Cozy winter picnic – for braves only
Winter picnic
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Color of the year 2018
Firm Pantone announces the color of the next year in every December which has an effect on interior design also. Ultra Violet no. 18-3838 is the color of the year in 2018.
Scientifically, it is not a color but a range of short wavelength which is beyond the range of visible light. The color given by Pantone is a cool, vivid and middle strong hue which contains more blue. It can be used well on bigger surfaces also, but it should be counterweighted by neutral colors (black, white, brown, grey, beige) because of its vividness. It is not a food color, so it should be used moderately in the kitchen and dining room, rather only on accessories. It is a popular color since years, not only in interior design.
The purple color always signed or meant a specific or mysterious thing during the history and in symbolism. For example, it was the color of mourning in the French Royal House. It is the favorite color of the clothes of magicians and fairies in tales. It is popular among children also.
Ask for help of an interior designer for making the color of the year 2018 appear in your home in style.
Christmas cracker
Christmas cracker is a popular tradition in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Commonwealth countries. The happy and playful gift was adopted by many countries already, but it is frequently used on other festive or even birthday parties also.
Its base is a zig-zag segmented cardboard tube which is wrapped in color paper, just like a huge fondant. Commonly red, green and gold colors are dominant. When it is pulled apart by two people at its two ends, it has a mild bang sound. As to the tradition, it is a part of the Christmas table set, there is one of it on every plates of the guests. There are small objects inside the cracker: a paper crown (which is worn during the dinner), a quote or riddle, a small toy, for adults another small thing instead of toy (for example bijou).
Its origin dates back to the 1840s. It was invented by a sweets-seller in London, to wrap bonbons in a similar tube. When the sales began to decline, he did a trick and inserted love messages on papers near the sweets. The idea of adding the crackle element came when he heard the crackle of logs on the fire. The variation with presents was introduced and made popular by his son.
Christmas cracker set commonly of 3, 6 or 12 pieces are sold in several places in the Anglo-Saxon countries. It can be purchased in several sizes and all colors of the rainbow. The sets for children and adults are separated. However, it can be made easily by DIY with a toilet paper roll and a Christmas wrapping paper.
Let’s try this funny present this year if you would like to surprise your family at the festive table.
Cold-warm color groups
It frequently comes in everyday life that somebody likes cold colors, and somebody rather prefers warm ones. Anyway, few of them know what this really means.
Colors, namely the spectrum, can be visible by sunshine going through a prism. Violet is on the one end and red is on the other end of it. Based on physics, cold colors are with short wavelength and warms are with long wavelength. Commonly the known partition: purple, blue and green are cold colors and red, orange and yellow are the warms. But it is not so simple.
All color has cold and warm hues too, except for orange. For example, green can be colder or warmer depending on the fact that there is a larger amount of blue or yellow in it. But the difference is distinct if cobalt blue and turquoise blue are put beside each other. Cold-warm feel is realized commonly in relation to each other with the effects of the surroundings. Color theory based on seasons divides colors to four groups: spring = warm, bold colors, summer = cool, pastel colors, autumn = warm, earthy colors, winter = cold, vivid colors.
Cold colors widen the space, these objects seem to be farther. Warm colors on the contrary, narrow the space, these objects seem to be closer. Painting also takes advantage of these features for creating perspective, in interior design they can be used for improving the sense of space. Researches prove that an interior furnished with cold colors is felt 2-3 degrees cooler than a room furnished with warm colors at the same temperature.
Cold-warm contrast is an important tool when using contrasts. A spectacular and stirring effect can be reached not only in interior design but even in fashion too. The same color strength level is important or else light-shadow contrast comes into view which can even cause disharmony.
Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the proper colors and color-groups.
Dining area wall
If the dining area is in the kitchen or in the living room, it is a common solution to push the shorter side of the dining table to the wall and the family sitting around it this way. Its disadvantage is that the wall can get dirty easily. Not only because of spots caused by the spilled food, but by the hands of little children.
Using a washable wallpaper does not only make it easier keeping clean, but the room will get color and a focal point. We can choose among several washable wallpapers in shops, commonly these products are made for wet rooms. This way the dining area will be the integral part of the room and the table’s placement won’t be look as an emergency arrangement.
