Mountain chalet style

Dec14

Ski season is coming soon and many people travel to the near mountains to enjoy the fun and sport opportunities provided by winter. Rentable mountain chalets are also popular beside hotels. In both cases, we meet with characteristic mood and interior design.
Wood and quarry stone are the most determinative of the materials used. The very knotted pattern of pine planks and beams is highlighted much more by lacquering and burnishing. In the case of other wood types, nervure has bigger role and can be more spectacular by it. The stone fireplace or stone decorated main wall gives the basic mood. Its colors have a wide range from grey to brown. The two extremities can be mixed, so the outcome will be more natural and colorful.
Upholstered furniture provides warmth to the space. This softness is needed beside the wooden walls, beamed roofing and huge windows. The color palette is mostly warm. Fabrics should be thicker but soft. Checkered pattern also fits for mountain chalet style, beside plains. Craftsmanship-like patterns of cushions and blankets add a twist to the total effect. A blanket and a smaller rug made of fur gives us the feel of warmth. The big leather armchair near the fireplace will be a perfect reading nook. (Bio-ethanol fireplace can be placed in any kind of flat/house.) Let’s put characteristic alpine heart-back wooden chairs beside the wooden table in the kitchen/dining area for the desired rustic mood. For more elegant look, upholstered chairs are better. Quarry stone can be used for tiling the bathroom also.
Chandelier and wall scones made of antlers, faux trophies, landscapes, candles, knitted things, antique tools and skis are perfect decoration elements. Use colors specific to the style: browns, warm grays, warm whites, cherry red, darker greens, beige, dark blue, cream. The patchwork blanket and home slippers at the foot of the bed will be an inviting sight.
Ask for help of an interior designer for enjoying the mood of a mountain chalet not only during the ski tour but even in the whole year, in your own home.

Formal gardens

Dec12

Traditional gardens from the air: symmetry and elegance

Color pairs 10.

Dec10

Color pairs: brown-pink

Adam style

Dec7

Architect Robert Adam (1728-1792) was one of the most prominent persons of English classicism. He came from an architect family and worked with his brother (James). Adam-style was named after him, which is still very popular in the Anglo-Saxon areas.
Adam was travelling for four years throughout Europe before began to work on getting familiar with architecture and culture of other countries. He spent two years in Rome studying the ruins of the classical world. He used the ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan architectural marks (medallion, vase, urn, vine scroll, sphynx, griffin etc.) on his buildings. Also used the style of Louis XVI. as source. In the first time, the Adam brothers got jobs only at the countryside, but later they were invited to London for several projects, practically they took part in the city-planning. Their unique decoration style was the key of their success. They paid attention not only for the outside of the buildings but the inner parts too: the elaborate plasterworks of ceilings and walls and rich classical decorations are still awe-inspiring. Furniture, carpets, lamps, fire places etc. designed by the Adam brothers were used in the interiors. They applied newly developed paints and created special color palettes: pea green, sky blue, lilac, bright pink, red-brown terracotta, lemon. Painted decoration elements were basic features of the style, e.g. swags and ribbons.
Their most well-known buildings: Edinburgh University Old College, Kedleston Hall, Kenwood House, Luton Hoo, Paxton House, Syon House etc. Their plans were published as a book. The style’s revival was in the late Victorian era.
This very classical style gives elegance but using it an inappropriate way makes the interior cluttered. It requires proficiency to be applied in the available interior, so ask for help of an interior designer.

Old postcards 5.

Dec4

Santa Claus on old postcards

My project 5.

Dec2

Proper designed and custom made cushions

Santa Claus

Nov30

6th of December is coming soon, Hungarian children are waiting Santa Claus (or Father Christmas). The origin of the feast is connected to Saint Nicholas who gave presents to his neighbor’s children, as to the tale. Starting from this legend, Santa Claus was illustrated as an old man in coarse clothes with mitre, who lived in Heaven and watched children from there. His assistants were buffers, angels or elves.
This picture and the feast itself changed in the 20th century and became global – it is said that the Santa Claus illustration of Coca Cola became well known worldwide. The assistants disappeared beside him. His figure came to stay: white hair-moustache-beard, red clothes with belt, boots, big red sack, big tummy and smiling face. His person separated from the saint, although he is frequently called Nicholas in Hungary, the Father Christmas name is rather in use. (He is Santa Claus in Anglo-Saxon countries, Joulupukki in Finland, Nikolaus in German speech areas and Gyed Maroz in Russia). According to the new background story, he lives in the North Pole, his toy- and present making factory is also there, where elves are working. His sleigh is pulled by nine reindeers with which he can even fly. Children write letters to him before Christmas about the desired presents.
The date of presenting in Hungary is still 6th of December, day of Nicholas. He puts presents for good children and rods for bad children in the cleaned boots and shoes under the cover of night. He goes around the world during the night of Christmas and hands out the presents according to traditions of other countries which he puts under the Christmas tree or in the hung stockings after crawling in through the chimney. The bad gets coals instead of rods in Anglo-Saxon countries.
Decorate our home with Christmas ornaments even to this feast getting moody surprises by the presents in the morning. Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the decoration fit for your home.

Inspiration 7.

Nov27

Ispirations for manfully elegant interiors

Design cakes

Nov25

Special design cakes which can be the ornament of a classic celebration table

Thanksgiving

Nov23

Thanksgiving is a North-American national feast. It is on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the USA. This is the second biggest family holiday beside Christmas and also the beginning of the festive season in the USA. Its history is dating back to 1621 when the when the settlers who arrived the previous year thanked for the annual harvest after the harvest.
The Thanksgiving dinner has special dishes: whole roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans and pumpkin pie. Commonly the Friday is given as holiday, so the whole family can celebrate together at the long weekend. The nicely set table is very important this time. Commonly there is a separate dinner set for this occasion, mostly in warm colors. The soup bowl is frequently turkey-shaped, there is a pumpkin-shaped cup instead of plate for soup, seating card is placed on the table sticking in a pear/apple – only some examples.
The characteristic crops (for example: pumpkin, corn, nuts) and colors (orange, browns, mustard yellow, claret etc.) of autumn are used for the decoration. Not only the interiors but the outdoor parts connecting to the house are decorated with leafed-berried branches, chrysanthemums in pots and door wreaths. Big cockades, turkey figures and huge balls are made of paper in proper colors. The letter of Thanksgiving are cut from spare fabrics or cardboards and glued to a ribbon forming garlands and they are hung on for example the mantelpiece or the stair-rail. Sweets and sandwiches on the buffet table can be smart too: small turkeys are formed from biscuits or marzipan and the sandwiches have „contour feathers” made of olives on toothpicks.
Other decorations can be also used besides the colors of autumn, depending on the style of the interior, for example silver, gold, warm whites or cream. The lights of candles and tea lights give the nicely warm total effect.
If you like the mood of Thanksgiving and want your home enrobed in late autumn decoration, ask for help of an interior designer for this.