Tinder

Nov21

The weather is permanently cold, it’s time to light the fireplace. Campfire is increasingly needed during the time spent outdoors. It’s not so easy with bigger logs or in wet weather, flammable tool might be needed. This can be made DIY, even from simple materials found at home.
Pine cones are frequently gathered during touring, mainly if there is a child in the family. Attach a piece of wick to it and dip into melted wax using a clamp. Choose a color wax fit to the home, since many kinds of them can be purchased. Pine cones in different colors piled in a box will look very good near the fireplace.
Put muffin baking paper fit into the cake-tin. Fill it up to three-quarters with flammable materials, for example chopped paper or sawdust. Thrust the wick into it. Add dried color berries and pine branches to it for making it more spectacular. Pour melted wax in it and wait until it gets completely cold. Store them in a small basket or on a tray.
One of the simplest ways of making tinder is to hold thin branches, shredded papers and redolent dried herbs (e.g. lavender, rosemary) together and roll them up in a nice tissue paper or cake lace (paper too) and tie them with raffia or twine. Pay attention that the latter one shouldn’t contain any plastic. This is a bit rustic in style but the upshot will be very showy also.
Let’s recycle the toilette paper roll. Fill it with chopped cork, cram clean cotton fabric, e.g. cotton wool, in both sides, to not spill the fillings out. Wrap it in color paper like a Christmas fondant which will light very easy. This can be Christmas patterned for the perfect harmony with the feasts.
The empty egg carton is a perfect tinder-material because it is made of paper. Put cotton wool or makeup removing cotton ball in every cells of it. Fill it with sawdust, chopped paper or dry leaves. Don’t forget the wick also. Pour melted wax on it. When it gets cold, chop the carton up to have separate tinder. These can be stored even in an old metal egg basket.
An interior designer might help in this topic with more ideas.

Trash bins

Nov17

Stylish hide-away solutions for garden trash bins

Kilim carpet

Nov15

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.

Ancient Greek and Roman style

Nov13

The antique Roman and Greek culture was not only dominant in ancient times, but it has returned several times (renaissance, classicism, neo-renaissance, neoclassicism) during the history in interior design also by architecture and arts.
The surviving buildings and household objects show that colors were chosen from neutral, natural palette thanks to the used materials: for example, the white of marble and cream color of limestone. Fabrics were dyed with paint made of herbal, animal and mineral materials. Landscapes and genres were painted directly on the walls. Seating furniture had no upholstery but cushions were already used. Architecture and sculpture served both the sacral, public and private life. Three kinds of columns were characteristic architecture elements: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian. Probably acanthus leaf, volute and meander are the most well-known among decorating motifs. Buildings were decorated with colored decorations and gilding but these wore off during centuries. Floor was frequently covered with small mosaics, floor heating was also used.
The magic of the ancient world can be smuggled into our homes fitting for today’s modern principles also. Wide range of mosaic tiles can be found among pavements. Natural stones can be purchased not only for floor tiles but wall paneling also as ultra thin stone-veneer and stone-wallpaper. Let’s use hollow faux pillars as decorating elements if they fit for the evolving of the flat/house. Furniture decorated with caryatids, antiqued metal accessories (faucets, lamps, handles etc.), white gypsum statues and amphora shaped vases can make our endeavor to this style more accented. Stay with natural combinations of beiges, whites and browns, these can be more luxurious with a tint of gold (for example, golden mosaic decoration in the bathroom). Any bright color will look good with these as additional color.
Ask for help of an interior designer for creating ancient style interior.

Storage boxes

Nov10

It’s easy to make tidiness with decorative storage boxes

Furniture legs

Nov8

Classic furniture leg types: cabriole, fluted, turned twist

Toy storage

Nov6

Toys of children can overrun the whole house if we don’t care. A separate playroom is available only in a few homes and sometimes there is not enough space in the kids’ room also for storages. The play-area is created frequently in the living room’s corner. This is why creative storage solutions are important and after playing the living space could be ordered and neat again.
Maybe the simplest solution is that kind of shelved cabinet where baskets can be put in also. This way it reabsorbs all the little things, but decorative or frequently used toys are on hands too. Similar cabinets could be made by measure also, which has parts with doors, open shelves and parts with basket also, for the bigger toys (e.g. board games). Doors can be painted with blackboard paint or cork can be fixed on it, this way the cabinet will have more functions.
Let’s make a „hammock” from fabric fitting for the children’s room. Saw ropes to both ends of it and it can be rolled-up by fixing it to the ceiling with two screws, just like a retractable clothes dryer. Fill it with plush animals and after use just lift it up. Harder objects shouldn’t be put in it because of falling hazard.
If a cabinet can’t be fit in, bigger wall jardinières shall be bought (it can be metal or wicker also). It will be a perfect storage space for doodads, fixed to the wall or the inner part of the cabinet door. Buckets and baskets with handles are suitable for this too, they just won’t slick to the wall. A wooden box sawn in two, painted and fixed to the wall is a perfect solution also.
If the kid’s bed has no bedding holder, the space under it can be used. We gain easily movable storage spaces by simple crates with wheels. Decorate it by taste, even with names in the case of more children.
Custom-made shelves can be made for bigger collections (matchboxes, Lego, Barbie dolls etc.), where the child can make a mini exhibition also. This way they can be seen out of playtime but they don’t get in the way. The similarity to exhibition can be enhanced by using spot lighting.
Ask for help of an interior designer for solving storage problems also.

Color pairs 30.

Nov3

Color pairs: grey-brown

Rented flat

Oct30

Tenants are frequently encounter the situation that it’s not allowed to change anything to their style. Usually wall painting, changing furniture, drilling, replacing the floor or other final changes are prohibited, because the property is owned by someone else. What are the available possibilities for the tenant (except an accurate cleaning) if he/she doesn’t want to spend a fortune for a temporary home, while the contract is considered, but wants to live in a nice place?
The bathroom is the most critical point, because we deeply expect hygiene and cleanness here. Let’s change the shower curtain if there is one. It’s quite cheap and we can choose one fitted for our taste. We can store the old one if we feel it safe for keeping good relationship with the owner. The floor can be popped up with a click barred outdoor covering. Bathrooms are usually small, so only a small amount is needed. It’s nice to walk on it and looks great. Inappropriate lighting can be better by changing the bulbs if we cannot change the lamp itself. The hidden LED ribbon could be a good solution as well, it can be removed easily if we stick it that way. The accessories are ours, so colors and patterns are variable.
We can create a comfy mood in the kitchen by laying an easy-clean runner and changing the curtain. Changing the handles of the cabinets results a bigger amount to pay (keep the old ones because they are parts of the property). Accessories (our tea towels, potted herbs, decorative coffee machine etc.) mean a lot for the view.
The unfurnished lodgings mean that at least the rooms are empty, we can bring our own furniture there. But if it is furnished, the objects in the rooms can be also a problem. The ready-made curtains fitting for the height of the room are cheap. Color and pattern assortment are quite wide. Fold the old curtains and keep them until we move out. We might also buy furniture if there is not enough storage space. Using the Internet, used furniture in perfect condition can be purchased in sell-and-buy groups at much lower price than in shops. We can resell them if we move out. A bedside rug or a carpet under the sofa can be bought this way too. Even the worst interior can be made more livable with plants, cushions, blankets.
Cheap rush mats fixed to the balustrade of the balcony (using e.g. fishing line) hide the not so aesthetic rail. An inexpensive artificial turf is a good choice for a short time. Potted flowers can be put in piled crates this way we don’t have to drill for hanging them.
Ask for help of an interior designer creating cozier lodgings.