Language of flowers

Mar27

The language of flowers was developed in the Ottoman Empire, centuries ago. The „language” of messaging by flowers reached Western Europe in 1717, but its real boom and heyday was in the 1800s. The strict morals of the Victorian Europe didn’t allow for the lovers to talk open about their feelings or even stay téte-á-téte. That’s why the language of flowers became the perfect tool for sending messages and express emotions (both positive and negative).
Several books were published in the subject in the 19th century, providing a complete dictionary for the readers. This knowledge was part of the good education. Almost every flower had its own meaning, sometimes more meanings. Some varieties had meanings by colors (e.g. rose, tulip, carnation). Multi-sentenced confessions could be sent with a perfectly made bouquet. The method of accepting the present flower (bouquet) had a message also. If it was kissed, that meant yes. If a petal was torn, that meant no.
The meanings of some of them are well known still today: red rose = love, white lily = innocence, violet = modesty. Maybe these are less known: campanula = humbleness, blue hyacinth = perseverance, yellow rose = friendship.
Hundreds of flower dictionary were published which weren’t unified at all. The meaning of a flower might be different by countries or counties. So, if somebody wanted to send a message that way in a foreign country, it was worth to orient himself/herself about the local „dialect” before doing it, otherwise he/she could get in a predicament.
The beginning of the WWI was the turning point that was the time when the usage of flower language almost finally died. Nowadays only red rose is given as a certain symbol.

Color pairs 23.

Mar24

Color pairs: yellow-grey

Visible beams

Mar22

Low ceiling with visible beams – not necessarily press the space

Hiding arches

Mar20

Arch was very popular some decades ago, especially in shaping inner doorways and pass-through windows. Nowadays most of us want to get rid of them while renewal. If these arches were created by drywall, it’s easy to remove them. But it is time-consuming, dirtier and more costly in the case of the arches were built as part of the wall. Not sure if the owner has an opportunity for this. Let’s see some methods to hide or integrate them without demolishing.
Curtaining is the simplest solution. This can be used not only on windows but inner doorways also. Cover the upper, curved part of the arch with drapery and form a rectangular shape by the side curtains. We can apply a blind instead of drapery in the case of windows.
Inner openings without doors can be closed by a rectangular door if the upper part of the arch is built up. If the opening is not tall enough for this, but there is enough space on both sides of it, we can place an outside-wall sliding door also. The door panel should be oversized to cover the curved part. Place it on the side from which the sight of the arch is more annoying (from communal area, front door).
Put a mirror in the unused pass-through window and a console table or a chest of drawers under it. Although the arch remains, the picture in the mirror distracts one’s attention from its shape and makes the space useful.
Inserting shelves into the arched pass-through window results an excellent storage and displaying space. This way decoration objects are in the focus instead of the shape.
Ask for help of an interior designer for further solutions.

Old postcards 12.

Mar17

St. Patrick’s Day on old postcards

Gothic style

Mar13

Gothic style was born in France at the turn of the 13th-14th century. It was characterized by buildings bursting to the sky and light coming to the fore. Walls became thinner thanks to the herringbone quadripartite and fan-like ribs, this way, bigger windows could be built in. Elements of sacral architecture got into secular architecture, so houses and palaces followed this style also. Comfort became important, but living spaces weren’t separated yet. Board, as building block, which is the base of framed structures, appeared thanks to sawmills. Sizes of furniture rose, first wardrobes were created (chests were used as storages before). Colored glasses were put into the gothic and rose-windows which told the stories of not only saints, but kings and knights also.
The revival of Gothic style appeared in England in the 18th century and reached the top in the 19th century during the era of romanticism. It used gothic features but in an idealized way with glorification of medieval values (fidelity, faith, chivalry, courage etc.). Many castles and houses were built in this style, for example the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge were built in that time also. Decorating elements were adapted too: statues, laced gable, finials and gothic windows with color glasses. Not only the buildings but furniture was made thus. Dark brown wood dominated in the interiors, heavier fabrics were used for upholstering (leather, velvet) and other colors were darker hues also (claret, dark green, dark blue). Niches were re-created by using wallpapers which was a much cheaper solution.
Nowadays Gothic style appears in Goth/gothic form which also uses dark colors (black, deep blue, dark purple) and it is mixed with frightening elements thanks to the popularity of vampire stories, in which films this view dominates. Dark color shame is not obviously kept during transformations of old churches and Gothic revival buildings to homes. Gothic features are perfectly highlighted by light painted walls, comfortably upholstered seats, proper created lighting and separating of spaces and they perfectly harmonize the sight.
Gothic style can be realized in a common home also with considering the scales and proper amounts. Ask for help of an interior designer for this.

Spring decor

Mar10

DIY decoration ideas for spring

Chicken wire instead of glass

Mar8

Chicken wire in cabinet doors fits perfectly for country and shabby chic styles

Papier maché

Mar6

Papier maché was a serious technology of interior design in the 19th century. The meaning of the French phrase is chewed paper. Henry Clay spread it in Europe who recognized its possibility in 1722.
Paper-pulp was made by a cooking method in France in the 18th century, to which glue was added and the mix was poured into molds. However, with Clay’s technique, large paper sheets were glued together on the surface of a pre-made frame and the air was pressed out of it after every 2-3 layers. The edges were cut, it was dipped into linseed oil and put into a hot oven (think in industrial sizes of course). More layers were applied on it after this, until the desired thickness was reached. The surface of the ready piece was grinded then the whole was dipped into linseed oil again and baked for several hours. This way it became not only hard and sturdy but waterproof also. Theodore Jennens patented a procedure when these pieces could be curved in forms by steaming and pressing.
Papier maché objects were produced until the beginning of the 1900s: faux-columns, backs of chairs, headboards, trays, sewing boxes, ink stands, table tops, snuffboxes, doors of coaches, toys, picture frames etc. This was a much cheaper solution for moldings, rosettes and wall panels than if the pieces were made of gypsum or wood. The surfaces of household objects were mostly lacquered black (perhaps red or dark green) and decorated with paint (flowers, birds) or mother of pearl inlay, sometimes they were gilded instead of lacquering. At the first glance, these masterpieces couldn’t be determined that they weren’t made of wood.
The original papier maché pieces are very valuable today and sought after by collectors.