Green fence (Part 1)

March 22nd, 2007

If to you don’t like wooden or stone fences and you the aesthete - try to make a green fence.
The first green fences have been incorporated a long time ago. It is known that in the beginning of XVIII century landscape dendrology green fences have found wide application due to the development park business in France.
Sovereign persons and the large land owners consumed of many game, pawned green fences - given a shelter to feathery (to pheasants, partridges and so forth). Skilled gardeners considered that the competently incorporated and correctly grown up green fence is much more durable and it is more reliable than the strongest fences.
What is the green fence? These are linear plantings from trees and the bushes, landed in one-two of some on close distance from each other. Green fences can be low - from 0,5 up to 1 m, average - 1-1,5 - 2 m and high - over 2 m. Green hedges below half a meter, applied for a bordering of paths, flower orchestras and beds, refer to as borders.
Concerning the form, it is possible to say that green fences can be freely growing and formed. Beautifully blossoming bushes and trees with the decorative fruits, used for creation of green hedges, are cut rarely (flowering and fructification worsens). The best protection is always given with short-haired fences, which can be so dense that they would not allow even a fine animal to get through them

Chinese style

March 21st, 2007

The concept of space plays the most role in Chinese interior. Chinese interior is based on the feng shui art - the skilful organization of space. So, external simplicity of smooth or round bends always bears in denying of direct and sharp lines. In the Chinese interior precise square or triangular forms are undesirable. Therefore corners in modern apartments can be cut off the furniture, put obliquely, and rectangular little tables can be covered with round cloths. The same effect is achievable by means of the walls draped by a fabric. It is not worth of mentioning, that registration in Chinese, as well as in any the style, ethno style does not assume use of multi-colored wall-papers in a floret at all. Walls are usually painted in the certain, characteristic color for the given culture or plaster. As a rule, any Chinese construction has some support corresponding elements of fire, water, air and the ground. But, certainly, it is necessary to try to establish four columns in the middle of the sitting room. They can be stylized, executed of plaster and removed to walls or drowned in them. However, nothing prevents even to draw or designate simply columns on walls if you want to follow all formalities of the Chinese style and it will be far from the real opportunities of the apartment.
As it is possible to see, in an interior of the apartment, made in the Chinese style, there are no trifles at all. Practically its each detail is original, unique and the Chinese screen or carelessly thrown on a couch and decorated with gold string pillow plays the major role in the arrangement of the space. For example, the major element of registration is the ornament and the form of doors and windows. And their arrangement cannot be casual - it is desirable, that wide doorways settled down against each other, as though they are connecting the interior with all other space.
 

Japanese interior

March 20th, 2007

Japanese do especially appreciate furniture of the old tree - named “oldwood” (the so-known, “antiquarian tree”): such wood has excellent durability despite of age. The Japanese make screens, frames for mirrors, tables, benches and consoles from massive “oldwood”. More modest fragments of the “oldwood” are used for facing of furniture subjects: backs of the beds, racks, tables, lockers, buffets, coffee little tables. It is possible to notice of tree traces - certificates of the past are appreciable- on many fragments of the ready-made furniture. Therefore depth of a surface’s relief, made of “oldwood”", can be deeper than 1-1,5 centimeters. The lines, created by the nature “oldwood”, provide a charm of uniqueness, which is especially appreciated by the Japanese. Lamp shades for fixtures and floor lamps are made of the oldest “oldwood” materials.
The only rule, which can’t be objected of, is that the furniture should be made of a file of a tree as it possesses the ability to accumulate and radiate vivifying energy. Thus the furniture should not be heavy: sometimes hollow spaces are made in the racks made of a file for reduction of weight.
The special attitude is paid to a tic. The tic, which was not coming under influence of moisture and insects-wood borers, was applied at construction of private residences, in ship business and to manufacturing valuable subjects of furniture and instruments of handicraftsmen. Everything that was made of a tic should serve for centuries. In the course of time, the tic, as well as mahogany, becomes even more beautiful and stronger. Small subjects of an interior, such as vases, are made of mango. Stools and small subjects are cut out of a trunk of a mango, which should not exceed 50 centimeters in diameter. Coverings of strong breed of the reed (named as the “opium-mat”) are also appreciated. The surfaces are quite strong, but, owing to the wavy invoice, they look as lungs.
Contrary to the European traditions the table-top does not cover the legs: on the contrary, their end faces open beauty of wooden rings. Details - in the form of lockers, decorative couplers, have special importance.
Simplicity of forms emphasizes the importance of “free space”.
Charm of Japanese style is so great, that its elements can be even met in authentic reproduction of interiors in any country of the world.
However, usually, it is a question of use of separate subjects and creation of small “Japanese” corners.

