Create a room that speaks to today by mixing in both contemporary and vintage pieces. 
One of the challenges of mixing old and new pieces is figuring out how to make the mix of periods and styles work together while retaining an overall sense of cohesion. ELLE Decor participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Happy decorating! This is how top interior designers go about it, and how they shop. However, not all of us know how to decorate with antiques, especially if your home has a modern interior style. There's no doubt that decorating with antiques has seen a surge in interest in recent times. 6 Tips to Achieve a Timeless Modern Home Design, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE FRANZEN / NADINE STAY, Revitalize Indoor Plants This Winter With These 5 Tips, A Complete Guide: How to Build a Treehouse Without Hurting the Tree, These Are the 5 Big It Indoor Plants in 2022, Leave Behind These 5 Dated Interior Trends in 2021, 6 Easy Cleaning Skills to Teach Your Kids, Beat the Winter Blues With These 5 Simple Lighting Tricks, Statement Lighting Trends in 2022, According to Etsy, Pantone Color of the Year 2022: Very Peri, Easy Tips to Protect Your Plants From These 15 Common Spring Pests, Weekend Project: 3 DIY Ideas to Try With Your Houseplants, Decorate Your Plants for Christmas With These 4 Merry Ways. Go with your instinct, as you are the one who is going to live with it.'.
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It's a mistake to include pieces that are not compelling in some way, and to assume that for an item to be compelling it must be costly. Styling Process: "Mix, mix, mix. Antiques are generally categorized to be objects aged 100 years or more, while anything older than 20 years is considered vintage. The quality of an item may not be accurately portrayed in a photograph and seeing it up close will give you a peace of mind before you make the purchase.
Some houses are well suited to lots of antiques whilst others will benefit from a mixture of vintage and modern., You might want to follow Henriettes lead, focusing on the kitchen and bathroom as a place to incorporate antiques. Antique furniture does not always need to be the centerpiece of the room but can instead add more subtle character in the form of accent tables, accessories, and rugs. Nothing should feel too contrived, rather it should be playful, captivating our interest wherever we look. Take your cue from your home to create the best effect when youre decorating with antiques.
More of us than ever are buying antique furniture online. 'I always try to include at least one antique piece of furniture in a room' says Emma Sims Hilditch, Founder & Creative Director, Sims Hilditch (opens in new tab). It's really about if it will look right in your design.
Here are some tips that will help you mix old and new furniture to create a layered interior that transcends time. Creativity is key let your imagination run wild and tell your own story! In the living room, a mahogany library table once belonging to the Marquess of Downshire intermingles with a more modern Murano glass chandelier. explains Emma. I think it is great to mix and match periods, shapes, forms, and color as long as the rules of scale and proportions are respected. These little details will make your home feel as if it has organically come together over time. Heres why you can trust us. Camilla Clarke and Ottalie Stride, co-creative directors from interior design studio Albion Nord (opens in new tab), along with Emma Sims Hilditch of Sims Hilditch interior design agency explain how to source antique pieces. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. 'I generally try to create interiors that reflect my clients lives and personalities and antiques certainly help with this storytelling, Henriette continues. 57 Fall Dcor Ideas to Get You in an Autumnal Mood, Vintage Furniture Is Old, but Not Quite Antique, 49 Decorating Ideas for Farmhouse-Style Bedrooms, 6 Brands of Vintage Furniture Worth Investing In, 53 Stylish Modern Home Office Ideas That Will Make You Want to Work, How to Mix Rustic and Midcentury Modern Decor Styles, 25 Mirror Decor Ideas to Brighten Your Space. Incorporating antiques into a modern interiors scheme will add character, depth and a cultural element to the space, according to London-based design studio Kitesgrove (opens in new tab). If you are looking to create maximum impact in a modern room with an antique piece, go bold with a large-scale statement piece like an antique armoire, a Baroque-style or Art Deco headboard, or a massive vintage farm table. RELATED: 6 Tips to Achieve a Timeless Modern Home Design. 'Dont be afraid of buying a piece that needs restoration if it has good bones,' advises Emma. (One exception to this is Shaker-style furniture, which has been embracing the same clean lines for centuries and still looks current in even the most minimalist modern interiors. ). And they work amazingly well in contemporary spacesespecially when paired with contemporary artwork. 'The wonderful thing about working with antiques is that there are no rules a piece from the 19th century can look as good next to something super contemporary as it would amongst items from its own era,' says Emma Sims Hilditch, interior designer. Angela Free. Styling Process: "I always think of different things when vintage and antique shoppingthe scale, style and feel, color palette, uniqueness of the item, and depending on the client, the price, of course. Alternatively, if you have a funky mid-century piece but don't like the upholstery, use a beautiful antique fabric on it to add new texture and personality. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Unique and unexpected pieces can be mixed with contemporary finds to create an indulgent, calm and inviting home that values longevity over short-lived wow factor, say these designers. One of the interesting ways to decorate with antiques in modern spaces is to pair them with contemporary dcor. Keep it subtle and decorate your antique furniture with other decor pieces of your home, like a coffee table or entryway bench. