Archive | February 2016

Vertical garden

Vertical mini gardens need much less useful space, yet nature can be brought in the flat. Aside from the full-wall covering plants can be made only by professionals, let’s see the ways to make an own vertical garden DIY.
The simplest way is to fix a grid on the wall and hang the flower pots and boxes on it. The arrangement can be symmetrical or asymmetric, up to the taste.
Recycling more and more comes into view. Let’s use for example PET bottles instead of pots from shops, in which a hole should be cut at the side and it should be filled with black soil. It can be stably hung or swung by fixing at its two ends.
Soak off the paper from cleaned bigger cans and paint them in color fit to the interior (but the original metal can be left bare also). It can be fixed even with a hook by making a hole on the top of it. A piece of water-shoot filled with plants gives a similar mood also.
For a more playful sight, for example old shoe and boot, bigger mugs, color plastic jugs, wooden box lids (succulents keep the mould well, this way it doesn’t spill out) and small buckets can be used as pots.
These shouldn’t be necessarily hung on the wall. They can be a room separating element by fixing them to each other and hanging them from the ceiling. The steps of an old ladder lent and fixed to the wall can be used as shelves. The possibilities are almost endless.
Ask for help of an interior designer for planning a vertical mini garden fit to your home.

Metal lockers

Feb26

Metal lockers in homes with a pinch of elegance

Subway tiles otherwise

Feb24

Using subway tiles in a diffrent way from brick pattern: herringbone, double basket weave, vertical arrangement

Mother-of-pearl

Feb22

Mother-of-pearl, which is the inner layer of certain seashells, is used by not only in jewelry shops but in classic interior design also. Pearl oyster creates the natural pearl, which can be produced artificially also nowadays.
Mother-of-pearl is silky, iridescent and well workable material. It has a wide range of colors, from white to dark grey but always dull and filmy. It was used primarily as a decoration element. For example, it was a favorable material of André Charles Boulle carpenter at the court of Louis XIV., who used this marquetry on most of his furniture.
Cutlery set with mother-of-pearl handles was fashionable even at the beginning of the last century. The material itself is not expensive but its effect is luxurious. For example, razors, hairbrushes, mirror and picture frames, jewel boxes, trays and objects like these were decorated in the same way. Buttons, furniture handles, jewelry, hairpins etc. were made of it completely. It was frequently paired with tortoiseshell, semiprecious stones and rare wood. It fits well to eastern and waterside styles also.
It stands still in the environment of present times also as decorating element, but there is a solution if only its colors conjure us. Let’s choose pearl-color wall paint, satin-like finish will reflect even better its mood. However, pay attention to the fact that satin-like wall paints require more precise preparation works and more careful application method. Mosaic tiles made of mother-of-pearl can be purchased also which are proper for bathrooms and as kitchen backsplash too.
Ask for help of an interior designer for elegant usage.

Store bicycle

Feb19

Bicycle storage in our apartment? It’s not a problem!

Hydrangea

Feb17

In the pull of hydrangea

Natural stones

Feb15

Using natural stone in our home results an exclusive and opulent effect. Marble, granite, limestone and other stones can be used for floor and wall covering, fireplace pavement, kitchen countertop, creating architectural elements, window sill, washbasin etc. However, it’s useful to know their features and proper ways of cleaning.
Marble is probably the most popular material. It is solid, resistant and well-carvable. The color range is wide (several shades of white, green, red, pink, black, grey and beige), the veins add classic look to the space. Sensitive to acidic materials, for example wine and coffee that can stain it easily. It can be cleaned with warm, mild soapy water. Strong and corrosive detergents make its surface matte, so avoid using them.
Granite can be used inside and outside also. Its surface is very resistant, no special protection is needed. Its pattern is commonly grainy. The polished surface keeps its shine for a very long time. Hues of brown-beige, black-white-grey, blue and red are among its colors.
Limestone is a more sensitive type of stone. It is porous, so it’s useful to impregnate it for long lasting. It is easily carvable and polishable, that’s why it is desired for in- and outdoor also. It can be purchased in warm colors (hues of beige and reddish and yellowish shades). It perfectly fits for Mediterranean style interiors.
Onyx has unique and strong pattern, for that very reason use it moderately. It is opaque cut in thin plates and can be lighted through from behind. It will be obviously the ornament of the room. Its colors are greenish, pinkish and brown-yellowish hues. Its surface can be cleaned with polishing liquid also.
Quartzite is a wear-proof, non-freezing, acid resistant and fine-grainy rock. This is the basic material of the so-called industrial „quartz”. Mashed natural stones and raisin are added to it for reaching the optimal features. Its surface is shiny, but can be glimmering in grains also. Generally, it is available in white, black, grey and beige hues, but it can be purchased in different shades of blue, red and brown also. It doesn’t need any special maintenance or cleaning.
Of course, there are several more stones that can be used in interior design. All of them have unique features and these have to be concerned for long lasting beauty. Ask for help of an interior designer for choosing the proper stone for the function and style.

Old postcards 9.

Feb12

Valentine’s Day on old postcards

For Valentine’s Day

Feb10

DIY decoration ideas for Valentine’s Day

Candle holders

Feb8

Candles and tea lights are important parts of the Valentine’s Day decoration. The simplest way, if proper candles are placed in the candle holders bought in a shop and put in the place which should be conjured cozy. However, there are many further solutions which fit well in the classic interior, still unique and clever constructions. Let’s see some of them – not only for Valentine’s Day.
Let’s combine tee lights and fruits! Apple: cut a hole at the stem in which a tea light just fit. Bigger and heavier ones can hold long decoration candles also. Orange: cut the fruit in half, pick out its meat and put the tea light in the place of it. The flame won’t be visible, this way it gives a more mysterious light. When it warms up, it relieves essential oils and provides a pleasant fragrance in addition to the intimate atmosphere.
Let’s transform glass bowls and glasses into temporary candle holders. Fill them with sea-salt, peppercorns, coffee beans, rice or similar smaller things. If the pot is deeper, a thin candle can be put in it securely, but tea lights will look good in it also. Deeper bowls can be filled with water and floating candles and flower heads can be placed in it. Turning a goblet upside down there will be a stilted place just enough for a tea light.
Unused pieces of the dinner set: there are always some leftover pieces after setting the romantic dining table. The saucer, cake shovel, soft-boiled egg holder, ladle and metal napkin ring used as tea candle holders fade into the table set, this way the light of the candle will dominate.
Main colors of Valentine’s Day are all shades of red and pink, just as white, gold and silver. Ask for help of an interior designer for creating a cozy decoration.