Wednesday 30 March 2011

Fireplace Designs

These are the designs which I created via looking at art nouveau reclaimed fireplaces. 




This last design is the final one, the tiles however shall have a different design, I will create a bug-like tile which will work with the storyline and hold some symbolism.

Sunday 27 March 2011

Fireplaces I've looked at

Here are some reclaimed Art Nouveau fireplace's on which I shall base my designs:




Art Nouveau Fireplaces

Our group has been looking at art nouveau furniture and so I thought it might be best if I can design a fireplace by looking at reclaimed art nouveau fireplaces.

Fireplaces in the Czech Republic in the late 1800's would most likely have been stoves rather than decorative fireplaces, however I'm finding it hard to research this. Its like finding a needle in a haystack, so I'm just going to try and match the fireplace to the furniture.

I took a book out on fireplaces from the library but its victorian and a little too grand for what I've been picturing.

West, Trudy. (1976). The FIREPLACE in the home. United States of America. David & Charles inc.

Thursday 24 March 2011

Group Meeting

We had a meeting today and looked at each others designs. We have a floor plan and know whats going where, we just have to design the furniture.

I have been given the fireplace in the living room. It has been impossible finding anything on Czech fireplaces so I'm opting for late Romanian gothic architecture. So we will end up with a gothic fireplace, maybe made out of cast iron. This is a modern design of gothic revival (1880)


We will meet up on monday at 1pm to compare our final designs.

Waddeston manor

I visited the manor on saturday, but only the grounds were open, I did eat in the restaurant though and took some photos of the hallway. I like the duck egg paint...



Sunday 20 March 2011

More images

This is a German writing desk from the 1800's which I will use as a guide for designing.


The next image is just inspiration for the living room as I intend to add a fireplace.


Thursday 17 March 2011

Presentation

Our group had the presentation today, and asides from this we also organised ourselves into two groups. I will be doing the living room.  I need to come up with two designs for the room by Monday, unfortunately I will not be here so I will be posting my designs on the blog on Sunday so my group can take a look at them.

I plan to look at slightly warmer tones for the living room, as this is still part of a working family home, however I plan to show the effect that Gregor's room has on it, the doorway will be the most sinister part of the room. I also plan to add a focal point to my design, this will most likely be a chimney breast and fire place.

Inspirational Images

I have been looking at images to give me some inspiration for designs.  Here are some I've found on the web:


http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00057/rokinella9_57773a.jpg


http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs24/i/2007/313/a/0/Dilapidated_room_1_by_miasmicnectar.jpg





Wednesday 16 March 2011

Group meeting

Our group met up today and discussed sketches and ideas. There was some disagreement over wether we should be looking at Victorian artefacts or European. So In the end we decided that we would research both and combine designs.

I have thus decided that I will visit Waddeston Manor this weekend, where I will take photographs (if I am permitted) of decorations and furnishings used in the french style chateau. I hope the Manor will hold some European artefacts too.

I have already looked at chaise-lounges and four poster beds, I'd also like to take a look at victorian wall paper which I know Waddeston is brilliant for.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

The Shining

I watched The Shining for the first time and was expecting it to be terrifying, as it is described in numerous reviews as one of the best horrors of all time. I can understand that the atmosphere created it eerie and sound effects chilling, however the film didn't so much make me scared although it did make me a little tense towards the end. The adrenaline is more in the chase than the actual horror. The only scene which gave me a little shock was Jack Nicholson's frozen face in the snow which was a little horrifying. 

The audio within the film was obvious and supposed to build suspense although it didn't work for me. The shots were too long and the music used was no doubt chilling however it was not used sparingly enough. More recent films tend to create suspense with creaks and footsteps (sounds heard by the victim). Blasting out eerie music with long shots didn't seem effective, perhaps this would have worked better with a short shot and a sudden burst of sound. 

The pace picks up at the end when Jack finally cracks. His wife is the first to become physically violent and perhaps her fear is what drove him over the edge. He hunts down his wife and child and the suspense in these last few scenes is effective. The scene in the maze is particularly attention-grabbing, as Jack chases after his son you cant help but hope the boy is fast enough to get away. 

The film was no doubt effective as a horror when first released but our generation is use to faster paced films, and we have seen so many of them that plots become predictable. Horrors need to be truly horrific to shock us these days. 

Designs

Our group had a meeting today after the tutorial, we have talked a lot about what these rooms will incorporate.

We have decided that along with the bedroom we will have a hallway. And after reading the story I will come up with designs for tomorrows meeting. We shall then compare our sketches.