Kilim/kelim: A flat tapestry-woven carpet or rug traditionally produced by nomads in countries of Central Asia and Asia minor. It’s made of wool or goat’s-hair. It’s characteristic motifs are stylized portrayals.
Kilim carpet
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TV2 interview
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
Carpets elseways
When we inherit interior design objects, there might be some which we don’t want to get rid of, however we can’t integrate them in our home in its original condition. It’s quite easy to transform, repaint or give another function to furniture. However, it’s harder in the case of carpets. If it is nice, but the size doesn’t match, or it is having a slightly worn condition, or a relative made it by hand, there are some methods to save them.
Put it on the wall instead of the floor. Tapestries and wall carpets were used already hundreds of years ago. Beauty was also important beside their covering and draught-protecting functions. Let’s follow this tradition. The big surface in the living room or the wall behind the bed is a perfect place for the carpet. It will be a great focal point in the room. Use a wooden frame to fasten it to the wall so that it cannot stretch. If it is a longer runner, it could be even a half canopy above the bed.
The woven, softer rugs can be used as bedspreads or laying at the end of the bed as decorating elements. Our favorite reading armchair or the sofa can be „padded” with it, making it cozier and protecting the original upholstery.
Carpet is superb for upholstering also. A pouf, an armchair or an ottoman can be renewed with it. It will be sturdy and the heritage gets a new life also. This way it is easy to bring color to the interior.
Shabbier carpets can be used for making cushions or pillows. The fabric is thick, so it’s worth to leave it to a professional seamstress, who has a proper machine for this. The carpet will be cut to measure with skipping the worn-out parts and the cushion will be made this way. Fringes and beads decors fit well for classic carpets.
Who wants to do a makeover but has no inherited pieces, there are proper beautiful and old rugs in many antiquities. Ask for help of an interior designer for selecting and further usage ideas.
Shower curtain
Shower curtains in a more spectacular way
Hammocks
Decorative hammocks for a comfortable afternoon nap
Paisley
Paisley pattern is a drop-shaped, floral pattern curving at the end. It can have different names in different cultures, for example: cypress, mango, almond.
It has eastern origin which got to Europe by the East India Company in the second half of the 17th century. Later it became really popular by the silk and wool cashmere scarves which were imported and brought home from the Indian colonies. Their prices were quite high.
The mass production of the printed paisley patterned fabrics started in Marseilles and this was followed later by England and Holland. However, the weaving machine, which appeared during the industrial revolution, made possible to copy the pattern. The largest production company was in Paisley in Scotland, the pattern was named also after this town. They worked with five colors since 1800, while other companies worked with only two colors. 15 colors were used since 1860 on the same piece which was still the quarter of the color usage of the original imported fabrics. It was produced in Paisley not only as a woven wool fabric but as printed cotton also. The latter was much cheaper, this way it reached a wide range of people. The original fabric was still imported in a big amount because it was so popular.
The beat generation in the 60s loved to wear paisley patterned clothes. Nowadays paisley has kept its oriental character but it fits for several classic styles because of its wide range of size and color. Even the align of the pattern isn’t set. It appears not only on upholsteries but on wallpaper, carpets and accessories also.
If you also like this pattern, ask for help of an interior designer for the choice fitting for your home.
Patchwork, quilt, appliqué
Patchwork is a popular type of needlework also nowadays. Its origin is rooted probably in poverty, anything should be reused if possible. The good parts of old, used clothes and household textiles were cut into pieces and sewn to each other again. They were used to make bedspreads and pillowcases.
The patches are cut in geometric shapes (triangle, square, pentagonal, hexagonal) for combining and joining them easily. The small pieces are sewn to bigger parts, so called blocks, these blocks are joined to create the ready product. There are variable formed patterns which have their own name (e.g. Ohio Star, Windmill, Log Cabin). The patterns and colors of the fabrics used give the real charm of the blankets.
The handmade old pieces are very valuable. Making patchwork became much more easy with the spread of sewing machines. It is so popular because it can be made anywhere, even when travelling on a bus. Many artifacts prove that mankind was doing similar recycling techniques throughout history. It really spread in the 18th-19th century thanks to the American settlers. It was a status symbol in the Victorian era, what quality of fabrics were used for making patchworks by women (they didn’t use old clothes) because purchasing printed cottons could be afforded only by the wealthy. Making patchwork became a hobby and a nice pastime after the World War II. Nowadays there are pattern books, starting kits and courses in the topic almost anywhere.
Quilt is a blanket which has three layers (top layer, filling, back side) and these are fixed to each other with decorating sewing (quilting). Sewing is done on the whole surface, this gives the pattern. The top layer can be a patchwork also. In this case, quilting is done to highlight the pattern of the patchwork.
The third patch-technique is appliqué. Cut fabric pieces are sewn on a fabric base with continuously turning their edges below. The pattern here is made not from geometrical shapes but is already cut out of the material of choice. This can be sewn only by hand, not by machine. This can be combined with the two previous techniques.
Some patchwork blankets can be perfect decoration elements in a bedroom or living room. If you would like to make/buy some showy pieces, ask for help of an interior designer for the choice.
Stripe fabrics
It’s easy to create classic mood by the always elegant stripe fabrics
Cushions
Cushions are ideal for creating the mood of a room. With their help we can add color to the space, accent the given style elements and create harmony between the pieces of the furnishing. If there are no suitable cushions in shops for our purse or conception, let’s make the perfect pieces for ourselves. This way the boring or inapposite ones don’t need to be replaced and we can easily transform the general aspect of the room, suitably for example to seasons or feasts.
Use buttons for decorating the pillowcase. Sew a pattern on the plain base using a collection of different sized buttons in the same color. This could be the initials of a family member, a motif of a coming-soon feast, geometrical shapes, flowers etc. The pre-drawn pattern could be sewn with beads.
Don’t throw out the old knitted sweaters and cardigans. Let’s cut them in half below the sleeves and sew the cut side together. Put the cushion in it by the original open end. We can close its edge with big buttons or fitting ribbons, this way it will be easily exchangeable.
Sew ribbons in fitting colors for the palette on the plain cushion. We can create patterns but simply the smaller and bigger stripes beside each other look also good. A silk scarf is perfect for this too if we use it like a ribbon of a gift package. Old lace tablecloths lying in the wardrobe can be perfect decoration elements. Sew them loose, just in some points to the pillowcase, so they can be easily removed before washing. Forms cut out from felt not necessarily has to be sewn, they can be fixed with glue to the pillowcase since their edges don’t ravel.
Let’s pin some of the grandmother’s brooches to one corner of the cushion. They will provide a real antique and elegant look by glimmering. We can use necklaces, earrings and belt buckles also.
Ask for help of an interior designer for more creative ideas.
Instead of four poster beds
If there is not enough space for a four-poster bed…
