Vertical lines & curves

Let's do a little shape analysis, shall we?

Finding the relations of shapes in a space is one of interior designers powerful tools. The eye must be trained to find immediately the vertical and horizontal lines in a space, therefore realising where furniture and what kind of them should be placed where, with the purpose of maximising the space's capacity and functionality.

This should be the first thing to be taken into consideration. Then the style of the furniture depending on the person's sense of style and personal taste can follow, also considering colours and texture, which both have a tremendous effect on a space.

The decoration of the space, with its bigger or smaller details is and should be the last step.This is emphasised here, because no matter how beautifully styled or delicately decorated a home or its corners might be, should the inner architecture have not been taken into serious consideration before, a lot of mistakes can occur and the capabilities of a space might not be used to their fullest extend. In the worst case, large ammounts of money have been spent on fantastic pieces of furniture or home accessories, only to find out that they do not fit in the space or actually do not bring out its best character.

The whole balanced feeling and functionality of a space depends though, on the right choices of furniture, concerning their shape, size and colour and the most beneficial placement and arrangement of them in the space. Of course vertical treatments, such as wall colours and the possible choice of the right wallpaper and even material choices for horizontal surfaces such as floors, have a great impact on a space and can actually add or subtract to its beauty and sense of space.

A few of the people I cooperated with back in Greece, during my first steps of actually performing my hobby as a profession, were thankful that their bank account was saved from quite a sum of euros, after seeing that a simple rearrangement of the place and correction of details had a major visual and practical impact.

Should the clients wish to go on with replacing furniture anyway, this is another issue. Still, in these times of a tremendous economical crisis, repurpose and reuse is an attitude which conforms with current reality and also shifts the attention from over consuming to actually appreciating what we have and finding pleasure within our own range of reach.

Now, as for the pictures put together here(It's one of the exercises I do to train my eye) , they were grouped mostly according to some relevancy in shapes.  But also according to some relevancy depending on context. Can you spot the relativity among them and in between them?

On creativity, love, psychology and real life....somehow mixed in the same post

   This is one of a pair of two favorite dessert plates of mine, that were found in Habitat a few years ago. I like to use them for dessert and breakfast, especially when I could use to be cheered up a little bit.
   I haven't been making or posting many pictures lately, as there's not so much time or desire for it, due to issues that need to be taken care of. But I cannot leave this place, with out offering or sharing something with you. Because no matter what is going on, there's nothing more true, that comes from deeper inside me than expressing myself though creativity, decoration, design and photography! This is one of my ways of living with love and expressing love for life and promise that I 'll be always coming back, everytime having learnt something new and having made a new step ahead in life.

  It's funny, how through posts like this, the issue of Psychology is also touched....because who we are, what we do, how we live and express ourselves is actually part of our psychology.....it is part of who we are, it is a reflection of ourselves. It is of course a person's eyes that are the mirror of his/ her soul, but so is the way somebody lives and his/her place itself.


 It's not about money and possessions, eventhough money does help a lot to bring home with us things that we like and love to have, it 's mostly about the feeling that we give to the spaces where we live, and this can be achieved only by putting part of ourselves there. It' s about making a house a home, and this is done only through love.


   I know I' m getting kind of emotional, but I 'm not here to create impressions of living a perfect life, having everything sorted out and walking steadily on the path of life. No, I 'm actually here, writing these lines, because this is exactly what I need to do, to be able to make my very own, stable path in life and choosing to do it, being engaged in the things that are meaningful, important and by doing them, being able to offer the best part of me.


  It's funny how I had to complete my studies in Psychology, to find out that it's through creativity that I actually want to live. And I love to be creative with other people, especially with children. I 'm so thankful for the lovely hours spent together with them, through the Art&Crafts sessions. There is so much beauty coming out from their pure souls. And in the case that they are troubled, for any reason, oh! how it helps to understand more about them through their creations and drawings! And how soul soothing and therapeutic it is to let them and encourage them to express themselves.


  So, because this post has ended up touching far too many issues than it was intented, I will close by saying, do find yourselves through any expression of creativity and most af all, encourage your little ones ( or even bigger ones!) to experience this lovely - eventhough cruel very often at the same time - world, through every one of their senses! And to make the always necessary connection to this post's picture, a little eye candy to please the eye and soothe the soul, through these colourful, playful kimonos printed on this plate.


  A lovely Wednesday to all....keep on smiling ; -)

Warming things up....

(more detalis on this photo here) 

by slowly laying all the carpets in the apartment, eventhough today's 

weather is like heaven on earth here in Hessen!

...and by spicing things up a bit by adding some fun details, something so needed in a white & natural toned environment! Here, some " flying milkjugs " , hunging from an Ikea tree, (also seen here) inspired by amazing and talented Ninainvorm's  display of beautiful mugs.

If you haven't already done so - something almost impossible coz she's eveywhere, from Flickr, to Wohnen Ideen, to this issue of Ikea Family magazine, to her blog and Etsy shop, be sure to pay her a visit at any or all  of the above places! Sit back and enjoy!

   

   By the way, if I did not already own this off white, pure woolen carpet (1,80 x 2,40cm), bought at Ikea 2 - 3 winters ago and being still in a pretty good condition, I would have very much loved to buy yesterday at my  - almost - regular Teusday Ikea evening visit  (after the Art Classes in English) this one, which celebrates earthy yellow and geometry so fine! It's the Alvine Ruta, it meausures  1,70 x 2,40 cm and it costs - in Germany - 149 euros. Not bad!     

  As a choice of carpet, I also find the grey Alvine Rand very appealing. It is the "brother" of the previous one, as they are made from the same material, have the same dimensions, style and price. Up to you to choose!

Contemporary elegance

   This is the first picture I came across this morning here, which is one of my daily online reads, that blew my mind.... In the most calm and relaxed way. It cought my attention for its:

 Elegance

 Not overexaggerated minimalism

 Balance

 Simple Beauty

 Marriage of old and new

 Colours, Textures & Materials

   I simply enjoy finding the beauty in less and in this case I think that white, gold and brown tones couldn' t have worked better together, than in the composition of the picture above. Amazing - possibly - teak wooden chair, of what looks to be Danish design, with exquisite curves , modern, shiny white table surface and thin, golden, brass ( ? ) silhouettes of candleholders, caring the simplest off white candles. Very contemporary elegant. YES.

  Happy Teusday to all!