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
TV2 interview
Archives
Minerals, semi-precious stones
Crystals, semi-precious stones and gems always enchanted people. Their shine, bright colors and rarity make them desirable. They come into view nowadays thanks to esotericism, horoscopes and naturopathy. By Feng Shui and horoscopic space organization, they broke into interior design also.
Beautiful colors of various crystals culminate by their light transmittance and light-reflecting features. Many people fell in love with such a color and want to choose it for their walls, furniture or accessories at home. But these objects – thanks to their materials – reflect light quite differently and definitely don’t transmit it. That is why it’s very hard to give a semi-precious stone color to other surfaces. Close to the perfect result can be reached by putting the crystal on a matte surface, first on a light, than a dark one, far away from direct light. Let’s match the color chart with it and choose the more compatible color with the real sight.
Various minerals can be bought in several shops in wide assortment according to their size and elaboration. It’s easy to decorate with semi-precious stones this way, but their price is relatively high.
We can be creative using them in addition to put them on the shelf, coffee table or mantelpiece. For example, make the handles of chest of drawers unique by gluing small semi-precious stones on them. We can also decorate a mirror, napkin ring, storage box, pot, curtain fringe etc. Buy pendants with small metal rings and sew them on cushions making beautiful accessories.
Ask for help of an interior designer creating a home (even esoteric) befitted for you.
Blue-white chinas
Antique blue-white chinas are perfect inspirations for classic interiors
Special wall arts
For decorating the walls, we frequently use simple solutions as paintings, engravings, photos, fabrics in frames, wallpapers or smaller objects. These are very showy and it’s easy to find a fitting piece for the style. But let’s be daring! There are so many objects on flea markets and in our home too, which are perfectly suitable for wall decoration.
Old advertising boards, trade-signs, original boxes, marker letters can be found in many places and are popular decoration elements nowadays. We can choose wooden or metal pieces. They can be grouped by color, shape and theme, fitting to the interior.
Hanging old sporting goods on the wall are perfect solutions for sport-lovers: paddles, golf and tennis rackets, riding equipment etc. Most of them are suitable for both horizontal and vertical arrangements which effects the sense of space.
Let’s examine the contents of the wardrobes from this point of view. Our collections of hats, handbags, fans can decorate e.g. the wall of the living room. The harmony of the colors and materials is important for the sight not to be chaotic.
The most common objects could be decorating elements with a spectacular arrangement and an idea suggested by the room. We can decorate the wall of the kitchen with antique pots. They can have in common their material (e.g. copper, tin) or their type with difference just in the size (e.g. cooking tops, sieves).
Use the old doors, shutters and window frames were judged to throw out during the renovation! They fit for several styles in the original condition but renewed and painted they can be hung on the wall. Mirror can be cut into the window frame instead of glass, this way it will perform two tasks.
There are several other solutions, only our fantasy is a limit. Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing spectacular decorating elements!
Silverware
In old times, silver tableware, serving dishes, candle holders and decoration objects couldn’t be missing from the household of the nobles. Nowadays many people still own some inherited pieces which are taken out from the dresser only at special events. The silver’s cold, subtile shine (compared to gold) provides more sophisticated, luxurious atmosphere to the table or our complete home.
Frequent usage keeps clean the silver objects, but after a longer storage they might become black. Various chemicals can be bought for cleaning silver (e.g. Sydol) but we can solve the problem with homemade practices also. The combination of kitchen foil-cooking soda-salt-warm water is the most common method. As far as possible, do not scrub the surface, rather soak the object in the liquid. Don’t put them into the dishwasher!
We can look after the authenticity of the inherited silverware by the hallmark. Most of the silver objects were signed, referring to the year, company and place of production, commonly in a less visible part, e.g. inner side of the foot.
Alfenide was a prevalent material in Hungary which was used instead of silver because its production was much cheaper. This is an alloy of nickel, copper and zinc which gives a well-workable material – then the end product was coated with silver. In this case scouring powder shouldn’t be used for cleaning because it scrubs the surface.
Ask for advice of a professional for buying antique silverware or evaluating your own collection. An interior designer can help you with arranging decoratively the silver ornaments and planning a really festive table set.
Summer trip memories
Both kids and adults gather many memories during summer trips. There are piles of seashells, pebbles, postcards, maps and other whatnots at home by the end of August. Here are some ideas for displaying the various collections at a decorative way, not to store them only in a box at the bottom of the wardrobe.
The objects belonging to the same trip can be placed in a glass topped wooden box, just like creating a landscape. This can be put on the windowsill or desk but can be hung on the wall also. Write the date and place on the frame to remember it later.
Using a jar is a similar solution. Let’s choose a translucent one without color for making all the small objects well visible. The lid can be painted to any color if we don’t like the original one. Label it with marking the place and date. They will look good on the shelf or on the mantelpiece.
We can group similar objects also independently from the trips. Postcards can be put in a folder but if we would like to see them every day, then rather make them the part of the decoration. Cord, thin wire or color ribbon should be tensed for example above the headboard, maybe under a shelf or on the curtain rod and postcards, photos, napkins or tickets can be fixed on it by clips. An ordinary, framed cork board can be also used, this can be easily made unique by painting. Cards should be pinned on it.
Coffee table or night stand can be purchased or made DIY which has small boxes under the glass top. Small memories should be put in these: minerals, star fish, tiny copies of famous buildings etc. They can be changed to the memories of the new experiences in next year.
