Bauhaus was a school of art and architecture in Weimar, Germany. Staatliches Bauhaus, or simply Bauhaus, was founded in 1919 and headed by Walter Gropius that became a leading influence in modern design in the 1920′s and 1930′s. Bauhaus, which literally means house of construction, concentrated on functional craftsmanship applied to industrial problems of mass production.

The Bauhaus style had a profound philosophy in educating people in a different way through art and design to eliminate social and national barriers at the time. Among the leading standard bearers of the school were Wassily Kandinsky, Lyonnel Feininger, Josef Albers, anbd Marcel Breuer. This style is still very visible in contemporary times and many of today’s contemporary classics were actually designed by the artists of this school.

If you are interested in decorating your home with classic contemporary flair, you ought to at least be familiar with the name Bauhaus. The clean line of good classic contemporary furniture is indeed a breath of fresh air and needless to say a rich decoration. It conforms to human forms as well as they do to human lifestyles. The designs are well architectured, sturdy, and balance.

A chic bachelorette’s pad should be a cozy space that channel both practical style and offbeat allure. The woman living in this pad is modern, elegant, and charming as her pad reflects her beauty and hardworking self. To achieve a space worthy of adulation, not overwhelmingly feminine, and at the same channeling your personality, follow this simple and helpful tips:

 Less is more. Opt for furniture pieces that are tasteful and functional at the same time. Go for a minimalist look to achieve a no non-sense, uncluttered look for your pad.

Use furniture pieces with dual purposes. Maximize limited spaces by choosing pieces that serve more than one purpose, like a couch that folds out into a bed and a coffee table ottoman that can also serve as a storage.

Use mobile space storage/organizers. A woman’s space should have a place for every stuff she has to keep them in place. Use magazine racks, hampers, bins, containers, and built-in closets to avoid clutter.

Create partitions where necessary. Since the space is most likely small, you can still make private or separate space by using screen panels or dividers.

Do magic with lights. Lights can instantly change the mood of any room, and make your space more refreshing and soothing. Use a spotlight to highlight an artwork or centerpiece and add flair to a plain area by hanging lamps.

Use mirrors. Mirrors double the size of any room when seen through its reflection. Use mirrors strategically to your living room or bedroom to make these areas appear bigger than they really are.

Opt for strategic but elegant furniture pieces. Take measurements of the area you want to fill then select pieces based on the measurements. Ditch the fussy furniture and go for pieces that are more inviting and laid back.

Specific hallmarks on the house make a room special such as furniture, accessories, and other components. These elements make a room look more elegant, exquisite, and faithful to a signature. While some truly exquisite pieces can cause a fortune, you can train your eyes to find subtle touches that provide a tasteful ambiance like those in richly decorated homes. Here are some suggestions to duplicate the expensive hallmarks less inexpensively:

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Exotic trees                                                                                                                 Ficus trees

Status Italian lamps                                                                                                     Excellent reproductions

Electronically controlled blinds                                                                                    Mini-blinds

Collections of very old, leather-bound books                                                             Just one or two stacked on a table or bookshelf

An antique wood valet stand                                                                                      A new inexpensive wicker valet

Contemporary crystal vases                                                                           Straight-lined chemist flasks

Built-in recessed lighting                                                                                  Track lighting available in discount stores 

Warhol drawing, Rauschenberg graphic                                                     Work of talented art students in local art schools

The Nouveau school of decorative art which originated in Europe in the 1880s and flourished until World War I, utilized rich ornamentation, concentrating on unusual expressions of nature- curving, elongated stamens, stems, and leaves- as its themes. Japanese art and artifacts had a major influence on the style, and the asymmetrical shapes of the Orient were frequently used.

In architecture the Art Nouveau style was expressed in dancing, twisting ironwork. Outstanding Art Nouveau designers include Aubrey Beardsley, Charles Mackintosh, Hector Guimard, Gustav Klimt, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Art Deco was one was one of the finest developments in contemporary decoration. Deco can be flower and Oriental motifs, a mixture of using metal, glass, lacquer, wood; hot colors like the ones that run to pale peach and seafoam green. Cubism influenced Deco and so geometric shapes often prevail. Modern items are incorporated into a design are Art Deco.

Deco motifs found on furniture, lamps, picture frames, and others may also include baskets of flowers, ebony, enamel fans, and mother-of-pearl. Even a small piece of Deco, good Deco, added to a Classic Contemporary home gives a strong message of luxury and gloriousness. A silver Deco desk set supplies an infinite glamour and a curvaceous Art Deco chair can set the tone for a whole room.

