Color pairs: yellow-red
Color pairs 5.
Archives
Variations 4.
Variations for a theme: plants
Feng Shui
The philosophy of Feng Shui based interior design is to establish the balance between the individual and the environment. Its essence is the harmony of energies and objects, the elements and styles. Much more complex and more serious interior design trend than generally considered.
When it comes to Feng Shui, most of the people associate colorful mandalas, choking smoke and Buddha statues, nevertheless, this knowledge is known to look back on a long history. Feng Shui is independent to location and style. These energies work the same way in a minimal or a baroque interior, in Japan or Hungary also. Basically, there are two different aspects of an apartment or house:
Considering the rooms as separate units is the essence of space management, since Jin or Jang characteristics, colors, forms, materials and motifs are assigned to each of them. This is the primer method of harmonizing the environment.
Using the Bagua map, the home is considered as one unit. The total floor area is divided into nine equal parts, where all sub-units has its own characteristics based on the map. In this later case, orientation has an important role. The given areas should be intensified or weakened, deficits should be fulfilled depending on the required result.
Whichever we choose, we have to keep in mind: the theory is general, but the methods and tools used may have different meanings in different cultures or even countries. E.g.: dolphin as motif has a different meaning in a region, where such animals really live in the wild, from another region, where they are not organic part of the environment.
When applying Feng Shui, we have to be careful with the relation of objects used, spaces and the people living in them, so ask help from an interior designer who hase massive bases in the area.
Painted wood
Painted wooden furniture – have a go at it bravely!
Metallic colors
When it comes to “metallic colors” we are thinking about gold and silver immediately, which are assigned to yellow and gray by most of the people. We are often associating to warm and cold contrast. Of course, there are much more metallic hues, in addition to, different colors can get a metallic shine also.
About the elements in our homes, first we consider the items and accessories really made of metal: faucets, door handles, lamps, picture frames etc. From the aspect of material, they can be made of copper, chrome, steel, iron, bronze, etc. These are automatically become parts of our interiors. Using paints, fabrics and wallpapers allow more emphasized usage. Wooden furniture painted to gold results luxury effect. Fabrics woven with metallic fibers make any style of seats exciting. A quite simple interior can get a focus point with a wallpaper with metallic motif. In case of historic styles, (e.g.: renaissance, rococo, empire) we often meet these solutions, sometimes even exaggerated. Gold was always the symbol of the wealthy. In a church, the respect of god(s) is being expressed by it. Nowadays chrome and nickel coatings provide not only the glazing, but also the endurance and long lifecycle.
Feng shui associates silver (lunar quality), copper and bronze (venus quality) with Jin, the feminin side. With Jang, the masculine side, gold (sun) and iron (martian quality) are assigned.
In business life, metallic hues have representative roles. At events the gilding of the cutlery or the gold wristwatch of a businessman has a clear meaning. Metallic luster paper of the sweets arouses our interest, implies exclusivity. Use metallic surfaces with care in your home, because they can easily rule the complete room. Ask for help from an interior designer to produce a real classy glamour.
Color pairs 3.
Color pairs: blue-red
Variations 2.
Variations for a theme: animals
Old objects
Loving old objects is still important in our running world. These are not necessarily hundreds-years old pieces for a fortune, but anything which was already used, served two or three generations, first of all, it has its own story.
This kind of object is beautiful, contains memories but naturally is not perfect since it was already used. The time left marks on it, unless it is newly restored. The paint is a bit more matted, the lacquering is scraped, the handle is discolored, fabric is a bit faded. The inherited objects symbolize also the family itself. Its size, material or real value doesn’t matter. Old objects have the specialty to move our imagination even if we get them from a stranger. When for example a chest of drawers is purchased on a flea market or on the internet, it is unlikely that we will know its history, but the furniture tells stories about itself. Just because of its age, we try to imagine, how many places it stood already, who used it, probably how it survived the World Wars. This remains the same, even it is repainted, its handles are changed or glass is put in its doors. Those who enters in our home, will feel the age of the furniture.