 

 

Landscape gardening furniture (Part 2)

March 19th, 2007

Tree is always in fashion
The main task of furniture is to be convenient. Sometimes inconvenience of garden furniture irritates much stronger, than a fog or gloomy morning. Therefore, when you are choosing garden furniture it is important to remember about its purpose and not to forget, that sometimes excessive pretentiousness of the form harms the maintenance. But the garden furniture can play the important role in aesthetic decoration of the garden: for example, the patio - paved court yard - are simply inconceivable without it. It is quite often possible to observe a ridiculous-sad picture on a site at those owners who reflect a little on the art of landscape design: a white plastic table with chairs on the big, paved site of a garden under high trees. And in fact here the big thorough wooden table and chairs would be much more convenient.
The tree can be combined with many other materials - for example, with a straw, which is used in a braid and for seats and backs.
Separate kind of garden furniture belongs to the wooden boxes in which it is possible to store fine garden utensils, and at the same time to use them as seats. Such chests can have both a back, and armrests, and they are advices to be made in the same style, in accordance with other garden furniture. It is desirable, that the furniture made the complete set in which both garden benches, and the furniture located at the house would be combined.
Convenience
Today a tree, plastic and metal are the most popular materials for manufacturing garden furniture. Basic plus of plastic furniture is ease in transporting and care, but plastic does not always approach to the house and a garden’s style. The metal garden furniture can be of the most different kinds- but, as a rule, it requires the individual order and it is rather expensive. Therefore tree is the ideal material: the wooden garden furniture can be made without problems to order, and it is possible to buy ready made wooden furniture, having chosen suitable one on the style of your garden. Tree is the most “alive” and warm natural material. The natural tree garden furniture practically looks naturally always and everywhere. A file of a tree, even of rough sharp, perfectly looks as near the wooden house and near to brick construction.
It is not necessary to forget that tree is a healthy material, and the wooden garden furniture does not break the entire ecosystem of the garden.

 

Landscape gardening furniture (Part 1)

March 18th, 2007

The landscape gardening furniture has occurred together with landscape science. The designed park has been made for constant movement, for unexpectedly changing landscapes, that the spectator will admire its beauty. The architect conceived a garden in which “casual charm” waited for the visitor behind each turn of a twisting footpath. The garden was made in such a way that admiring of each new, suddenly opened, kind was as much as possible convenient. That is why special furniture for a garden has been thought up. First of all it was portable armchairs which “followed” owners, completely justifying the name. (In fact the term “furniture” occurs from a Latin word “mobilis” - “mobile”.) In due course the spectrum of landscape gardening furniture extended. Regular parks, for example, have been equipped by benches and pergolas, which, sometimes, formed freakish labyrinths. Today garden furniture is represented by various tables, chairs, armchairs-rocking chairs, chaise lounges, sofas-swing, and benches. They can be of the most different style and a kind, mobile, made manually and bought under the catalogue. But a garden without garden furniture is not a garden.
First of all let’s talk about portable garden furniture. It is necessary to carry ease to its advantages: if the rain has suddenly begun it is possible to hide to hide tables and the chairs stood open-air in reliable shelter. If you don’t have a place paved by a tile or a stone, or you have chosen any special corner of a garden, it is possible to take care of that there were furniture on “legs” and there were the devices giving to stability at it for the installation on a soft surface, - and then the favorite chair will turn “after the sun”. But the solid stationary garden furniture is pertinent, for example, in family, which has a tradition to have breakfast, dinner and supper outdoors. Then it is necessary to put a thorough table with chairs or benches around of it, to think over the device of a special canopy, additional shelves for utensils in order to not to run all time in the house behind subjects of lying. It is even possible to make a small bar. If there are children in the family, they for certain will like to draw and play on air, so, it is useful to have a reliable wooden table with a bench somewhere on a verandah or a terrace. Benches also concern to stationary furniture along garden paths in picturesque corners of a garden.

