Parquetry patterns

May28

The history of parquet flooring goes back to the Renaissance. The wooden floor tiles were laid in V-shape since the middle of the 16th century. The two oldest patterns are herringbone and chevron. These are the most popular today also but they are frequently mixed up.
Reputedly herringbone patterned parquetry was first laid by Italian craftsmen in 1539 for the French king Francis I. In this classic pattern, the pieces are in right angle so that the short side of one piece gets to the end of the other’s long side. Actually they show a zigzag pattern but its line is broken.
However, there are pointed peaks in chevron pattern (named after the V-shaped rank sign), this way the chock-shape is created. The pieces are cut in mitter, the ends are joined this way, so the pattern will be continuous. Nowadays ready-made floor and wall tiles are available.
The two patterns mentioned above are frequent not only as floor but as wall decorations also. They can be created from wall tiles (e.g. subway tiles), floor tiles or even vinyl flooring, not only from wood parquetry. They look good both in classic and modern interiors.
Luckily, parquetry is fashionable again, more and more people want to save the old wooden flooring of the building being renovated. It is really worth to spend money and time for it unless it is in too bad condition, since it will be beautiful and valuable part of the interior. It will look as good as new with gap-filling, grinding and lacquering (probably changing its color by burnishing).
Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the proper patterns.

My project 21.

May18

The renovation of this 56 sqm downtown flat for a very nice woman was finished last year. The main tasks were space reorganization and creating enough storage. The old kitchen is now the bedroom for taking advantage of the small back-balcony, so the pantry became a gardrobe. The new kitchen was created by removing the wall between a small room and the entrance space. The old hall’s wall was also removed, this way there was enough space for the dining area and large wardrobes. The central space is much more roomy and livable. The neutral cream and brown colors provide the calm base that is enlivened by different hues of blue, from turquoise to cobalt.
More photos: http://classicinteriors.hu/hu/referenciak/20-referencia/60-referencia15

Old fridges

May9

Refridgerators anno

3D visualization

Apr9

3D visualization has an important role in the design process. The plans of the designer merged with technical plans and product samples are not always comprehensible for the client, who needs something which shows the upshot in a final state, almost in 3D visualization.
Perspective drawing was the first solution for this. The room has been drawn from the perspective of the viewer and looked like if he or she was just standing in it. It could show the relationship of the objects to each other and the scales. It needed handcraft and took a long time. More perspectives meant more drawings.
In the old times, the usual way of this was making scale-models. The miniaturized model of the building was made of paper or wood. This process took a long time also. It was followed by the acceptance of the customer. Since the building constructions themselves were very slow and the furniture was made by craftsmen, realizing a whole interior took many years. Nowadays there is no time for this. In our faster world, technics can help this process also. For example, Rapid Prototyping (RPT) is one of them, which builds the model based on plans generated by software, from several materials, in a relatively short time. This technology is rarely used in interior design.
This process became faster by the emergence and development of CAD software. The „camera” can move freely in the interior designed, so visualization from various aspects took only some more minutes. A new question arose: the quality of the 3D visualizations. The gap between pictures without rendering and photorealistic pictures is huge. All depends on the requirements of the client. Some of them need only a simple visualization to see the harmony of colors and furniture, what can be fit in. But professional visualization is a must in a tender, especially in the case of public buildings.
Most of the architectural and interior design software have a rendering module. However, a perfect result can be achieved only by an external rendering software, which has been developed especially for this purpose. We actually get a realistic picture just like a real photo by setting several parameters. This process is helped by interior manufacturers with providing 3D files of their products which can be imported to the software. This way the chosen lamp, sofa or other product can be exactly placed in the plans, not just a similar one.
Of course, visualizations are still time-consuming process, regardless to the easy-to-use software solutions. Besides, hand drawings still have great importance, because these are unique, having almost an artistic value. Interior designers provide 3D visualizations of the plans if required.

