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Brown kitchen cabinets

Dark brown kitchen cabinets are not so popular recently, though combined with sutable elements (lighting, countertop, backsplash, wall colour) can be very attractive

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Wooden panelled fridges

Wooden panelled refridgerators are perfectly fit into classic style kitchens

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Rococo

Rococo came to be in France at the beginning of the 18th century and was popular until the 1780s. The origin of the name is the word rocaille which is a mix of pebbles, cement and seashells. The new style was a kind of rebellion against the rigidity of Baroque. The nobles desired more free, playful and more decorated surroundings after the death of Louis XIV. It culminated under the reign of Louis XV., in which his lover, Madame Pompadour had a great role also.
Rococo is actually a decorating style. Everything was decorated with carvings and gypsum decors, mostly gilded. There were twisty vine scrolls, flower and fruit garlands, C and S volutes, shell motifs around pictures/mirrors, on furniture (especially on console tables, commodes and tables), on the walls of the rooms and also on the ceiling. Genres came in fashion in painting which reflected the idealized thoughts and desires of the nobles about the world (e.g. A. Watteau, F. Boucher). Slightly looser themes weren’t taboos anymore at all, not only mythological figures were depicted without clothes and/or in piquant settings. Toile de Jouy pattern visualized the pastoral idyll which was „born” in that time. Chinoiserie was an important part of Rococo also which brought the far Eastern culture in the royal courts. Furniture was lacquered, decorated with painted scenes, ormolu and inlays became popular. Colors were muted, white and pastel shades were fashionable. Thanks to the formation of the European porcelain producing, miniature statues and figures appeared. These were placed on the mantelpiece or console table as decorating elements. Their theme was joy or love. There were many lace trimmings, ribbons, bows and embroideries on the clothes, powdered wigs and gloves were important accessories. The institution of salon appeared where the chosen companionship gathered and lived a vivid intellectual life. Rococo style gave a special surrounding for this.
From today’s point of view, Rococo might be a bit „too much”. However, it can be replaced into today’s interiors also with holding in the amount of gildings and decorations and handling the main features as only examples. Ask for help of an interior designer for this.

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Castle Hotel Parádsasvár

Castle Hotel Parádsasvár through the eyes of the guest (2015)

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Parquetry patterns

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.

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Children’s Day 1.

Very girly rooms for the International Children’s Day

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Decoration motifs 1.

Classic architectural and furniture decoration motifs: acanthus leaf, caryatid (female figure used instead of a column), egg and dart

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My project 21.

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

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Hiding TV cables

How to hide mounted TV cables by building instead of wrecking

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Greige

Greige (grey+beige) is made by a pinch of brown in grey paint. It works well with either cool or warm color palettes because greige is a perfect neutral color.

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