Entrance door

March 17th, 2007

The entrance door is a “face” of the house, giving a clear representation of the social status and tastes of its owners. In the image of the house of an entrance door trifles the special role.
Entrance doors are subdivided onto two greater groups: doors for public and doors for residential buildings.
Very strict requirements on durability are demanded to the entrance doors established in public buildings (especially there where greater streams of people are assumed). The design of doors should be in harmony not only with a facade, but it should also correspond to their purpose. The door in bank could never be similar to a door in a supermarket.
Concerning the entrance doors in premises, they do also have fashion tendencies as well as other elements of interior design. Now the preference is given to modernist style: doors with laconic forms and minimum of ornaments are mostly appreciated. Doors made of tree of pinkish shades - a beech, a sweet cherry recently- are in demand.
Various combinations - both of breeds of a tree, and shades of the same materials look originally. The most courageous owners of apartments get the motley doors decorated with geometrical patterns of different colors. It is possible to order doors with precious metals’ incrustation.
The price is nothing, the quality is above all  
It is important to know, that you wish to get from the entrance door. On belief of experts, the price of a door - is not so defining factor at a choice - thus it is much more important from what the door is made and whether is correctly mounted.
The “door” concept includes a door box with a structure, a door itself, a rabbet and a plat band, accessories. A door, first of all, is functional element and its problem is to preserve our habitation from uninvited visitors, and unnecessary penetration of cold and noise.
Durability is provided with a steel skeleton, the edges of rigidity, welded on skeleton steel sheets. The good door cannot be hollow; the heater (mineral cotton wool, polypropylene or other similar materials) is necessarily located.
Thickness of a design which should make not less than 40-45 mm, is considered as key parameter of safety. Experts approve, that safety of a door is better provided with 1-2 good locks, than with 5-6 locks of the average quality.
For all tastes
The century of high technologies offers tree, metal, plastic and glass for making doors.
Wooden doors (of modern designs) are traditionally widely applied in historical building cities, at reconstruction and repair of facades. But it is necessary to note, that such modern materials as structures from PVC and aluminum, and also steel designs allow replacing a tree not only in new construction, but also at reconstruction of buildings since the coverings simulating wood structure are developed for them.
The combined door designs are being more and more widely applied.
Doors can be of one-folding and folding kind, with vertical and horizontal inserts. At their design can be decorated with the elements of glass, including shock-proof and bulletproof materials.

 

Penthouse

March 15th, 2007

Penthouse is a floor in attic space, which facade is entirely or partially formed by a surface of a roof. Usually the penthouse is equipped as the second level of an apartment of the top floor. Thus it almost always serves as private territory: bedrooms, children’s rooms, a cabinet, a bathroom are settled down there. At such lay-out of an apartment a hall, kitchen, a dining room and sitting room are recommended to be arranged at the first level. However, sometimes even “all apartment” can be placed at the big penthouse.
Children’s world or cabinet?
How is it better to dispose of inhabited space of a penthouse? Everyone solves this question depending on needs and tastes of members of household, choosing from two kinds of a lay-out - studio (opened) or room (cellular) lay-out. Division into rooms is recommended for the big family. However, even the open lay-out at competent selection of furniture, a variety designs in the form of moved apart partitions, transparent walls, green hedges from room colors, is capable to transform a penthouse-studio into a multipurpose premise, very comfortable for residing.
If your penthouse - is at the second floor of a two-level apartment it is the most expedient to equip on it rooms for “solitude” and “silence”. The nursery located thus, is isolated from other traditionally adult premises. You can always lay the child, not worrying, that something will disturb him with late wakefulness at the TV or in the company of visitors. And then, you can only imagine, what interesting world your child would have: inclined walls, unusual arrangement of windows which can also be unusual - round or triangular, a ladder leading on its top floor.
Children’s room on an attic is a dream of any child
Bedrooms above - are also an excellent variant, especially for the big family, inviting friends and relatives. By the way, it is good to sleep on a penthouse as thus the silence and rest are guaranteed. In the evening, when you are laying in the bed, owing to an inclination of windows, you can admire stars in the night sky.

