the exhibition in Koblenz in 1841, Duke Metternich noticed him and invited him to Wien, where one year later he got the right from the court for producing. He founded a factory with his sons and they began the machine-production in 1850. He won bronze medal on the London World Exhibition in 1851.
Chair no.4. was their first model which was produced for Café Daum. Simplicity is the point of the chairs. A single U-shaped back joins to the round seat which continues in the legs back. The front legs are slightly curved also. The legs are connected with a round stiffener. The used wood material has cylindrical shape. This base model was varied in several ways later and they offered many possibilities for filling the back also. Model no.14. became the most popular which was modified only with a bent arm according to the mentioned above.
Thonet’s success was due to the fact that his furniture perfectly fit to the organic style of Art Nouveau, blooming in that times. They were featured by ease, material saving and durability. Besides the several chairs, tables, coat stands, cradles etc. were also produced.
He won the gold medal on the Paris World Exhibition in 1867. The firm became world-famous. Thonet furniture are still produced, they are in fashion again. Old pieces can be renewed easily by painting and fit to the modern taste.
Ask for help of an interior designer for renewing your inherited pieces for the style of your home.