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 Once you mix
different styles it may result in either something vulgar and inharmonic or new
and vivid phenomenon. Colonial interior style is the case referred to the
second case. Blend of the European accuracy and original flavor of Indian and
Asian countries gave birth to a color eclectic style. As the name itself says, the
colonial style originated back to the period of colonial captures by England,
France, Spain and Portugal.
The «invaders»
used to settle at the captured territories and in a while they felt liking to exciting
and original cultural customs and traditions of the natives, and the interior
is one of those things to grab attention of colonizers. When going back to
their native lands, the colonizers took smart ideas and local handicrafts
leaving European things. Thereby, interpenetration of two cultures was incredibly
rigorous. With the lapse of time this mixture got smoother and better managed. Currently
the colonial style enjoys the popularity as the next ones.
First of
all, this style provides the feeling as if the space is full of light and air.
And the peculiarity of the colonial interior is in spacious rooms, non-restricted
design with very conditional zoning. A large sitting room is the focal point to
concentrate around, while the other spaces may distinguish for lowering or
rising up the ceiling and floor, curtains, movable screens and light blinds.
The
interior uses natural color with dominance of white, beige, terra-cottaте, and
olive, and natural shades of tree, stone and clay. All colors bring positive
emotions, they bring joy and pacification. Brighter blue or green shades may be
found in textile trimming, like in sofa cushions or in the interior things,
like vases.
The floor is
covered by dark stained or unlikely light, almost whiten planks. The floor may be
covered by a ceramic tile replicating natural stone. For the heating purposes, the
tile is covered by mats or carpets with floweret or geometric patterns.
The walls are
base coated or painted into warm and sunny positive colors, and the
bright-yellow is not an exception. If you prefer wallpapers, then you'd better choose
the ones made in English style, in small symmetric prints (this is recognition
of colonizers).
Furniture
is simple and impressive. The artisans, natives of captured countries, learned slowly
but surely the European technique of furniture making, though it appeared to
look somewhat rough, material was not well processed, and all this adds a unique
original spirit. Ancient time styled forgets and wooden trunks and baskets are widely
practiced to store various items. And beds, armchairs and sofas are abundantly
ornamented with forget grids or wicker screens. Wicker items in colonial
interior is a must item to have. As an alternative, armchairs and chairs, large
and smaller screens, window sun blinds are made from rattan and cane. The modern
option of wicker screens are sliding doors made as a wooden frame with wicker
canvas or rattan framings inside.
Windows are
decorated with curtains from sheer curtain lace and heavy velvet or gabardine
shutters trimmed with embroidery. As an option, a room without any shades and curtains,
but then interior jalousie is required made from rattan, carved wool or fabric
strung to wooden frames.
And, ornamental
items are good to use for furniture decoration resembling fauna of captured
countries. Sculptures with elephants and turtles and sofa covers with leopard
pattern can create the original atmosphere. Yet, furniture with legs in shape
of lions, turtles or painstaking monkeys will resemble the art of artisans of
colonial age.
If you wish
to create a colonial interior, you'd better have big floor-stand plants in big flowerpot
from raw clay in stock. Palms, big fern and orchids are the best to plant. Floor
vases of deep pastel shade or flower ornamented ones do not spoil pot flowers. Decorative
fans and carved dishes also look very original. Classic desk lamps have the
lampshades of silk or linen, the base is marble, bronze and ceramic. Yet, you might
want to decorate your house with glazed herbarium and compositions with exotic
butterflies so much loved by colonizers to make your interior more vivid and
special.
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