Perfect examples for high standars: interiors of Bentley, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin – they would looking good in our living room either
Inspiration 2.
Archives
Striped wallpapers
Striped wallpapers in term of elegance
Easter preparations
Easter arrives soon. People usually decorate their homes for the holiday. What can we do if we have a classic style home and we would like to emphasize this elegance in the decoration as well?
Best solution are cut and potted flowers. Feel free to use the gifts of spring for decoration purposes: muscari, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths. Pots should be covered by fabric or paper harmonizing in color with the flower, or fits to the furniture with its classic pattern. Attach it with a bow tied silk ribbon even decorated with crystal pendant. Put smaller pots on the window sill, the mantel, the side of the coffe table or the unused space near the entrance on the floor.
Cut flowers, bud / flower branches, catkin should be inserted in decorative vase, which can be made of crystal or porcelain – which best fits to the room. Let’s tie brightly colored silk ribbons and white lace tapes to the branches, let’s hang egg-shaped gems on them, that can be selected by shape and color in the shop dealing with minerals. By this, we can produce a delicate view at low cost. A greater bouquet should be placed in the middle of the table, and in line with it, some shorter flowers along the whole size of the table. Not only vases can be used for this, but crystal glasses, smaller dishes only for flower blossoms, or even a jar covered by silk fabric. Under white plates, dish pads can be placed from flower patterned fabric, instead of napkin rings, flowers can be tied on textile napkins.
Table should be covered by white damask tablecloth, even with flower patterned. On this, some antique porcelain decorations can be placed that are associated to Easter: rabbit, egg, flower, bird, etc. Candles are also preferable. On a flat dish, colorful small cakes, decorated muffins and marzipan flowers can be served.
A professional interior designer can help to plan and realize the decoration best fitting to the home in a consultation taking 1-2 hours.
Garage usability
Some ideas for having enough space for our car, garden gadgets and DIY workshop in one garage
Antiques in our home
Well-placed, decorative antique ornaments always lift the shine of an interior
Inspiration 1.
Use our favourite photo’s colors for decorating our home
Supplementary colors
Supplementary colors are color pairs, that are located the opposite side of the color circle. They strengthen the effect of each other, resulting an eye-catcher pair. The color circle itself consists of three elementary (blue, yellow, red), three secondary (green, purple, orange) and six tertiary (transitions of the above mentioned) colors. The circle shows their relations also.
In interior design, we use them for reaching really striking, unforgettable experience and for defining focal points. If we would like to use them in the same share, a third, neutral color (black, white, cream) should be applied too. The supplementary color pair has to be used at a relatively low level in the space (e.g.: on decoration pillows, vases, pictures or on some smaller furniture). If both colors have to be emphasized, don’t use them in the same share, else the result will have unsettled or unfinished feeling without the required esthetics. One of them should me the main color, while the other is the secondary, as we have already seen it at the color balance. As a counterpoint, the supplementary should be used in small amount.
Most common pairs are green-red, blue-orange and purple-yellow combinations. If someone afraid of intensive colors, this scenario can be also realized with pastel colors as well: with pink-light green, lavender-vanilla and light blue-coral hues.
Using supplementary colors requires courage. If you are uncertain, but you would like to get a spectacular interior, ask help from an interior designer or color advisor.
Kitchen renewal
The complete renewal of a kitchen is one of the more expensive operations. When we buy a new flat, the kitchen furniture is generally not fitting to our expectations. Not only the age can be the problem, but also the style or color. What can we do if we cannot afford large expenses, but still we would like a new kitchen?
The best situation is, if the furniture is made of wood. It can be painted to any color easily. First the surface must be sanded thoroughly. After a layer of primer paint, the final paint can be applied. For laminated or plastic covered chipboard, there are also paints available, with which they can be revamped. Doors can be decorated with moldings. A carpenter can cut and fit these to their place – we have just choose and paint the moldings to the color of the furniture – or to any contrast color as well. Wooden door panels can be removed and the carpenter can carve any pattern in them upon our need. This provides a little more classic feeling to the kitchen.
