Book arrangement

Aug1

Books have their own value and decorate the room. However, in the case of a larger home library, it is worth breaking up the rows of books a little to make them more interesting.
We can vary the arrangement of the books by placing them vertically or horizontally on the shelves. The scene will be a little more busy. Avoid the slented solution, because it deforms the spine of the books.
Elements of a series or volumes written by a specific author can be arranged according to size, grouped according to the type of binding or even according to the color of the spines. The latter is only recommended in this case, because the arrangement of the entire library according to the rainbow only causes difficulties for those who actually use their own library and are looking for a specific book.
Place decorative objects between the books. For example, an ornamented bookend, vase, small sculpture, framed photos, storage boxes can be suitable for this. Don’t put these in front of the books, because that way it’s harder to take out the given volume and title won’t be readable either.
Place only decorations on top of the laid out volumes that will not demage the covers. So a plotted flower or a too heavy marble clock is not a good solution.
Happy reading everyone!

Glass objects

Jun1

Glass refracts and scatters light, that’s why it is a perfect choice for decoration and accessories also – be it a bottle collection, a lamp base or even a bathroom set. Don’t be afraid to give a new function to an old but decorative glass object.

Collections of tiny things

Mar11

Storing ideas for small objects as a collection, in a decorative and dustless way

Postcard decor

Dec13

Let’s use our favourite Christmas cards as decorations

Bookshelf

May29

A book collector can create bookshelves anywhere

LP storage

Jan18

Storage ideas for vinyl records, so we can take pleasure in them

The European Grand Tour

Oct1

Grand Tour was a part of the education of noble youth in the 17th and 18th century. This meant a couple of months, even 1-2 years European round tour to the cradle of western culture, Italy. Firstly it was important to the English and Scandinavian nobility to directly meet the ancient culture. This was almost compulsory for those who learnt arts (architecture, painter, sculptor etc.) in those days.
They visited several other countries during the tour where they spent weeks or months and studied the ancient monuments and artifacts there. Commonly Paris was the first stop, from there they went further through Switzerland to Italy. Naturally Rome was the final goal, after Florence, Pisa, Torino, Padua, Bologna, Venice and Genova. On the way back, these was followed by the universities of Germany, then cultural heritage of Flanders and Holland, they went home only after these. It is important fact that these tours weren’t led by religion, so this didn’t affect on destinations.
Commonly departure took place in reaching adult age, so when they became about 21 years old. Although servants didn’t go with them (commonly a valet and a cook), the young nobles were escorted by a male family member or a male friend (e.g. their teacher or doctor). At first the tour was taken by a kittereen, then the railway came to the fore after its appearance. Many of them visited also Greece, Austria or even Turkey.
The studied knowledge and artistic learning were taken home not only in their heads. It was a general custom to shop during the tour. Original ancient artifacts, marble statues, coin collections, frequently books for a whole library, paintings etc. were collected there. Naturally they didn’t take them all at once but from time to time they sent them (mail service) home. Commonly a whole room was furnished for the collection in a noble man’s home who did the Grand Tour, but some of them were placed in the representative rooms of the house. It was very fashionable to be painted with a famous ancient ruin or a renaissance building in the background. This wasn’t for flaunting their wealth but spreading this knowledge at home and giving proper reports for those who couldn’t go there (women, less wealthy etc.). But they focused not only on the arts of men but the beauty of the nature and wildlife also. Science went for an elite thing, so it was the aim to acquire proper skills in every discipline of it, so they could minimum talk about it. The more talented of them even wrote a book of their own tours.
Collections of nowadays can be arranged also to give the effect of the Grand Tour. Ask for help of an interior designer for this.

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.

Types of ceramics

Feb26

Various ceramics are present in our homes as interior domestic and decoration objects. Commonly we don’t care what they are made of and to which group of the main term they belong. Here is a brief review which can be useful in the case of planning to collect similar objects.
The main features of porcelain that provides its popularity are whiteness and translucency. Kaolin is the main material used. It is burnt glazed between 1200 and 1400 °C temperature. The two types of forming it are pottering and molding. It was discovered in China in the 14th century. The first porcelain manufactures appeared in Europe only in the 18th century (France, Prussia, England).
Terracotta is clay based, glazed or unglazed type of ceramics. This is the earliest material used in history. The end product’s surface is porous, brownish-orange in color, burnt around 1000 °C temperature. It is formed by potter’s wheel. The raw material is very soft, easy to form and decorate by different tools.
Stoneware were already made around 1900 B.C in the valley of Indus. The name is deceptive because the material is a special clay and not stone. It is burnt in a furnace between 1100 and 1300 °C. The end product’s surface is not porous and very hard. It is a non-transparent and commonly glazed ceramic.
Biscuit is an unglazed type of ceramics which is the product after the first burning in a lower temperature. It remains porous which makes glazing easy. Its surface is much finer and marble-like, its shine depends on the temperature of burning. It came to fashion in the second half of the 18th century.
Jasperware is unglazed, matte ceramic which was invented by Josiah Wedgewood in the 1770s. Its special blue version, the Wedgewood blue is the most well-known. The surface is applied with relief work (commonly white). Barium is the main material used.
Ironstone is similar to stoneware as to durability and hardness. It was developed in Staffordshire in the 19th century. It was a much cheaper alternative of porcelain made in mass production. Doesn’t contain iron in contrast with its name.
All types are popular among collectors. Carefully look after the features, production marks and possible injuries before buying antique pieces.

Toy storage

Nov6

Toys of children can overrun the whole house if we don’t care. A separate playroom is available only in a few homes and sometimes there is not enough space in the kids’ room also for storages. The play-area is created frequently in the living room’s corner. This is why creative storage solutions are important and after playing the living space could be ordered and neat again.
Maybe the simplest solution is that kind of shelved cabinet where baskets can be put in also. This way it reabsorbs all the little things, but decorative or frequently used toys are on hands too. Similar cabinets could be made by measure also, which has parts with doors, open shelves and parts with basket also, for the bigger toys (e.g. board games). Doors can be painted with blackboard paint or cork can be fixed on it, this way the cabinet will have more functions.
Let’s make a „hammock” from fabric fitting for the children’s room. Saw ropes to both ends of it and it can be rolled-up by fixing it to the ceiling with two screws, just like a retractable clothes dryer. Fill it with plush animals and after use just lift it up. Harder objects shouldn’t be put in it because of falling hazard.
If a cabinet can’t be fit in, bigger wall jardinières shall be bought (it can be metal or wicker also). It will be a perfect storage space for doodads, fixed to the wall or the inner part of the cabinet door. Buckets and baskets with handles are suitable for this too, they just won’t slick to the wall. A wooden box sawn in two, painted and fixed to the wall is a perfect solution also.
If the kid’s bed has no bedding holder, the space under it can be used. We gain easily movable storage spaces by simple crates with wheels. Decorate it by taste, even with names in the case of more children.
Custom-made shelves can be made for bigger collections (matchboxes, Lego, Barbie dolls etc.), where the child can make a mini exhibition also. This way they can be seen out of playtime but they don’t get in the way. The similarity to exhibition can be enhanced by using spot lighting.
Ask for help of an interior designer for solving storage problems also.