Bulbs

Jul24

Bulbs have to be separately purchased when buying lamps. The manufacturer shows some details of the recommended bulbs on the box of the lamp. However, there are features which have to be chosen by us. In a classic interior, the lighting has to be fit, so its accessories have to be chosen with care.
Threaded socket has two types: E27 (27 mm diameter) and E14 (14 mm diameter). Implicitly, only one of them fits for a given lamp.
The performance of the bulb is defined in Watt. The manufacturer displays instructions on the box maximizing the performance of the used bulb. Ordinary bulbs are between 40 and100 W, compact fluorescent lights are 5-20 W and LED bulbs are 0,5-15 W.
Flux (Lumen) is not given, we have to decide about it. This means, how strong the light of the bulb is. Bigger value means bigger flux.
Color temperature is also displayed on the box of every bulbs. It is given in Kelvin. The sunlight is about 5000 K, which is definitely cool light. Choose much warmer bulbs at home or else the output will be too rigid. The warm white light is 2700-3000 K, natural white is 3500-4000 K and the cold white is above 4500 K.
The shape of the bulbs is also important. For example, candle shaped bulbs should be chosen for a classic chandelier without lampshades. They can be purchased in opalescent white finish also. Spiral, energy-saving bulbs can be placed in chandeliers with opaque, closed bells. These need about 30-60 seconds from turning on to reach full light. If the lamp has open lampshades, choose bulbs fit inside the shade. Classic type bulbs can be purchased in LED version as well. The lifetime of these is longer.
So called Edison bulbs form a separate category. The filament is perfectly visible through the glass after turning it on. Its flux is low, it is suitable only for mood lighting. The color of its light is yellowish orange.
Specialists can always help, but it can be entrusted to the interior designer also.

Open porch

Jul21

Sitting on the open porch is a pleasing pastime on warm summer days

Headboards

Jul19

Bed headboard shapes have their own names either. For example: Belgrave, Cleveland, Portman

American country

Jul17

The American country style has several faces: farmhouses with shaker origins, seaside bungalows, Victorian houses of the south states, mountain log houses etc. They have common characteristics by which we can evoke their mood.
Usually the kitchen is in the same open area with the dining table and the living room, separated by a kitchen island. Spaces are wide and open, the ceiling is high. Visible beams and fireplaces are frequent accessories. In the case of a multi-story house, bedrooms and bathrooms are at the first/second floor, communal area, guest bathroom and home office are at the ground level. The house has a garage or car parking, front- and backyard garden and a porch.
Natural materials are the base of furnishing: hardwood floor, painted walls, wooden and wicker furniture, cotton and burlap fabrics, sisal and rag rugs, animal leathers. Ornaments, accessories are frequently antique pieces in original conditions. They can be metal-ware (e.g. trade sign, milk-can), hand-made products (carved box, bedspread) and treasures of nature (shells, driftwood).
Using the national-flag-motif and its colors (red, blue, white) as decorating elements is also a characteristic of the style. It provides high contrasts softened by browns and beiges. Black is a common additional color. Also, the flag is the base of the striped and star patterns. Unique, hand-made, often inherited objects have role. E.g. patchwork and quilted blankets and cushions are typical.
Ladder-back Windsor chairs, rocking-chairs, shiplap covered walls, sofas with soft cushions, reused objects, feeling of nature deepen the country mood.
Ask for help of an interior designer creating a cozy country style.

Summer details

Jul14

Summer is in the details

Blue-white chinas

Jul12

Antique blue-white chinas are perfect inspirations for classic interiors

Separating kids’ room

Jul10

It’s not rare in a family that two children share one room, so not everybody has an own room. Commonly it is not a problem until they are 4-5 years old, even if they have different sexes. But after an age the children desire an own snug, in the case of a boy-girl couple it is more urgent to solve the separation.
If the size of the room is big enough, the separation can be solved easily with placing some wardrobes in the middle of it. Half of them with doors facing to one side, the others facing to the other side. This way both children will have enough storage space. The back of the wardrobes can be wallpapered, even with a unique wall-poster, fit to the style of the kid’s room.
In the case of a smaller room, the room separator could be a curtain, for example. Fix the curtain rod to the ceiling and choose a fabric which has weight to avoid the moving by draught. Panel curtain is perfect for this also.
Another solution is a unique partition panel, which is only one-two centimeters thick. Made of cut MDF sheets it lets the light through but separates the space visually. It is fixed to the floor and the ceiling also. The fixing can be a rail-system, this way they are rollable beside each other, with this the two areas can be united again.
If the room is really very small, let’s paint it with two colors (fifty-fifty) fit for the taste or hobby of the two children and decorate them separately. Although the room remains common, they will feel that part one of their own. If they can compound in a common color instead of the two, it’s much easier.
In the case of a high ceiling, the problem can be solved with a loft. If there is enough space for only a bunk-bed, that part can be split into two with painting the wall two-colored horizontally beside the bed. The turned/offset bunk-bed levels provide bigger separation feeling for the children.
Ask for help of an interior designer for planning the kids’ room.

Hammocks

Jul7

Decorative hammocks for a comfortable afternoon nap

High-gloss furniture

Jul5

The fashionalble high-gloss (sometimes in bold color) furnitures look good in classic interiors if made in proper style

Misbelieves about interior designers

Jul3

We almost daily meet opinions about interior designers based on misbelieve. In Hungary, most people still don’t consider this profession to be an honored job. This is why we should clarify the most basic false enunciations.
1. The interior designer wants to implement himself/herself during planning my property
A good interior designer NEVER implements himself/herself during a job, but makes the owner’s dream come true! Because he/she is in the fortunate position that his/her job is his/her hobby as well, he/she doesn’t need more self-justification. It’s a fact that every interior designer has his/her own style after which his/her works are recognizable. This is an advantage for the client, because he/she can choose the designers by their references, which one he/she feels closer the most.
2. Only the rich can afford hiring an interior designer
The price of a whole interior design depends on many parameters, so the offer is always individual. Just like in the case of a tiling or heating job. The starting point can’t be the price of a job done for a neighbor/friend/relative (even many years ago). Asking for an offer is free, we can still take a look among interior designers. Besides, we can ask „only” for an interior design advice which is more cost effective but a much smaller possibility also, but it can help a lot for an amateur.
3. Hiring an interior designer is just a genteel mischief, he/she does indeed nothing for the money
Here are some examples for „nothing”: measuring the property and the requirements, making the plans (building-releasing, lighting, furnishing, custom-made furniture, suspended ceiling, consignation etc.) with discussing it with the client, handling orders, coordinating workers and so on. Say it in a sentence: he/she spares money and time for the client by taking over jobs from the owner as a professional.
4. I exactly know what and how I want, don’t try to force me any other things (color, style, arrangement etc.)
Interior designer forces nothing on anybody. He/she gives advice by the workmanship and experiences. Not only finishing the job is the aim but making the property fit for the expectations of the owner also. He/she can raise many questions which was never thought about by the client or never heard about that possibility. In the case when the owner wants to handle everything from the beginning to the end, but he/she is an amateur, it’s worth to ask for one or two hours of consultation to see if the desired things are really suitable. The owner can spare a lot of money during the renovation with this.
5. The interior designer will suggest me to buy only luxury products which I can’t afford
The interior designer discusses the costs with the owner already at the beginning. He/she will design the future home within the defined budget, fulfilling all the requirements (not unrealistic!) as far as possible. Since he/she knows the market, knows which budget bears what, depending on the features and requirements.
Be confident about interior designers, because they want to make our life better and more comfortable by forming the property according to our needs which we will call home.