Old objects

Feb17

Loving old objects is still important in our running world. These are not necessarily hundreds-years old pieces for a fortune, but anything which was already used, served two or three generations, first of all, it has its own story.
This kind of object is beautiful, contains memories but naturally is not perfect since it was already used. The time left marks on it, unless it is newly restored. The paint is a bit more matted, the lacquering is scraped, the handle is discolored, fabric is a bit faded. The inherited objects symbolize also the family itself. Its size, material or real value doesn’t matter. Old objects have the specialty to move our imagination even if we get them from a stranger. When for example a chest of drawers is purchased on a flea market or on the internet, it is unlikely that we will know its history, but the furniture tells stories about itself. Just because of its age, we try to imagine, how many places it stood already, who used it, probably how it survived the World Wars. This remains the same, even it is repainted, its handles are changed or glass is put in its doors. Those who enters in our home, will feel the age of the furniture.
The love of old objects is independent from the fact that who likes which style. They give life to all interiors and turn the flat to a home. For example, an old painting fits well for a minimalist interior also. A trade sign from the beginning of the century or antique saws can be placed on the wall instead of pictures in a loft furnished in the latest trend. This is much more evident in the case of classic styles. A lot of copy and re-manufactured household objects can be purchased in shops nowadays. Anyhow, the mood can be rally spiced with placing at least one piece of real antiques in the space. Notice our guests’ reactions: everybody will watch this one first.
If you look after a special and unique antique piece for your home, take an expert along to the purchasing trip for excluding forgeries. Do you want to design the furniture around a given piece? Would you like your flat being vivified by a fitting antique? Ask for help of an interior designer for planning.

Classic penthouse

Feb15

Modern penthouse – classic elegance

Valentine’s Day

Feb14

14th of February is Valentine day and celebrated worldwide. This is the day of love. Its origin is not clear. The mating period of birds starts at the middle of Februery, maybe this observation led to the emergence of this feast. Traditionally love is assigned to this day, but we can give surprises not only our love, but our family and friends as well.
Its traditional decoration motives are rose, heart, Amor, arrow and pigeon. Customized colors are red and all shades of pink. Celebrate this day with a complete home decoration, not only a romantic dinner. Hang a heart shaped decoration on the front door made of red roses or pink paper flowers. Place colourful candles, garlands made of hearts and small puttos on the mantle. In the bedroom, we can change the blankets and the cushions to red, the lampshades can be decorated by boas, cushions can be scattered with flower petals and a heart can be formed by candles on the floor. In the bathroom, place candles to the bathtub and shelves. Hang out red or red edged towels. Pour rose scented bubble bath into the bath water. Dinner table should be decorated by candles and red plates, which can be part of the everyday, other coloured dinner set. Red glasses and damask nepkins are also decorative. A bucket of rose looks good everywhere. If you feel red color too dominant, combine it with lot of white, thus only the important motifs will strike your eyes. For a less formal, youthful mood let’s apply the hues of pink instead of red.
If you would like to surprise your loved ones with a special Valentine’s Day mood, ask help from an interior designer for decoration.

Photos for selling our home

Feb11

When selling a property, the most important part of the advertisement – beyond floor map – are the pictures taken of it. According to the experience, it’s not quite obvious how to take some such quality photos, which will “sell” the property for us.
Before we start, let’s clean up! It’s a great mistake if we think, that the several weeks old mist or the lack of mopping will not be noticed on the pictures. Another essential task is tidying up. Everything should be put to its place and let’s check, how could be the space even more spectacular. Let’s look at a few interior design magazines and get some ideas from the photos in them: there is no mess, color- and style cavalcade or too many decorations. It’s advised to move from room to room and always prepare the given room for the perfect photo. This can be quite difficult task when the property is inhabited, since the amount of personal objects and furniture should be decreased to a level acceptable by an outsider. If necessary, move the excess chair or commode to another room during taking pictures. Most of the decorations should be placed behind closed doors and the remaining should be arranged nicely. Let’s turn on all the lights even in daylight! Use wide angle lens to catch the most of the room in one frame. Emphasize the good features, such as large window, cozy alcove or the beautiful hardwood flooring. At bathroom and kitchen, the feeling of hygiene is the most important. Here the metal surfaces should be shiny, glass doors and mirrors should be freshly cleaned to show the glamour. If possible, let’s provide a picture of all the rooms to the advertisement.
Some disincentive examples that are regularly appear among property advertising: drying underwear in the bathroom, full trash bin in the kitchen, unmade bed in the bedroom, or dirty clothes on the floor. Although the prospective buyer will purchase the property not our personal objects, yet all this counts a lot with him when deciding, whether he comes to see the apartment or house, or not. In case of a house, choose a shiny day for taking outdoor pictures for the sake of real bright colors. The principle of order still should be valid: tidy up the garden, trim the grass, even stairs and paved parts should be washed up. Take several photos of both the house and garden from different angles.
If you would like to distinguish your advertisement among the lots of others, ask home staging advices from an interior designer for the preparation.

Color pairs 2.

Feb10

Color pairs: yellow-orange

Variations 1.

Feb9

Variations for a theme: shipping

Ceiling

Feb2

The ceiling is the sixth side of the room which we often forget. In old times, the ceiling was rarely left white, it was mostly richly decorated or colored. Why cannot we evoke this practice?
The style of the room can be highlighted with the color or decoration of the ceiling, it can complement the sight of furnishing or even can be an additional twist for the mood. For these, the first and most important question is: what is the room height? The dark painted ceiling visually gets lower, while the light colored raises the eye. It can be for example coffee brown with 250cm room height also if a cozier mood is required – let’s say in the case of a library – and it can be painted in light blue with 360 cm room height if an airy effect is desired – for example in a bedroom. Note, that the color of the walls is reflected to the ceiling and vice versa. Besides colors, decoration elements can help in emphasizing the ceiling: stuccos, mouldings, rosettes. These can be made of gypsum, polystyrene or wood. Their basic color is commonly white but can be painted to any desired color. Rosettes usually placed to the fixing of chandeliers and pendants. Its diameter should be a bit smaller than the chandelier’s. But this rule can be broken if the oversized decorating element is designed for attracting the guest’s eye upward as entering. Crown mouldings hide the joint of the wall and the ceiling, this way they visually make the room higher. The mouldings are placed on the wall right below the ceiling. If these are painted to the color of the ceiling, the room seems to be lower. Stuccos can be placed in the corners or even around the rosette. The desired decoration is up to the taste. Their effect can be buffered with painting the whole ceiling to a plain, neutral shade.
A similar effect can be reached with hand-painted decoration of the ceiling instead of decorating elements (stencil, pictures, stripes etc.). This is a much cheaper solution but requires great handcraft. Even faux-beams can be placed if the style of the flat/house allows it. They don’t have to be necessarily painted to a different color as the ceiling to be highlighted. Metal tile is a showy solution also.
Get inspiration from visiting old historical buildings, it can be a castle, museum or a public institution in such a building, then ask for help of an interior designer for implementing these in your home also.