Change your featureless panelling to a timeless and decorative wooden wainscot
Panelling
Archives
Patchwork
Patchwork is in fashion again – choose an old, hand-made piece for the unique look
Gustavian style
When we talk about Scandinavian style, everyone associates to IKEA furniture, large white spaces and the sauna covered by wood. But this style has another, even more sophisticated face too.
This is Gustavian style, got the name from the Swedish king of the XVIII. century Gustav the third (1746-1792). In this era French was allied state, by this, lots of elements have been derived from the style of Louise XV. and XVI. These have been combined with English and Italian characteristics, which finally resulted the fine overall impression fitting to the Northern taste. Furnitures and decoration elements are displayed in a sleek design with muted colors. Main features of Gustav style: hues of white, gray, light yellow, light blue and beige, raw or painted wood in its natural colors, stenciling, chequered and striped fabrics, worn effect. Elegant, yet slightly rustic appearance of the interiors. Wooden flooring is often left in nature color with lacquer, but it can be painted white also. Walls are covered by painted wooden panels or plastery. As decoration, paintings (mainly portraits), medallions made of parget and mirrors with gildened frame are applied. The ceiling beams are often visible. The space itself is not crowded. Typical accessories are the crystal chandelier, a tiled stove and a large, standing clock. Furniture are made of wood (mostly birch), with light painting, sometimes gildening or painted motifs.
Perfect style for those, who love the cold Northern landscape, the fine pastel colors and the airily elegant atmosphere. If you would like an unusual Scandinavian interior, ask help from an interior designer.
Aquariums
Placing fish tank into elegant surroundings
Built-in attic
Building in the attic is one of the best methods for increasing the useful floor space of a house. Such a reconstruction raises not only the value of the property but very comfortable living space can be created with applying some rules.
Pay attention to the quality of insulation because it can largely affect the costs of heating-cooling in the future. Take care of the latter, because these rooms have to be more intensely heated in winter and cooled in summer. The livability of the attic depends on the proper amount of light. If it is possible, more or bigger windows should be built in. If they can be placed only on a high level, let’s choose pieces with handles on their lower part. Since sunshine can be a problem in summer, proper shading should be provided. Mostly roll-up blind or light-reflecting window-foil might be the solution but common curtains shouldn’t be neglected either because of the sloped roof! It can be just as elegant as in an ordinary living room or bedroom, with clever solutions. Attic might be darker in winter than other rooms, so the proper implementing of artificial lighting has to be attended already at the beginning of the works.
A built-in attic can be suited to several functions. In the case of a bedroom, the bed shouldn’t be placed under the skylight because it can disturb the calming rest. If the wardrobe will be here, dehumidifying is a very important task. In the case of children’s room or playroom, safety is a must, especially if there is a balcony also. It’s worth to use additional sound-proofing in the case of a movie or TV room. The proper darkening can be solved here easier. This kind of space can be good for a hobby room or home office also. Take care of placing the desks for avoiding hitting the sloping roof when standing up from the chair. A wider tabletop can be used for this.
Always ask for help of professionals for building-in an attic. Consult with an interior designer for optimizing the final furnishing and for the best usage of the space.
Yellow
Yellow is considered to be the most happy color. One of the three basic color, its complementer is purple.
As a physiological effect, yellow decreases depression, increases brain activity and strengthens the neural system. Helps learning improving the concentration ability. We can associate on sunshine, gold and spring by it, therefore its presence makes us glad. In symbolism, yellow is the color of honour and loyalty, at the same time cowardice and envy is assigned to it. Combined with black, it is used for attention signs such as mother nature (e.g.: wasp, spotted salamander).
A warm color. Makes spaces shiny and warm. If there is not enough natural light, this problem can be solved with it. In design, combined with white it results a light, combined with brown it results a classic interior. With grey, the result will be elegant, with blue it gives youthful effect. In a black and white interior, yellow is a perfect focus point on smaller accessories or furniture. Vivid hues of yellow are ideal for dining room or kitchen, while pale hues can be applied in any room. Fits correctly to country style. A very light hue of yellow is cream, which is popular and widely used.
Feng shui assigns yellow to ground element. The color of Jang, the masculin side and the 3. chakra (navel). In ancient China, only the emperor wore yellow, since it was a divine color. In Egypt, yellow is the color of mourning.
Yellow must be used carefully, since its vivid hues make the space stunning. It can be easily overdosed, so if you would like to create a tasteful yellow interior, ask help from a color advisor.
Coastal style
A waterfront summer house is a regular dream in Hungary as well, not only in the countries having seashores. Many have a small house at one of our nice lakes or rivers. The interiors of these often reflects the location itself. If you cannot afford to buy a waterfront house, or would like to enjoy such an environment all year, you can realize this feeling also in the city as well.
The most simple and popular method for this to use materials and decorations that can be found near the water: ropes, paddles, river pebbles, sail-boat models, etc. By these objects, practically any rooms can be transferred to a waterfront interior. But they can be used for more beyond decoration. E.g. the shower can be covered by small peebles instead of wall tiles, or the picture frames can be made of driftwood or cane, instead of coffee table a ship box can be used.
If we would like to refer to the water more lightly, catching only the mood, we can use colors, fabrics and materials:
From colors, white, sand, grays, water blue, moss green, navy blue and red are the most expressive. For upholstering, carpet and cushion we can use striped textiles displaying the above mentioned colors, or just natural linen. We can even combine them. We can get a couple of braided (willow, rattan, bamboo) chair and table. The banister can be rolled by rope. Ship deck floor and painted wooden panels are ideal solutions.
If you are uncertain or having no idea for a change, ask help from an interior designer to get the feeling of a calm holiday in your home.
Space dividing
Beautiful and functional room screens
William Morris
„Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” This phrase became proverbial is the main principle of William Morris.
William Morris (1834-1896) was the leader of Arts and Crafts movement. One of the greatest British designer who created among others patterns for wallpapers, wall carpets, embroideries, fabrics and tiles, but he also designed and produced furniture and stained glass objects. The essence of the movement was to create value by bringing back the golden age of craftsmanship, opposed to mechanized mass production. In case of fabrics, he revived the vegetable dyeing techniques. The patterns he designed can be recognized immediately by their bright colors, they are rich and faithfully mimic the flora and fauna as well. He often drew inspiration from the art of the middle ages and the Arthurian legendary.
With his wife, in 1860 they moved to the “Red House” designed for them by Philipp Webb. There he could create and in addition to, he decorated and arranged their home also. The house has slowly filled by his different arts. In 1861 along with some of his friends, he established Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. company, which is still alive today under the name Morris & Co. Fabrics and wallpapers marked with his name still can be ordered, they can be a real focus point of our homes.
These patterns are very powerful, they are leading motifs in an interior. If you are impressed by this art and would like to admire it every day in your home, but you are uncertain because of the strong colors, ask help from an interior designer.
Useful accessories 4.
Useful accessories in the living room