The love of old objects is independent from the fact that who likes which style. They give life to all interiors and turn the flat to a home. For example, an old painting fits well for a minimalist interior also. A trade sign from the beginning of the century or antique saws can be placed on the wall instead of pictures in a loft furnished in the latest trend. This is much more evident in the case of classic styles. A lot of copy and re-manufactured household objects can be purchased in shops nowadays. Anyhow, the mood can be rally spiced with placing at least one piece of real antiques in the space. Notice our guests’ reactions: everybody will watch this one first.
If you look after a special and unique antique piece for your home, take an expert along to the purchasing trip for excluding forgeries. Do you want to design the furniture around a given piece? Would you like your flat being vivified by a fitting antique? Ask for help of an interior designer for planning.
Valentine’s Day
14th of February is Valentine day and celebrated worldwide. This is the day of love. Its origin is not clear. The mating period of birds starts at the middle of Februery, maybe this observation led to the emergence of this feast. Traditionally love is assigned to this day, but we can give surprises not only our love, but our family and friends as well.
Its traditional decoration motives are rose, heart, Amor, arrow and pigeon. Customized colors are red and all shades of pink. Celebrate this day with a complete home decoration, not only a romantic dinner. Hang a heart shaped decoration on the front door made of red roses or pink paper flowers. Place colourful candles, garlands made of hearts and small puttos on the mantle. In the bedroom, we can change the blankets and the cushions to red, the lampshades can be decorated by boas, cushions can be scattered with flower petals and a heart can be formed by candles on the floor. In the bathroom, place candles to the bathtub and shelves. Hang out red or red edged towels. Pour rose scented bubble bath into the bath water. Dinner table should be decorated by candles and red plates, which can be part of the everyday, other coloured dinner set. Red glasses and damask nepkins are also decorative. A bucket of rose looks good everywhere. If you feel red color too dominant, combine it with lot of white, thus only the important motifs will strike your eyes. For a less formal, youthful mood let’s apply the hues of pink instead of red.
If you would like to surprise your loved ones with a special Valentine’s Day mood, ask help from an interior designer for decoration.
Photos for selling our home
When selling a property, the most important part of the advertisement – beyond floor map – are the pictures taken of it. According to the experience, it’s not quite obvious how to take some such quality photos, which will “sell” the property for us.
Before we start, let’s clean up! It’s a great mistake if we think, that the several weeks old mist or the lack of mopping will not be noticed on the pictures. Another essential task is tidying up. Everything should be put to its place and let’s check, how could be the space even more spectacular. Let’s look at a few interior design magazines and get some ideas from the photos in them: there is no mess, color- and style cavalcade or too many decorations. It’s advised to move from room to room and always prepare the given room for the perfect photo. This can be quite difficult task when the property is inhabited, since the amount of personal objects and furniture should be decreased to a level acceptable by an outsider. If necessary, move the excess chair or commode to another room during taking pictures. Most of the decorations should be placed behind closed doors and the remaining should be arranged nicely. Let’s turn on all the lights even in daylight! Use wide angle lens to catch the most of the room in one frame. Emphasize the good features, such as large window, cozy alcove or the beautiful hardwood flooring. At bathroom and kitchen, the feeling of hygiene is the most important. Here the metal surfaces should be shiny, glass doors and mirrors should be freshly cleaned to show the glamour. If possible, let’s provide a picture of all the rooms to the advertisement.
Some disincentive examples that are regularly appear among property advertising: drying underwear in the bathroom, full trash bin in the kitchen, unmade bed in the bedroom, or dirty clothes on the floor. Although the prospective buyer will purchase the property not our personal objects, yet all this counts a lot with him when deciding, whether he comes to see the apartment or house, or not. In case of a house, choose a shiny day for taking outdoor pictures for the sake of real bright colors. The principle of order still should be valid: tidy up the garden, trim the grass, even stairs and paved parts should be washed up. Take several photos of both the house and garden from different angles.
If you would like to distinguish your advertisement among the lots of others, ask home staging advices from an interior designer for the preparation.
