Animal protection in interior design

Oct19

It may sound odd but there is a connection between interior design and animal protection. Many people like animal patterns, skins and motifs but there is always an alternative solution instead of using real materials made of animals. We can meet clients for whom it’s important that their home fulfills the animal protection principles.
Leather is the most commonly used animal material. It has several good characteristics and it is very decorative. Usually we use cow, pig, goat and lamb leather. These animals are slaughtered for their flesh, their skin-utilization is a plus, this way it isn’t waisted neither. Using this kind of leather is not against the animal protection. We can also use poromeric imitation leather instead of a real one. Its look and feel are very similar to real leathers, it breaths also and remains comfortable in heat. The material is polyurethane on textile base. It’s durable and easy to clean. Nowadays market leader textile factories produce lifelike and high-quality printed fabrics in exotic and domestic animal patterns. Exotic looking faux-furs are another good solution. These are high-quality products too and also perfect for upholstery and carpet uses.
Stags and deers shed their antlers in every year. Forestry officials gather them to be sold. These can be used for household or decoration objects looking good in classic interiors. Horns of cattle are also frequently used for this purpose. We can choose objects with similar colors and surfaces instead of real animal origin products. Many factories produce high-quality faux trophies and artificial animal leathers.
For me, not only energy saving and green architecture are important issues, but also the protection of the fauna. An alternative solution can be beautiful, chic and comfortable also, what’s more environmentally friendly.

Medicine cabinets

Oct16

Stylish batroom medicine cabinet solutions

Pumpkin decor

Oct14

Special carved pumpkins for autumn decoration

Reupholstering

Oct12

Our antique chairs, armchairs, ottomans and other upholstered furniture that are worn by use, can be the ornament of our home again after a small prettification. If the wooden parts and joints are in good condition and the color of the frame is also adequate, it’s time to reupholstering. Any style of furniture can turn fashionable again by upholstering with a new fabric.
If it is a real antique piece, the job should be done by a professional! The upholstery made using old, forgotten, manual techniques is worth to be restored or changed in the same way. There are many techniques in the history of upholstered furniture that are not in use anymore, for example strung linen bands, horsehair padding and tumbler. These are replaced by foam in modern furniture which can worn out in a couple of years.
The most exciting task is choosing the new fabric. It’s important for the fabric should bear the strain of hard using, it should be thick and dense woven. The fabric shops can help you for choosing one. The pattern and the color of the textile should be fit both to the interior and the furniture! Let’s be brave but keep the character and the history of the object. It doesn’t worth to make an antique piece of furniture garish by an extremely modern upholstery. We can use more fabrics in the case of a sofa or armchairs, the back and the seat can be different. We can choose also different but matching fabrics for the back and the front of an upholstered-back chair. Cushions of a sofa can be also different from the upholstery, rather complementing it. The variations of possibilities and fabrics are almost infinite.
In case of uncertainty, ask for help of an interior designer for furbishing your old upholstered furniture!

Color pairs 8.

Oct9

Color pairs: grey-red

Useful accessories 5.

Oct7

Useful accessories in the kitchen

Fireplaces

Oct5

The fireplace is the heart of the home, it symbolizes the stove. Maybe that’s why we are attracted so much to it. Warm coziness can be created in every flat or house by it, just the proper type has to be chosen.
Nothing is more pleasurable than the sound and sight of the flaming and crisp logs. The most important requirement of using a wood-burning fireplace is a properly ventilated chimney. The license even won’t be given without this. If our house has the required features, let’s select among the most beautiful fireplaces. However, regular revision and maintenance by a specialist is important for avoiding accidents. Disadvantages of wood-burning type: ash with dust and soot, and continuous filling of the log pile. It gives warmth in a couple of meters.
Installing gas heated fireplaces is a subject to authorization also. There are strict rules for piping and building the chimney. The flame is real but in a more regulated way. Handling it is much easier, since only a switch has to be turned for burning. There is no dusty afterwork. It warms really only in one or two meters far.
Bioethanol fireplaces can be put anywhere in any sizes. No license is needed for them because no harmful materials are produced during burning. No pipes and no chimney are needed. It has real flames which is easily controllable and can be turned off. But take care for keeping the combustion chamber clean because the coated dust could smell bad when lit. It gives minimal warmth.
Electric fireplaces are the cleanest types. They can be turned on and off with just pushing a button. It can be placed anywhere where a proper fuse-board and a meter are set. But its flame is not real and gives no warmth.
Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the fireplace in proper type and style for your home.

Thomas Kinkade 3.

Oct2

Selection of Thomas Kinkade’s autumn landscapes

Bench beside table

Sep30

The advanteg of the bench put / built to the dinner table is the more seat in smaller space

Autumn balcony

Sep28

As days become colder, we spend less and less time on our balcony. Although, a relaxation outside would feel good on nice, sunny autumn weekends, watching color leaves. We still don’t have to pass it up but it needs small preparations.
It is a bit easier in the case of a covered, side protected loggia. Put a thicker cushion on the outdoor chairs. Lay a smaller carpet or even a mat under the chair protecting our feet. A low power heater and a thick blanket can create warmth. If there is a metal table, let’s place a plate mat on it and put a cup of hot chocolate or tea on it, this way it gets cold later. If the rail of the loggia is grilled, so the wind can blow through, let’s cover it from the inner side with a nice fabric or rush. Fix it on several points to keep the wind from playing with it.
In the case of an open balcony, more preparations are needed. It can be made relatively close by fixing a curtain rod on the bottom of the balcony above it, on the sides. Curtain made of any outdoor fabric can be hung on this. Tie the bottom of it to the rail against wind. If there is enough space, the wind can be blocked by tall potted plants (e.g. thuja) also. For those who live on the top floor, it’s worth to install a plastic rain roof. This protects from sunshine and snow also. Anything curtain-like can be fixed to this too. Thick blanket, cushion and hot tea are important accessories here also.
Let’s decorate the balcony/loggia with the colors of autumn. Make garlands from lined crops and color leaves which can be fixed to the rail. Hurricane lamp like candle holders are perfect for outdoor mood lighting. The chair should have arms for bigger comfort and coziness. An outdoor faux-lawn can be laid down which lets through the rain, dries soon and provides the feeling of a garden. Ceramic pumpkins, color harmonizing fabrics, berried branches in a massive vase and warm slippers can help to enjoy the most beautiful experiences of autumn which can be provide by nature.
Ask for help of an interior designer for transforming your balcony for autumn days.