TV2 interview

Oct11

My interview by interior design series “Szépítők” of TV2 can be seen on this link. It starts right after the short introduction.
https://tv2.hu/musoraink/szepitok/245440_csokkentheto-a-lakashitel-osszege.html

French balcony

Sep18

French balcony is an additional part of the flat that can be hardly used well. Even we cannot step out on it, actually it is only a balustrade before the (French) door.
It’s a simple solution to dress this part with potted flowers and balcony boxes to get the illusion of a garden. It can be extended a wooden trellis fixed on the outer wall around the window. Creepers will love it. We frame the window with it and add more green to the view. Take care of the size of the pots placed on the floor that we can still close the window. Generally, only a custom-made box fits for this tiny place.
A cozy reading nook can be created near the open window if the weather is nice. Just throw a comfortable cushion on the floor and lean another one to the frame. Add a blanket and a cup of hot tea on colder days. We can comfortably dig into our book, half afield.
If we place a smaller table and a chair at the front of the open window, we can make home working more pleasurable. We gain enough space for using a laptop while enjoying the view also.
Breakfast outdoors. Almost. We can conjure a romantic place for drinking breakfast coffee with a tray hung on the balustrade and two chairs. Don’t forget the flowers planted in the balcony boxes.
Ask for help of an interior designer for clever using of such problematic spaces!

Separating kids’ room

Jul10

It’s not rare in a family that two children share one room, so not everybody has an own room. Commonly it is not a problem until they are 4-5 years old, even if they have different sexes. But after an age the children desire an own snug, in the case of a boy-girl couple it is more urgent to solve the separation.
If the size of the room is big enough, the separation can be solved easily with placing some wardrobes in the middle of it. Half of them with doors facing to one side, the others facing to the other side. This way both children will have enough storage space. The back of the wardrobes can be wallpapered, even with a unique wall-poster, fit to the style of the kid’s room.
In the case of a smaller room, the room separator could be a curtain, for example. Fix the curtain rod to the ceiling and choose a fabric which has weight to avoid the moving by draught. Panel curtain is perfect for this also.
Another solution is a unique partition panel, which is only one-two centimeters thick. Made of cut MDF sheets it lets the light through but separates the space visually. It is fixed to the floor and the ceiling also. The fixing can be a rail-system, this way they are rollable beside each other, with this the two areas can be united again.
If the room is really very small, let’s paint it with two colors (fifty-fifty) fit for the taste or hobby of the two children and decorate them separately. Although the room remains common, they will feel that part one of their own. If they can compound in a common color instead of the two, it’s much easier.
In the case of a high ceiling, the problem can be solved with a loft. If there is enough space for only a bunk-bed, that part can be split into two with painting the wall two-colored horizontally beside the bed. The turned/offset bunk-bed levels provide bigger separation feeling for the children.
Ask for help of an interior designer for planning the kids’ room.

Visual space improving

Feb20

Many people encounter the problem that the size or shape of a room in an apartment or house is not suitable. If there is no money, time or opportunity to break down the wall, changing visual effects can improve the overall picture and the sense of space.
Colors will help in this. In general, cold colors make the room more spacious, warm colors narrow the space. However, it’s not all the same, how these colors are dark/light or saturated/unsaturated. Besides these, all the rooms have six sides (commonly): the four walls, the floor and the ceiling. Let’s use all of them for getting the desired effect!
The too high ceiling is not always an advantage. Even the furnished room can be rigid and hollow. If the ceiling is painted in dark color according to the walls and floor, it is felt closer, so its height can be visually lower. The total effect will be much more friendly and inviting even if a cold color was chosen for this. The opposite effect can be reached with the combination of dark walls and light ceiling, if the ceiling is low.
If a room is tube-like and feels tight and narrow, it is practical to paint the opposite short wall dark, this way it will feel much closer. On the contrary, if the two side walls are darker, the opposite wall seems to be much farther. This is a sensual illusion but improves the feeling of coziness.
Also in general, the floor should be the darkest among the six sides because it anchors the space and provides a steady base. On the contrary, the too light floor compared to the others makes the sense of insecurity when entering.
Contrast is determinative in all the cases above! Example: sand floor, white ceiling and pastel blue walls > these colors are visually close to each other, so the total effect will be six light sides, independently from the fact that the floor is the darkest among them.
Ask for help of an interior designer for the perfect planning.

