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Georgian Interior Design

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Walls were a very important part of the Georgian interior and much attention was paid to their treatment. Classically, the wall area would have been divided into three sections: the dado/wainscoting, incorporating the skirting/base board, dado panel and rail (which would be at a height of approximately 75 cm/2ft 6in); the field or mid-wall section; and the top section made up of frieze and cornice.

Early in the period these panels would most probably have been made of oak and finished with a simple wax polish. Later, with the introduction of softwoods, the paneling may have been painted, albeit in rather drab colors, or given a faux wood finish.

Hangings of precious textiles and tapestries were fashionable and fabric walling as we know it also popular (except in the dining room, where food smells might be trapped). Fabrics such as silk and wool damask were attached to walls above dado height by means of wooden battens and finished with a gilt fillet. Costly wallpapers (including flock types and patterns with oriental themes) in sheets rather than rolls were highly prized and most frequently attached to a canvas backing before being hung, thus enabling them to be removed when the owners departed.

Flooring

Exposed bare wooden planks or parquet, simply scrubbed and waxed (and, for coziness, topped with an oriental or area rug) are typical Georgian treatments. For an alternative covering, a painted and varnished floor cloth made of canvas might be incorporated into the scheme. For halls and the grander areas of a house, stone or marble flooring, possibly in a classical pattern, was considered most appropriate.

Furnishings

Close co-ordination between all the soft furnishings within a room would have been evident, each item echoing the material and style of others. Popular fabrics of the day were velvet, brocade, damask, silk, chintz and tapestry. Oriental themes influenced many of the fabrics and toile de jouy might well have depicted scenes from Chinese life. Embroidered textiles were also very popular.

Lighting And Accessories

The main source of light, apart from the fire, would have been candles. These were housed in candlesticks, candelabra, wall sconces and lanterns made of wood, glass, brass or silver. Many candlesticks were based on classical designs, while those for the candelabra were mainly rococo in feel. Mirrors in gilt frames featured strongly, as did lacquerwork screens, porcelain ware and fans from the Orient.

Paintings (often hung from a visible fabric bow) were a popular form of wall decoration and sometimes prints were applied directly on to the wall. Silhouettes and silverware were also favored. Items were usually displayed in a symmetrical pattern.

By: Michelle Spencer

Our panel of designers are here to answer your questions and offer advice on everything to do with interior design ideas. Whether you're just redecorating your bedroom and need some ideas to get creative, or are looking for full on professional level living room design ideas, you'll find them all here.

Buy Fabric from a wholesaler and save BIG!

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Interior decoration is something that needs minute attention and great understanding of fashion and very clear idea about your room and house as well. It doest not mean that you décor your home just juxtaposing some showpieces and making it a museum with those materials. But it is not proper way to furnish a home or a room. Decorating a room according to its space and size and pattern is must and inevitable. You can not simply go to furnish a room with some furniture and other common things. You can not do a dining room like a living room.

Now many new patterns and styles have arrived to furnish your home with an all new look. Proper upholstering of furniture and using right interior designer fabric determine the look of your interior. While choosing the wallpaper and fabrics you must be careful about the texture of your home and its color combination. The theme you desire to give it and other important things that is known to you better than anyone. For buying the fabrics like upholstery fabric and interior designer fabric you better have an option to go for a fabric wholesaler. There are many fabric wholesaler shops in Los Angeles where you can find your type of fabric to décor your room. Upholstery fabrics are maximum cases fixed by the upholstery shops but you can also make a choice in the case of making the furniture and upholster those by ordering them.

For interior designer fabric it can be said that there are many ravishing choices that can steal your eye. Mysterious velvets, exotic silk fabric, natural cotton fabric and crisp linen lend a beautiful look to the rooms and make them adorable the most. You can find in a fabric wholesaler shop lot of different fabrics for any taste and needs. You have to concentrate on the purpose you are buying the fabric. Here are some tips and list is given to make your task easy.

One of the most common but elegant texture or fabric that you can choose for your interior decoration is cotton fabric. It is easy to sew; it holds dye and shape well. It is soft and eco friendly and also user friendly. For heavy curtains and furniture coverings you can have nothing better than this fabric. For fancy curtains you may use chiffon fabric which is fanciful and thin. Chenille which is much cheaper than other fabrics is made from cotton and used in upholstery, coverings, and tablecloths. Linen is a common fabric which is used for home furnishing. It is a natural fabric with rumpled look which is its allure. It is easy to sew and is suitable for curtains and blinds. For silk fabric it is needless to say anything. It was discovered in china first and then spread from there. It is famous for its grand texture and shininess. It is used for draping, sheets, pillows and curtains. It makes the room dramatic and picture perfect. You can also use organza which is a fabric made of silk or a silk like fabric that resembles organdy for it is eco friendly.

By: Michele Carelse Stephen

Like Silk Fabric or Chiffon Fabric, Bridal Fabric is also needed by people. The best place to shop for these materials is Redtex. Inc.

Using Inexpensive Glass Blocks to Interior Design

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The utilisation of Glass blocks in interior design will be guaranteed to give any space a unique and stylish feel.Glass blocks can be used to maximise the impression of space and create an airy, open feel in the most cosy of areas by allowing natural light to flood in bathing the roomwith a warming and natural light source. This also gives a modern and impressionistic vibe in the most unlikely of places and will transform a dull, familiar space by rejuvenating and lightening the mood.

The greatest and most obvious property and asset of glass is its transparency. When considering a room you use in the morning for example the use of glass in east facing scenarios allows natural sunlight to illuminate the space and sweep through the room creating warmth. This has the added advantage of potentially reducing lighting requirements and costs during periods when you can use an eco-friendly natural resource as an alternative to artificial light sources.

The use of coloured glass in order to subtly complement the colour schemes will revolutionise the way your space appears without feeling overbearing and can allow the use of bold colours in small spaces without feeling constrictive and claustrophobic in the same way those vast expanses of paint, papering or hangings can. Mosaic and complementary colours can be used as expression of yourindividual artistic side and give the opportunity to customise any space using a medium that is inherently more subtle and delicate.

Another consideration when designing with this medium is the use of coloured glass to cast colour onto white or palewalls being aware that as the light changes through the day the colours through the glass playing on the walls will subtly alter giving different feel and moods to different times of day giving an ambient lighting effect. This is worth bearing in mind when considering the effect of colour spectrums meshing in any situation or placement.

One of the inherent properties of glass are its fantastic insulation and heat retention abilities which should be borne in mind and can be used as a way of lowering heating costs as a practical consideration in the design of any space. Yet again another green property that sets glass apart in an age increasingly concerned with environmental concerns.

Thus far the focus has been on the myriad spectrum of hues and shades available. Understandably when incorporating anything into a design this may be the first consideration; however another factor is size and shape.Like any design element there is no proscribed need to use uniform sized glass blocks, the use of mismatched sizing can create a more surreal or rustic effect depending on the placement and arrangement. The space used for the glass blocks is another shape to play with artistically and can be customised in a multitude of ways.

Remember with glass compared to other wall design opportunities and space creation techniques you can work in three dimensions not just one; giving limitless possibilities and potential for the use of glass blocks in any design space.

By: Sarah Malter