Contemporary is chic, maybe cool, sometimes colorful, and witty. The best of Contemporary should be classic in its own genre. The master designs of Classic Contemporary maybe one of the following: The best in machine-age construction, which includes natural wood and fabric as well as superior plastics, typify the style. The look is sleek, simple, and architecturally faithful; form always follows function.

The ambience of the Classic Contemporary style is uncluttered, linear, and strong. Glass and metal tables glitter, often lit by soft, overhead spots. Touches indeed abound in a Classic Contemporary style.

The European look is elegant in hallmark symbols and eloquent in interpretation of the rich. This look sends a message of refinement and meticulous attention to elaborate detail. It is a look of formality, classicism, and tradition. The European look is influenced by the English country, French formal, Italian palazzo, Greek Classicism, Victorian ornate and a hybrid of other aristocratic legacies in Europe.

If you want to achieve the European look, here are certain elements to remember:

1. Furniture Styles. There are many styles that developed in various European cultures and adapted depending on the way particular cultures saw them. Chairs, sofas, and other period pieces in reproduction give authenticity to your home. Become acquainted with these styles like the Empire, Palladian, Renaissance, and many more.

2. Oriental Rugs. The oriental rugs give a faster message of opulence. They can be thrown over a chest or hung on a wall.

3. Elegant Moldings. Moldings can be used around the perimeter of the room, at basement, ceiling, or chair level. Some can be used as strips from which pictures are hung. Moldings are to the European look what glass and steel are to the Contemporary look.

4. Tassels. Tassels in European homes are rich, thick fabric threads of distinction. They are used as drapery tiebacks, on the backs of chairs where the fabric seat meets the legs, on pillows- in many different places.

5.  Candelabra. European homes should always have candelabra which can be found standing on tables, hanging on walls, perched on columns, and of course filled with real candles.

6. Elaborate Frames. Elaborate frames are a staple and what you will see in European homes are curves, curliques, carving, and gold even on mirrors.

If you have finally decided that your home’s walls are naked or you are simply a gallery-phobic, here are a few tips for new collectors to know what things to consider before buying that masterpiece:

1. Educate yourself. There are several art books that you can read on art. Read about the different artists, their training, and their career. Look through pictures of their works and find out what styles and themes intrigue you. You can also go to library or visit websites of galleries and artists.

2. Deal with a reputable gallery. In doing so, you can be assured that you are not buying fakes, or worse, stolen pieces. A reputable gallery will not risk its good name just to make a sale.

3. Buy a piece that you really like. More than the name of the artist or the price of a piece, you have to like the painting first and foremost before you decide to buy it. Buying art is like a relationship, it will not work if on the onset one party is not really into it.

4. Choose the right type of frame. The type of frame can make or break a good piece of art. Go to a professional framer to properly display and protect your artworks for the long run.

The Chinese home design, while it has something in common with Japanese, is more elaborate and sumptuous. The best application of oriental home designs, such as the Chinese design, could be when it is used in conjunction with modern Western furniture. The Chinese design can be achieved by using these elements:

1. Porcelain. Porcelains are precious translucent pottery that comes in the form of vases, lamps, or dishes. The new Chinese porcelains include simple, pure colors and forms with delicate, calligraphic qualities.
2. Birds and Fish. Spacious, deep crystal bowls with fish were a part of imperial palaces in China while songbirds are the subject of poetry and prose in ancient and modern China.
3. Garden Stool. The ancient Chinese garden created a garden with low barrel, rectangular, or drum-shaped seat. They instantly give a taste of color, beauty and affluence to a room.

4. Oriental rugs. Oriental rugs are the final touch. A Chinese sculpted rug would be particularly wonderful in the Chinese signature.

Tropical homes always have a connection with the outdoors. The idea of bringing the outdoors in is very Asian. It is good for the soul, calms the nerves, and heightens the senses. So even if you live in a small condominium, add a seating area and lush plants to your balcony, or have your townhouse’s dining room open up to a pocket garden.

Create a focal point in your garden by adding outdoor furniture.  The wooden furniture is preferably perfect for this spot since they are really meant to be used outdoors and can withstand harsh weather conditions. You can also add lamps and wooden curtains to add interesting elements into your garden. You can also ask a landscape architect to make the most out of your budget by helping you find the best deals and the most efficient contractors for the job.