 
 

Decorative fabrics

March 14th, 2007

Fabrics are rather grateful element of the interior. With their help we can not only decorate dwelling, but we also may hide some lacks. Fabrics are rather mobile material. Unlike many other things elements of an interior they can be easily operated -it is possible to change drapery, arrangements, and fabrics eventually if you have enough money for this purpose.
Draperies
Draperies are the decorative decision, alternative to traditional curtains. The window can be issued by any one fabric or several fabrics, which are close or contrast on color. Depending on the chosen fabric multilayered drapery creates an atmosphere of luxury, or strictness. Muslin, transparent synthetic fabrics, materials of average density is well draped. Fabrics with a contrast lining can be wrapped up around of eaves, after you have fixed their volumetric plait.
Classical variant of a drapery is represented by the simple eaves which have been wrapped up in one length of a fabric, symmetrically hanging down on both parties of the window. Draperies can be hung up as a loop, to find and the edges should fall to a floor. Light draperies, being often used in a combination to opaque curtains, protect room from curious eyes outside and supervise a stream of light.
Tendencies
One of such directions is characterized by fabrics in style of the early 70-ies. It is a large, often geometrical figure, with prevalence of pastel color gamut that approaches just for decoration of simple forms. Fabrics are basically synthetic.
One more fashionable direction foresees natural fabrics of quiet, pastel or light tones, well combined natural materials: a tree, metal. They well adjoin to vanguard novelties of an interior.
Simultaneously, there are fashionable upholsteries in the conservative style, calculated on traditional classical interiors. Silk, gobelin fabrics with traditional patterns (flowers, pastoral stages) are among them. They are distinguished with prevalence of quiet, soft tones: dark -purple, green, blue or bronze.

 

Interroom partitions (Part 2)

March 13th, 2007

There are two types of sliding partitions: monorail and double-track partitions. The first ones are much more comfortable (it is not necessary to spoil a floor to build in an additional rail) though they do not provide absolute sound isolation (as there is a crack between a floor and a partition), but you will agree, that it is completely not obligatory in all premises of the apartment. Therefore they are used only in noisy zones: a hall, kitchen, dining room, sitting room etc.
When we move apart partitions, the sensation that walls disappear and there is a huge space which is looked through as on a palm is created. And then, not leaving a kitchen zone, it is possible to observe children, to welcome visitors and simultaneously to give valuable instructions on table layout for the supper. Thus a sitting room, where someone from members of family watches TV, can be temporarily isolated.
In a silent zone, where the bedroom settles down, sliding partitions or sliding doors are used for division wardrobe from a bedroom or a bedroom from bathroom.
If sliding partitions block space completely stationary partitions serve only for a designation of different functions of the same premises. For example, such partition (glass, plaster, etc.) separate a kitchen zone from dining room, and from kitchen it is used as an additional wall on which kitchen accessories, beautiful utensils, fine subjects of an interior are conveniently placed.
If there is a winter garden in your house two small glass stationary partitions can serve as conditional border for it, not breaking thus of an interior.
Stationary partitions are widely used for allocation of a computer zone in any part of the apartment.
As to bathrooms here partitions which are fastened to a wall and a floor are more often used. They are transparent and separate cabin from other premise. The aluminium partitions filled by glass, will divide a toilet and a bathroom, a bathroom and a boudoir. Besides stationary and sliding partitions in bathrooms decorative partitions from a brick or the special gypsum cardboard reveted by a ceramic tile are widely being used. Forms and furnish can be the diversified (semicircular, figured, with glass inserts, mirrors etc.) and everything depends on the designer’s imagination.

Interroom partitions (Part 1)

March 12th, 2007

Traditionally, three quarters of premises in the house or an apartment have doors. We like “to soar”, and we incessantly catch at door handles. Gradually it starts to irritate, and there is a desire to re-plan urgently an apartment that the feeling of the “closed space” has disappeared. But it is not necessary to hurry up. Perhaps, it is enough to replace some doors on sliding, and to establish sliding partitions between zones and then there will be an opportunity to change a lay-out of an apartment depending on circumstances and moods. In fact sliding partitions are capable to transform any premise into uniform flowing space which is so desirable sometimes.
Partitions can be sliding, harmonious and stationary; in general they differ only by the design, as their only function relies in transformation of space. Today it is favorite reception in the architecture, allowing to create sensation of greater areas and to reach comfort even in small apartments.
Any partition, first of all, is a cloth from a floor up to a ceiling, made of a strong material (metal or a tree), well designed and more often glazed. If a light, strong and very thin glass of type automobile which is not broken into fine parts is used the partition can consist of a whole glass. The quantity of partitionings depends on constructive opportunities of a structure.
The cloth of a partition can consist of several equally or differently large glass inserts. It relieves the monotony of their design. But the more partitionings are the heavier partition, especially wooden one, becomes. Therefore in some cases not all sections are filled with glass. Such “semitransparent partition” will be easily combined with a kitchen and table zone.