Irish greens

Mar14

St. Patrick’s Day greens

Real leather

Mar5

Real leather is present in homes since the prehistoric ages. First, it was used only as clothes and blankets, but later, when the quality of finish became finer, it was used for many other purposes. Nowadays leather is used as upholstery and carpet in interior design, although there are several other usages of it which make the interior more interesting. If the aim is creating a masculine home, this is more accentual.
Several factories sell handles made of or covered with leather. Seam made by contrasting stiches conjures the required piece to a decorating motif. It is a fine detail on a kitchen cabinet, for example.
Sound-proofing was resolved in libraries of old houses by thick leather-covered padding on the inner side of the door, because frequently it was the home office too. Leather covered doors were often decorated with quilting or buttoning. This elegant solution is applied in modern times also, for example in managers’ offices. Even if there is no need for sound-proofing, let’s evoke this tradition, because it gives unique mood for our home office too.
Anno top of the desks were covered by leather as well. Paper couldn’t slip while writing viz. high-gloss lacquer and varnish resulted a quite slippery surface and leather was more comfortable for the elbow also. These kinds of desks can be bought in firms producing classic furniture.
We can still find household and decoration objects in variations covered by leather. It is not only natural and elegant material but long-lasting too. Some examples without limitation: storage boxes, letter-opener knife, handle of magnifier, artisan pictures, coaster.
Nowadays faux-leather wall panels are more and more fashionable in homes, as an eye candy first of all. It is applicable behind TVs for hiding wires but holds on as hallway peg-wall and bedside wall covering because of its easy-clean feature. If somebody doesn’t like plastic at home, can order them made of real leather because these are always produced in unique sizes.
Ask for help of an interior designer for furnishing your home, even if you cling to a certain material.

Multifunction

Feb28

Multifunctional furniture with extra storage

Butter dishes

Feb21

Not ordinary but fitting in classic styles butter dishes

Color pairs 33.

Jan31

Color pairs: green-red

Thousand faces of classic style

Jan29

The „classic style” terminology sometimes causes difficulties to the prospective customer, there is a situation when it directly deters him/her from using the service. This definition in public awareness is equal to beige-brown colors, huge and over-decorated furniture or heavy draperies. Classic style however has several faces and all of them can be complemented with any technical solution which provides the comfort of present times.
Historical styles definition means those trends which were specific to a certain historical era, not only in interior design but almost every aspects of life. They contain music, literature, fine arts, architecture, gardening design, fashion etc. They closely linked to each other, just like we can see in historical books. Following these, it’s not necessary to completely copy furnishing of for example a palace, for reaching the desired effect, since the scales probably are quite different now and then. It might be enough to pick two or three main features from the all and the other details should be shaped for these to get a harmonious general aspect. Some examples without limitation: ancient Roman, Renaissance, Baroque, Victorian.
Styles using special features of countries and lands can be also called classic. Commonly they evoke the chosen style with using antique objects, archaic shapes, typical colors and materials, which cannot be reflected by a modern/minimal interior (of course, there are such homes also everywhere). It’s the total effect what really matters. Some examples without limitation: Provencal, Moroccan, (any kind of) rural, seaside style.
Thematic styles, as I call, are interior design solutions which based on a theme. This can be a movie, a city or even a present popular trend. They have in common using classic tracing furniture, accessories and decoration objects, if it is possible, together with antique pieces. Colors help a lot in this case also to reach the goal. Some examples without limitation: shabby chic, steampunk, Paris, industrial style.
Modern classic style cannot be classified to the previously mentioned groups, but probably this is the most common. The bigger furniture, architectural details (mouldings, rosette, wall panel etc.), upholstery, floor coverings are all classic, but colors, accessories, decorating objects represent a more modern trend. These together make the effect sophisticated.
Don’t be afraid of the classic style term. Everybody can find the perfect one of them. Ask for help of an interior designer for implementing.