The fastest and simplest way to refresh the kitchen furniture is changing the handle knobs. The best if we can purchase knobs with the same hole pitch. There is a large palette of different colors, shapes and materials. Using patterned porcelain inlay or wrought iron (like) accessories, a vintage feeling can be realized. With copper or white porcelain, the result is more classic.
If we have no opportunity to change the wall and floor tiles, as a temporary solution, we can use a carpet fitting in color. Changing the water taps, implementing new blinds to the window (e.g.: Roman blinds), or purchasing decorative storing facilities mean low cost, but brings a great change. A real classic and spectacular view can be reached by using a smaller chandelier.
If you are not certain in the required changes in your kitchen within the budget available, consult an interior designer before beginning.
French Renaissance
During the French Renaissance not only architectural and artistic works were outstanding, but the beauty of furnishing and comfort came into view also. This era is really hallmarked by two sovereigns: François I. (1494-1547) met the new trend following Gothic during his Italian campaigns. He immediately fell in love with the ornaments and anthropocentric vision. When he went home, he implemented these in France. Many Loire castles were built or rebuilt during his reign (e.g. Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry). He invited Leonardo Da Vinci in his court. Cathrine de Medici (1519-1589) was born is Florence and grew up in the heyday of Italian Renaissance. She took this love to France, where she got married with the future Henry II. As a regent she spent big amounts for furnishing castles, re-buildings (Louvre) and art treasures.
The three-dimensional effect is the characteristic of Renaissance living spaces: huge fireplaces, imposing marble staircases, big collective spaces. The stone walls were covered by richly patterned tapestries which protected partly against cold also. Beds had legs against the coldness of the floor and bugs, and they had canopy which provided not only the private area but protected against draught also. This time it was already common to welcome important guests in bed.
The first versions of wardrobes (dressoire, cabinets) appeared beside chests as main storages. These were richly carved, showing the wealth and rank of the owner also. Furniture had architectural forms: colonnade, arches, sill etc. Framed structure, marquetry, veneer and inlays were first used this time. Chairs could be fix or folding. Upholstery appeared (leather, velvet) which provided more comfortable seating. Tables are not take-apart anymore, they are sturdy and imposing pieces on columnar legs.
The court moved from one castle to another because the large household could be fed by a city and surroundings only for a limited time. In this case, all the furniture, tapestries, cutleries, wardrobes etc. were carried. Paris became the permanent seat of French kings at the end of the Renaissance (during the reign of Henry III. and IV.).
Interior of those times may seem to be a bit over-decorated and outdated from today’s standpoint. But the then feeling and creating artistic values can be implemented in modern surroundings also. Ask for help of an interior designer for this.
Collections
The proper placement of different collections is not an easy issue. We don’t want to give it up, but we cannot store it as we would like to. The main reason is the lack of space or organization.
There are collections, which are evident to store, like books, stamps, DVDs, etc. We can find place for them on the bookshelf, the box under the TV or at the bottom of the coffee table. The unused space under the stairs or above the doors can be equipped by shelves to. But the real problem is caused by special collections to be exhibited in the department. We should find a worthy location for them, not to pick out from the drawer if we would like to take a look on them.
Sculptures, ceramics, glass objects look nice on a narrow shelf made for right this, lightened by spotlights or LED lights from above. Similarly suitable is a plasterboard niche-line as well. For maquettes, models, there are wall mountable storage compartments available. These later can be easily designed and implemented by us using some wood and paint.
In case of choosing the proper surface to place paintings, drawings and etchings, we have save them from direct sunlight which can be destructive. A glass covered frame can save avoid the contact with dust.
When collecting small objects (minerals, souvenirs from abroad, watches, etc) a good solution can be placing them on the top of a commode, the glass cabinet above the tv or under the glass surface of the coffee table. Let’s group the items by color, style, theme or form. Not only the living room can be the right place for them, but the hall, the bathroom (e.g. seashells or stones), or even the bedroom.
Important: avoid overdoing it! They souldn’t cover all corners of the room – if we haven’t got a separate room right for this purpose. If the collection grows too large, let’s try to sort: show only the nicest or favorite ones. The remaining others can be stored in a box in the cabinet. If you don’t know how to optimize the available space or how to exhibit your treasures the best way, ask help from an interior designer.
