Archive | May 2016

Empire

Empire style was developed in France under the reign of Napoleon. The emperor wittingly created a style which marks his reign and contains the main features of ancient world-powers, referring to his own glory. It was spread all over Europe by his conquests.
Empire style is based on monumentality and luxury. It alloys ancient Greek and Roman architectural features with ancient Egyptian motifs, favors the more ornate ones from all of them. Corinthian columns dominate in the buildings. Big amount of gilding makes the sight imposing in the interiors, which is pared commonly with black (ebony, varnishing, marble), claret and bright dark blue. Furniture are covered with ormolu, the frame of seats is fully gilded, moreover the upholstery has yellow or gold color also. Out of fabrics, silk and damask became conspicuous.
Bays, olive-branch, N (Napoleon) and J (Josephine) letters, flower garlands, pitcher are repeated motifs. Frequently caryatides or winged animal figures hold the top of tables instead of legs. These decorations are common on dressers also. Mahogany was the most frequently used wooden material.
Walls were covered with heavy fabrics which were even pleated for a thicker effect. Their colors were commonly dark green, claret or dark blue. Beloved solution were the painted walls and the gilding of plastered ceiling. The edges and patterns of paneling was highlighted by gilding too. The base color of these was typically cream or off-white. The bottom of curtains reached the floor, they were made of heavy but lighter colored fabrics, richly pleated and decorated with golden fringes, tassels and trimmings.
You can also implement the feeling of luxury provided by Empire style in your home with the help of an interior designer.

Summertime

May27

Stylish preparation for the summertime

Paint palette 6.

May26

Sunshine, flowers, cheerful yellows

Jewellery storage

May23

Storing jewellery usually means putting them in a box/bowl which is hidden in the drawer or just leaving them on the table in a heap. Let’s be more creative and use our jewels as decoration while not wearing them.
Buy a dressing table which has glass top, so the contents of the drawers below are visible. Usually it is divided to sections, there are separate spaces for necklaces, bracelets, rings etc. It remains showy while it is closed and jewels won’t be dusty.
Let’s fix some nice and small hooks on the side of the wardrobe which is an unexploited area. Even more necklaces have place on each of them. If we would like a more striking sight, we can use drawer or door knobs in different sizes and colors instead of the hooks. Similar solution is fixing smaller hooks around an old-fashioned wooden hanger, this way it will be a great necklace holder.
There are ready-made so-called jewellery dolls with curved metal wires in the place of its arms and head. These are suitable for holding almost all kind of jewels. Figures for storing rings are also purchasable (in the shape of a shoe, a sofa, a flower etc.). These are padded and provide separate places for every single ring, this way they don’t contact each other.
Using a three-storied porcelain cake stand is a spectacular solution. The lower and bigger part holds the necklaces, the middle one holds the bracelets and the upper one holds the rings. It’s easy to find one fitting for the style of the room. We can make it by ourselves of wooden cake stands in different sizes.
Foam boards covered by light fabrics and laces put in frames are perfectly suitable for showy storing of earrings. Even a denser chicken wire can be put in frame for this purpose. Clips can be clipped on the edge of the table lamp’s lampshade.
There are several further solutions fitting for a classic style. Ask for help of an interior designer for planning and implementation!

Several upholstery

May20

Seats upholstered with several but harmonious fabrics

Rustic

May18

Truly rustic interiors – neutral and harmonic color palette

Rose

May13

In the pull of rose

Useful accessories 6.

May11

Useful accessories on the patio

English garden

May9

When the garden is the subject of a conversation, somebody usually says that he/she desires a typical English garden because it’s beautiful. Indeed: English art of gardening is high-level, they can conjure a garden even from the smallest area. But what is a „typical” English garden? Just like anything else, it has an evolution either, differently formed gardens were thought to be nice in different ages.
Knot garden was the most fashionable type in the Tudor-era. Complicated patterns were created of low hedges crossing each other and it seemed they continued under the other one because of the way of cutting. They were usually placed under the windows of bedrooms, that way they were visible while looking out. The hedge was evergreen, so it was enjoyable in winter time also.
Parterres contained flowers in the 17th century. They were symmetrically placed areas fenced off hedges with grassy or pebbly walkways between them. Colorful flowers popped up from green surroundings. Versailles had a great influence on its age. The long, staired waterfall was also an important element.
Lancelot „Capability” Brown landscape architect was the major figure of the 18th century garden architecture. Wide grassy areas, planted huge trees, involving the surrounding scenery into the view and architectural focal points (pavilions, bridges, faux-ruins) were the main characteristics of his works. His style was fancied even in the first half of the 19th century.
Orangeries appeared in the Victorian times, they were status symbol because of the high costs of maintenance. Plant-hunters explored throughout the world for new exotic species (rhododendron, orchid, jasmine etc.). Flower beds had all the colors of the rainbow. Rock gardens and spectacular vegetable gardens came in fashion. People spent many time with caring their plants.
Recent and contemporary gardens are various. Probably herbaceous edges of lawns and cottage style gardens are the most widespread. The first one has to be planted in every year which allows trying out new species. Planting wildflowers beside roses are the main characteristics of cottage gardens, they can grow freely, only the pathways are settled. There is no empty area between the house and the garden. From the beginning of 20th century, many high-standard TV-series, famous flower shows and fairs and the Royal Horticultural Society help for the gardeners.
These are only a taste of English gardens but maybe help to decide which one is appropriate for our home and lifestyle.