Lamps with lampshade

YESTERDAYWhat architectural styles were used to decorate houses?our great-grandmothers. But even now we happily hurry to the dim "light", which has long become a symbol of the family nest. Under the swaying lampshade, family legends are born, thanks to which the connection between times and generations is felt more acutely. This symbol appeared in our homes not so long ago, in the 1880s, following the invention of the first light bulbs, the light from which was too harsh. The Art Nouveau era instilled in lampshades a love of ornaments, and since then lamps have turned into secular fashionistas, dressing up not only in steel and glass, but also in luxurious fabrics. The ability of a lampshade to gather people around itself has long been noted by decorators, who actively use this technique not only for dining rooms, but also for living rooms (in the photo below is a fragment of a modern interior, in which the atmosphere of the 1940s reigned, resurrected with the help of antique lamps). Lampshades are capable of playing out the main intrigue of the room.TODAY

Columns

YESTERDAYLiving room in the estate near Moscow I.V. Morozov "Islavskoe." Architects V.M. Mayat, V.D. Adamovich. 1910s. Columns, exploited over the past centuries, mainly as a decorative element, in ancient times carried (in the true sense of the word) the grandeur of order architecture. The classical column, which once personified triumph, does not tolerate a frivolous attitude. The column is a bright architectural gesture. By the way, the columns feel best in a pair (there may be several pairs). With their help, you can mark the spatial pause, the change of one zone to another, change the proportions of the room, its rhythm. Today the columns are made of marble, granite, travertine, limestone, wood, of pressed or cast concrete, polyurethane, artificial stone and composite materials. Modern technologies allow you to recreate anything - even the malachite columns of the Winter Palace. True, malachite will be artificial. Of the three orders - Doric, Ionic and Corinthian - Corinthian is most often used in the interior. TODAY

Fireplace

YESTERDAYArchitect F.O.Shekhtel in the office of his own house on Ermolaevsky Lane (now the Embassy of Uruguay). 1890s. It is believed that it was the conquest of fire that became the Rubicon that separated man from the rest of the animal world. The fire that warmed our primitive ancestors eventually turned into an open hearth located in the center of the room. In the Middle Ages, it moved to the wall, and then merged with it and acquired a portal, a firebox and a chimney. In those days, fireplaces reached incredible sizes - you could roast a bull in them! But they did not cope well with the heating function - up to 90% of the heat flew out the chimney along with the smoke. (It is no coincidence that in cold Northern Europe, stoves with a closed firebox, which have a much higher efficiency, became widespread). This drawback did not prevent fireplaces from surviving the centuries. Man's mystical attachment to living fire turned out to be more important than any functionality. Each era offered its own version of framing for the sacred flame. For example, the Renaissance gave the fireplace a shelf, and the Baroque gave it a mirror, which was placed above this shelf. Modern architects use the achievements of their predecessors and offer their own options for decorating the hearth. In terms of attraction, the fireplace can even compete with the TV: TV series and talk shows come and go, but you can watch the fire endlessly. TODAY

Wooden panels

YESTERDAYHall in the mansion of A.I.Derozhinskaya in Kropotkinsky Lane. Architect F. O. Shekhtel. Beginning of the 20th century. At the time of their appearance in the interiors of the 13th century, they played the role of heat keepers: it was impossible to warm up in rooms with stone walls. They decided to level out the cold of the stone with the most accessible material at hand - wood, which was also ideal for artistic experiments. Since then, the "face" of decorative panels has become very expressive: it is decorated with columns, pilasters, carved panels and paintings. For their benefits and beauty, wooden panels are loved in classic interiors, where rows of panels build the architecture of the walls (in the photo on the right, they rhythmically play on the planes of the walls of the white bedroom, decorated by the Artistic Design bureau). Modern spaces prefer smooth wooden surfaces, which make it possible to enjoy the beauty of the material. TODAY

Canopy bed

YESTERDAYBedroom in N.A.'s houseTerentyeva in Petrovsky Lane. Architect N.A. Ivanov-Shits. 1900s. It is no coincidence that the canopy is associated with Eastern bliss and luxury. It was invented in Asia - to protect against annoying midges. It came to Europe in the 12th century. Also for the purpose of protection - from the cold and drafts that walked through the halls of medieval castles. At first, the fabric was hung from the ceiling beams, and then they began to use crossbars for this, resting on vertical posts (an extension of the legs of the bed). In the 17th century, the custom of receiving guests while lying in bed arose. Rich drapery emphasized the status of the owner and played the role of a theater curtain, giving the audience pathos. The canopy was an obligatory attribute of the bed until the 19th century, and its absence was perceived as a sign of originality. Today - it's the other way around: a canopy is hung over a bed to give the bedroom an individual character. At the same time, it has not lost its original function - drapery gives us a sense of security.TODAY

Round table

YESTERDAYOld French postcard "Women fortable". 1895. It is not for nothing that negotiations take place at a round table. Since the time of the knightly gatherings of King Arthur, such a table is the embodied symbol of equality and brotherhood. After all, among those sitting at it there are no extremes. Despite the fact that the Romans had round tripod tables in their homes, Europe became acquainted with such a convenient form only in the 12th century. Since then, the round table has taken its place of honor in European interiors. Unlike its "angular" brothers, a circular table can accommodate more people, and it is much easier to reach the dishes here. In the 19th century, no living room could do without a round table. Even small rooms did not want to part with the embodied nobility - then the English, lowering the side parts of the tabletop, came up with a folding "butterfly" table. But we still choose the 20th century classic as the leader of the hit parade - the white table from Knoll (pictured on the right).TODAY

Chess floor

YESTERDAYOne of the halls of the Palace of VersaillesAmbassadors’ Salon, on the walls there is a trample (trompe l'oeil) painting depicting armor and weapons. The floor is made of black and white marble (18th century). One of the most ancient motifs. Black and white slabs resemble the whirlwind of life itself: dark/light, joy/sadness. This laconic motif was popular among different peoples at different times, it can be seen in palaces (see Versailles in the photo below), and in modest burgher houses (canvases by the Little Dutchmen and Vermeer). Depending on whether the slabs are arranged evenly or at an angle of forty-five degrees, a feeling of static or, conversely, dynamics arises. In any case, the cage emphasizes the perspective and gives the space solemnity and depth, so it is ideal for large areas and corridors. Marble or ceramic tiles, or simply painted wood, are usually used as a material. Paradoxically, this contrasting combination is quite neutral and can serve as an ideal background for a variety of style solutions. In a modern setting, this combination loses its heaviness and acquires an irony unknown before. After all, that's what classics are for, to have more and more new interpretations! TODAY

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