Using chalkboard paint gives an easily cleanable surface also, but the black color much more highlights the area. It provides great fun for kids. If we combine it with magnetic primer then we can have a mini family gallery on this surface.
Wall panel is a really elegant solution for the problem. It can be bought ready-made, but a carpenter also makes it uniquely for us. Its surface will be washable if treated with wood-paint and/or lacquer. Paneling the whole-room results a perfect classic mood.
The natural stone coverage will be water- and dirt-resistant after impregnation. There is an ultra thin stone-veneer plate which can transmit the light. Stone wallpaper could be also a good solution. All of them can be fixed with sticking. The latter two are flexible, so they can be applied even on curved surface.
A sandblasted, patterned glass plate looks good on a plain, painted wall, the color of the wall will highlight the pattern. Of course, it’s a bit harder to fix it but the manufacturing companies can do this too. We can hang a big framed mirror for this purpose also.
Ask for help of an interior designer for further ideas and solving similar problems.
TV2 interview
My interview by interior design series “Szépítők” of TV2 can be seen on this link. It starts right after the short introduction.
https://tv2.hu/musoraink/szepitok/245440_csokkentheto-a-lakashitel-osszege.html
Moroccan style
Moroccan style is one of the favorites among eastern interior trends. It means exoticism, mystery, fabulousness and eastern comfort to many people.
The architectural elements give the basis of the style. Its characteristic features are pointed arches, curved door openings, trellises and keyhole motifs. The yard of the houses is inside the building, separated from the outside world. On the one hand, they protect the privacy with this, on the other hand, this garden area helps to keep the house cool even in the big heat. It is an Arabian country, so the human and animal motifs are not allowed. They use geometrical shapes and floral motifs instead.
The colors are the most impressive in Moroccan homes. White or neutral walls give the background for the vibrant colored seats, accessories and carpets: bright oranges and greens, turquoises, shades of purple, red and saffron are the most significant. Summarized, these are the colors of spices and precious stones.
Richly carved wooden commodes, tables and screens can be dark brown of course, just like painted or inlayed. Using ornate concretes and tiles provide the coolness of the interiors in the tropical country, used not only as floor tiles but as decorating elements around doors and windows and pavement of fountains also. Handcraft carpets are laid on the floor. Comfort is provided by the several fabrics. Cushions, poufs and pillows bring colors in the sight.
The beautiful metal accessories are commonly made of copper or bronze. Inwrought lanterns and lantern shaped candle holders are the main features of lighting, which cast fine shadows on the walls. Decorating elements made of mirror reflect the light.
There are many shops even in Hungary selling eastern (style) accessories and furniture. Ask for help of an interior designer for creating a Moroccan style home.
Fall table set
Create a pleasing fall mood at the table by seasonal table settings
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau was the art trend of the turn of 19th-20th centuries. Its name was Tiffany Style in the USA, Stile Floreale in Italy, Jugendstil in Germany, Modernismo in Spain, first Modern Style then also Art Nouveau in England. It was called Szecesszió in Hungary and Austria. Its main features are organic shapes, floral and animal motifs, asymmetry, multi-color and scrolling shapes. It used decorating elements in a big amount and had an effect on all fields of life, not only on arts. It brought the oncoming of content and form, namely form was created by starting from the function.
Applied arts worked closely with architecture and interior design. Glass art added to interior design with decorating doors and windows and making household objects (e.g. lamps, vases). L.C. Tiffany and R. Lalique are its outstanding representatives, for example. Textile makers designed and made upholstery fabrics and wallpapers (e.g. W. Morris). Zsolnay created eosin glazing in the field of ceramics. Ceramics were started to use not only indoors but for outer covering of houses also (e.g. Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest). In addition to jewelry, the goldsmiths also made furniture fittings and ornaments. Painters retreated off the noise of the town and founded colonies of artists and worked there (e.g. E. Munch, A. Mucha). Reinforced ferro-concrete appeared in architecture. Unique interiors came to the fore. Metal art appeared on public buildings also (e.g. subway exit of H. Guimard in Paris).
Some original pieces of furniture or accessories are available today also. For example, Tiffany lamps are still produced.
Ask for help of an interior designer for creating an Art Nouveau style home.
Poster wallpaper
The fashionable custom-made poster wallpaper is looking good in a classic interior too, if the right picture is chosen for it
