Lighting

Jan11

Light is a very important part of our home, so we need to spend time for designing the amount and quality of lighting. The sizes and numbers of windows, the orientation and the light required by the activity in the room are all should be considered.
General lighting means using diffuse light in the room. The task is replacing the natural daylight in this case. Ceiling lamps and chandeliers are suitable for this.
The main role of local lighting is supplying the working area (e.g. desk, kitchen countertop, reading armchair) with proper light. This mostly has controllable angle.
With mood lighting we can highlight some interesting details of the space (e.g. painting, plant, niche) or a moderated lighting can be provided which is used only for chasing away darkness. Modern LED stripes can be used for this which can be hidden, this way only their light can be felt indeed but a decorative floor lamp or a picture lamp can have this function also.
The role of safety lighting is informing and guiding us in the dark. In the case of a home, this can be for example lighting of stair steps, the edge of swimming pool and the drive-in way.
When using artificial lights, it should be considered whether applying cold or warm light.. In the case of modern bulbs or LEDs, the light can be cold white which is not always proper, because it can make the space unfriendly. That’s why it’s worth to use warm lighting at home which results a pleasant atmosphere.
Always take care of the colors of the floor and walls when choosing lamps and light-sources because dark hues absorb light better and need more intensive lighting. The lamps with lampshades always give more moderated light. Those with crystals and glass parts disperse the light more.
The numbers, places and types of switches and sockets have to be planned in time also, thinking over the way of life and the habits.
Ask for help of an interior designer for making the lighting-plan perfect to your home.

Color pairs 11.

Jan8

Color pairs: purple-grey

New Year’s changes

Jan4

We are at the beginning of a new year again, it’s the period of resolutions. We are making plans for what to pay attention more, what to do and what to change. Mostly the latter one is significant, we would like to make our lives better and nicer. This can be fully solved by interior design. Let’s take the first steps, even in the first few days!
After removing the Christmas and New Year’s Eve decorations, just stand in the middle of your home and look around. Think only in small steps first. Ask the question: what is that you don’t like, what is not enough good for your taste? The sizes of rooms might be changed with a renovation or opening but to get started, let’s focus only on furniture, accessories, walls and floor: colors, material, patterns and present arrangements of all these. Cost effectiveness is frequently important at the beginning of the year.
For example: „There is never enough space in the living room when the family gathers.” This problem can be solved with rearranging furniture which might give a chance to place a bigger sofa or an additional armchair.
Or: „It would be great to have another color palette in the bedroom because we are tired of the present one.” A simple painting or wallpapering or placing some smaller decorating elements and changing some fabrics can be a solution. „The child is growing, he/she would like a room fit to his/her personality.” Rearranging or makeover the furniture can be a solution here also. Let’s implement wall panels which can be freely decorated by the child. Ask him/her before choosing the wall color, since it is his/her room. A new carpet, bedspread and some lamps refresh the mood.
Many of these and similar ideas may rise according to the renewing at the beginning of the new year. Ask for advice of an interior designer for smaller changes for getting the most out of your home by the solution and for starting stylish the New Year.

Old postcards 7.

Jan1

New Year on old postcards

Paint palette 3.

Dec30

Nature created color palettes

Dress code

Dec28

By the end of the year, we might get more invitations to events and parties. The invitation cards might contain some directions for the required clothing, the so-called dress code. This name indicates the rules of the look at the party. Let’s see the most important ones.
White Tie: For gentlemen it is black tail-coat with white shirt made of a special fabric and with standing-collar and hard-breast, white waistcoat, hand-tied, white bow tie, white braces and black patent leather shoes. For ladies it is full dress, commonly with elbow-long gloves.
Black Tie: For gentlemen it is black tuxedo (with white handkerchief in the pocket of the coat), double-cuff white shirt with studs, hand-tied black bow tie, black cummerbund and black calfskin or patent leather shoes. For ladies it is long evening dress without gloves, maybe with stole.
Formal: For gentleman it is dark suit with shirt and low-key tie, which is acceptable before 6 pm also. For ladies, before 6 pm it is an elegant dress made of non-shiny fabric, after 6 pm a cocktail dress.
Semi-Formal: For gentlemen, before 6 pm it is a suit, after it a dark suit and tie. For ladies, before 6 pm it is an elegant dress, after 6 pm a cocktail dress.
Informal: For gentlemen it is shirt, tie, trousers and a jacket not necessarily in the same color as the trousers. For ladies it is an elegant dress.
Business Formal: For gentlemen it is the same as semi-formal. For ladies it is an elegant but not décolleté dress.
Casual: For both sexes it is daily clothes, but sportswear is excluded. They shouldn’t wear jeans or sport shoes.
Smart Casual: Any kind of clothes can be worn but jeans and sport shoes are taboo. For gentlemen it is fabric trousers with easy shirt, maybe supplementing with a pullover. For ladies: elegant trousers with blouse are recommended.
Ask for help of a stylist in the case of uncertainty in choosing the suitable clothes.

Old postcards 6.

Dec23

Christmas on old postcards

Wrapping presents

Dec21

For most of us, the last step of preparing for Christmas is wrapping the presents. We would like to do it neatly and nicely just like as we have decorated our home. Here are some classic, wrapping ideas without cliché.
Using gift boxes and bags is the fastest but showy wrapping method. They are available in variable sizes, patterns and styles. The box can be made of metal or cardboard. It is an additional decoration to tie it with a ribbon. In the case of a bag, take care for its quality, not to torn because of the weight of the present.
Using simple brown wrapping paper, mould-made paper, newspaper or music paper fits well for rustic or vintage Christmas decor. The plain ones can be decorated by hand-made painting, stickers or prints but they look good without patterns also. Pop it up with adding a nice ribbon, a unique card, a pine branch or crops.
Imitating the snowy landscape inside, we can wrap the presents in wateline. The soft material can be easily used for presents in any shape and size. Tie it with a simple white ribbon, lace or raffia for keeping the natural effect.
Using the leftover wallpapers and fabrics as wrapping materials is a clever idea. They give varied patterns and colors for the Christmas mood. The scene can be unified by binding them with ribbons in similar color and size and the name cards are similar also.
If complete similarity is required to the Christmas decoration of the home, choose a wrapping paper fitting in color for the Christmas tree. Wrap all the presents in this and the ribbons has to be the same as one of the colors of the interior and place them under the tree.
Ask for help of a style adviser in time for choosing the tools for wrapping the presents, achieving the perfect harmony in Christmas decoration.