Ask for help of an interior designer for decorative displaying of similar collections fit for the interior.
Antique porcelains
Many things have to be considered when buying antique porcelains. Collecting really rare and valuable pieces needs a little expertise, since many imitations are made. Here are some good advices before paying:
The objects made of original porcelain, e.g. pieces of a table set, are translucent. Put our hand behind the plate while turning it to the light: its shadow can be lightly seen through the material of the plate. For example, classic blue-white Worcester china made in the 1760s has greenish tone to the light. Examine carefully the selected object if there are hair-cracks on it, if the edge is chipped which is a very common failure and lower its value. If the glossy glazing is not even or maybe hazy, it might refer to post-repair. Gently run a needle or blade on the questioned surface. It will run along the immaculate glaze but stuck on the edge of a repair. Knocking it with a hard object or nails is another method. In normal case, it gives clear, a bit deep, clinking voice. If we hear a blunt voice, there is a crack on it somewhere.
It’s not easy to make a difference between the modern copies of antique porcelains from the originals. The lack of glaze on the bottom could be a strong point, where the hand-made pieces were got off the wheel after glazing. There always should be one or two tiny holes on the bottom or elsewhere on a hidden part of the figure porcelains. The gases arose during the burning were off here.
If products of a certain company are collected, always check up the used signs by the firm. These were changed during years but it is always found in special books which sign was used in which time interval. Popular patterns and colors of eras can be strong points for the age of the porcelain. If two marks show different eras, we may hold a copy in our hand. For example, the sign of Meissen porcelain is two swords cross each other, which changed during times but beside this, the number of cut patterns were marked, the number of the maker and the number of the painter also. The English „registered design” had two variations between 1842 and 1883 too.
Always carefully check up the purchasable rarities! There are many books in the topic but a professional can be asked for estimate.
Display chinas
Display our nice dinner set or other chinaware collection in the mode of old times
Pictures
When decorating our home, walls are important issue. The simplest way is hanging paintings on them. But what can we do if we cannot afford really expensive paintings in our classic style apartment or house?
First possible solution is using empty frames. We can purchase several, decorative old frames in different sizes (e.g.: blondel or Florentin style) in the same color. They can be placed on the walls together, visually acting like several pieces of one artwork. Symmetry is not a perquisite; they should only look nice together. Don’t be afraid to repaint the less valuable frames if required.
Remaining wallpaper or fabrics can be also used for decoration. Cut them into the frames best fitting to the interior, and hang them up covered with glass. Since the same wallpaper or fabric already has been used at another point of the flat, the view will be reflected making the space much more organic. Old newspapers, handworks, nice wrappers, postcards, dried flowers or maps also can be framed such a way.
If we have the talent for painting, we can create some paintings ourselves as well. Defined topic or expression form are not required, the essence is the color harmony with the style of the room. We can paint even single stripes, squares or patches. With the proper frame, we can get a perfect DIY accessory.
Family photos are also available for decorating a classic interior. Have your favourite photos being processed in black and white or sepia, not to disturb the mood of the room with their bright colors. Montages can be assembled from them fitting into a bigger frame, or they can be arranged in several different smaller frames side by side, covering a larger surface.
Nowdays many companies provide large scale, quality printing of any picture. We can chose photos from their database that are fitting to our home. There is a huge selection of color, theme, size as well and they even offer framing too as a service. Blind framed canvas print is also an available solution. Ask help from an interior designer for the selection of pictures, paintings fitting perfectly to your home.
Library at home
Each real book lover dreams of an own library. Well, placing several hundred books in a smaller house or even in an apartment is really not an easy job.
The most fortunate ones can arrange a separate room for this purpose. This is the ideal situation. We can stand bookshelves in front of the walls up to the ceiling, the pitches can be adjusted to the different book sizes. The best solution is the tailor made and built in furniture, which can be highly customized. If the room is not North oriented, curtains or blinders should be applied to the windows to prevent the books from direct sunlight. In the middle, a comfortable armchair can be placed with a small table and a lamp. Walls and ceiling can be painted with dark hues – the room will be a perfect “nest” for reading.
Our collection can be exhibited in the living room as well. Generally, this is the most used room in a flat, frequently visited by the whole family. Pay attention for the safety of the books if eating, drinking, partying, or children are playing here. Practical solution to purchase bookshelves with a closed cabinet at the bottom. By this, the books can be placed up from above 80 cm. Even more safe, if the bookshelves have glassed door panels: the books are securely stored and even the view remains. Since window blinding is not too practical, place the bookshelves on the wall near the window. The situation is the same, if the library is placed in the dining room.
General solution is placing the books in the workroom. A desk with the necessary accessories don’t require too much place, the free wall surface can be used to store our books. Eliminating direct sunlight is also a problem here, it must be solved at least we are not in the room.
In a one-room apartment the books are practically in the bedroom. It is changing by people, who finds this disturbing, or relaxing when preparing to sleep. In the first case we can store our books in a closed cabinet with cathedral glass or wooden door panels. Don’t place bookshelf above the bed!
It’s important to take care of the books. Once a year they have to be dusted. They have to be stored in horizontal position, not too close to each-other. Protect them from dust and direct sunlight.
You have collected a lot of books, but you don’t know how to store them a way, that is decorative and safe, using the space available optimally? Ask help from an interior designer for planning and implementing.