Sewing corner

Jan11

Sewing corners – if there is only a small place for your hobby

Kitchen floor plans

Nov23

Basic kitchen layouts on the floorplan and in reality (galley, U-shape, L-shape)

Industrial style

Aug22

Industrial style is a relatively young trend in interior design. It is not really classic, but I think it deserves attention because of preserving old values and reusing antique objects.
Industrial style was born when old factories were transformed to dwelling houses (loft). The characteristic of the buildings gave a special mood, which couldn’t be ignored or suppressed. Accordingly, these characteristics were highlighted and harmonized with the new function.
Main characteristics of an industrial style building are the unplastered walls, concrete/old wooden floor, robust metal girderage, huge windows with metal frames and high ceiling. The space is frequently undivided, so rooms and storey(s) have to be created also. Often the bathroom is the only separated room in lofts. Mostly the bedroom is separated only symbolically from the other space with a blade wall. Living room, kitchen and dining room are in one space, perfectly permeable and visible. Windows rarely have shades. The furnishing reflects industrial style also: tables made of weathered wood, lamps with metal frames (complemented with Edison bulbs are perfect), concrete kitchen countertop, huge furniture, decorating objects made of old piece parts and household objects etc. – basically with masculine style marks. The color palette is fit for this: greys, browns, black, white, complemented with the original objects’ own colors (e.g. petrol blue, verdigris, rust red, mustard yellow). These spaces can be perfectly furnished with classic furniture because of the antique effect.
If you also like industrial style, ask for help of an interior designer for transforming of your home, because this sight and mood can be created not only in a loft.

Using space under stairs

Jul11

The small area under the stairs is mostly considered only as a storage space. There is always lack of storage space, so this is a very good solution. The usage is perfect with custom made, built-in furniture. However, this is not the only useful way for the owners, there are several further functions fit to this small area also.
Reading our favorite book is the best in a small nook. Let’s built-in a bench under the stairs, put a comfortable cushion on it and surround it with soft pillows, fix a wall scone and the perfect bookworm shelter is ready.
A home office is needed more and more, but there is not always a separated room for it. A smaller desk can be comfortably fit under the stairs, it can be even built around by shelves, providing place for not only the laptop but for the stationery and some documents also.
A guest toilet is desired by most of us. We can cleverly create it under wider stairs. A toilet, a small sink and a towel rail are enough for this. All of them should be wall mounted, this way the space will be felt bigger.
If the stairs are right near the entrance door, let’s take the advantage for creating a comfortable welcoming area. Hooks for coats, shelves for shoes and a cushioned seat can be placed here instead of a separate wardrobe.
These are only some of the several possibilities. Ask for help of an interior designer for utilizing all the possibilities of your home!

Double height room

Jun6

Double height rooms are more and more frequent in newly built houses. Mostly one can look down from the upper level which can give a new and exciting perspective for the owners. Typically, the living room, the kitchen or the entrance hall is created this way.
Furnishing of these rooms can be a challenge. Not necessarily the oversized furniture is the solution. The huge space can be filled with creating a focal point to eliminate the feeling of unusually emptiness and rigidity.
Covering the fireplace up to the ceiling is a perfect answer to the problem. Don’t be upset if there is no chimney: bioethanol fireplaces can be placed anywhere. Additional color and texture can be brought in the space with natural stone or wooden paneling.
There are similar window-heights in a double height room, or maybe they are ordinary sized but in two rows. Spectacular curtaining of these works well as a focal point. Hanging fabrics from ceiling to floor has to be left to professionals. It can be complemented with electric blinds; in this case the curtain will serve as just a decoration indeed.
Proper lighting is always a basic task. In this case, a really big and beautiful chandelier can be hung. Pay attention to not only the size filling the room but giving enough light also. If everything else is neutral, it will attract the eye.
If it is a living room, plus stairs can be built here, this way one hasn’t return to the main stairs for going up. A nicely carved metal or wooden spiral staircase is a perfect eye candy. Let’s put the library here, so the bookshelves can reach to the ceiling, they will be easily accessible also.
It’s an extreme case, but a motor-cycle or a smaller boat can be stored by hanging from the ceiling. Pay attention to fit in the style of the flat and don’t transform the living room to a depot. In this case, planning and creating the hanging system must be always done by a professional!
Of course, there are many other possibilities besides those above. Ask for help of an interior designer for esthetically highlighting the double room height.