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design. Decorate with antiques in modern spaces with these tips and create a curated look in your home with loads of unique character that will definitely never go out of style. Whether its a case of incorporating heirlooms, or sourcing new antique pieces, they have much to bring to any home. In London, for a one-stop shop, you cant do much better than visiting the Battersea Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair (opens in new tab). Mixing vintage and antique pieces into your decor adds luster, Interior using vintage furniture available at Bay Home, Hallar storage unit in light grey, Dark grey unit with glass shelving in stock @ Bay Home, Asian Rosewood dressers @ Bay Home 10/20/14 As seen in El Decor, Teak and black dresser @ Bay Home 10/20/14. ", Williamson emphasizes the importance of considering scale when placing furniture. Some are lucky enough to have antiques gifted from generations past, while others fancy themselves collectors, plundering through markets to find that perfect piece. 'I always try to put something old into a kitchen and bathroom: it helps that not everything is built in or too matchy matchy, she says. Everyone is hung up on 'period appropriate,' but that's really not how people live now.". Not only is it functional for cook prep, but it also serves as a place to entertain. Homeowners Brooke and Steve Giannetti mixed both Swedish, French, and American antiques in their restored Litchfield County Connecticut Home. Ensure that what youre buying is something that you love. All rights reserved. Make these pieces functional and appropriate for modern lifestyles by painting, refinishing, refurbishing interiors, or adding upholstery to an antique bed frame or armchair to bring it a sense of modern comfort. , Where to begin a room design when youre decorating with antiques? For interior designer Lisa Gilmore of Lisa Gilmore Design, successfully mixing modern and antiques is all about playing with your lines, making sure you have a healthy mix of streamlined and curves. Gilmore says she mixes metal finishes to give the design legs and keep it from looking dated. 'An antique rug is often my starting point for an interior: it might be a client's existing rug or I might source one and build a scheme around it, says Henriette. Know your sources and do your homework! It creates an eclectic style to your home and a unique feel to the space, rather than something that looks ordinary and common. Incorporating vintage and antique furnishings into a design often means parsing together objects from aesthetic movements that are decades or centuries apartor, if the pieces belong to the same period, designers must ensure that the style of the space does not seem stale or derivative. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Decorating with neutrals 15 beautiful pared-back schemes, How to design a fragrant garden 10 beautiful, aromatic ideas, International Antiques & Collectors Fairs, Battersea Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair, Everything you need to turn your dream home into a reality, Inspiring real homes, expert project advice and on-trend shopping, Issues delivered direct to your door or device. If you inherit your grandparents old dining table, stumble on an antique bed frame at the flea market, or find a thrift store armoire with great bones but a dated finish, take a step back and imagine how it would look stripped to its bones, refinished, or transformed with a brand new coat of paint. It's lovely if they come with a brand name or historical significance, but that's not always necessary. 'The internet aside, nothing beats seeing a piece in the flesh.' 'To create this, also consider architectural salvage and antique fabrics. Its perfectly feasible to re-use old lighting. What Is Traditional Interior Design Style? The increase in interest in antiques is largely due to a focus on sustainability and the desire of the design savvy to bring character into their homes. Take this 1960s-inspired Dorset Chair, for example, that blends conventional wicker and wrought iron with a whole new approach to repurposed design. If you have a piece of antique furniture that doesnt really blend well with your homes dcor pieces, we suggest repurposing it instead of throwing it out. Just like buying in person, check the credibility of the seller by reading reviews and confirm if they have affiliations with large, regulated bodies such as NAADAA (opens in new tab) or ADA (opens in new tab) in the US, or LAPADA (opens in new tab) or BADA (opens in new tab) in the UK. Decorating with antiques can achieve different emphases, depending on what is selected. These are the best ways to source pieces youll love for years to come both in person and online. Auction houses hold some really special pieces and you can start off at smaller, local auction houses rather than having to go straight to Christies depending on budgets.. A French school 18th-century oil painting hangs above a tufted sofa found at Bonham's auction house. 'They [antiques] offer such depth and gravitas, and help a scheme feel grounded and unique.' This strategy works particularly well in a neutral space that needs a focal point or a sense of drama that is achieved by introducing contrast and juxtaposition. Bunny Williams placed a French Regency console with an 18th-century English mirror to perfect effect in this Palm Beach grand entryway. Period rooms are great for museums. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Always check the size of a piece and whether fits the space you have in mind. While nothing beats the rich patina of a quality antique or vintage piece in terms of aesthetics and value, the truth is that not all antiques are valuable or need to be preserved in their original state. Never purchase something with structural issueswood is harder to reconstruct. Copyright 2021 Omysa.
This meant embracing reproductions to achieve the desired effect. It was during lockdown when we saw a boom in antiques being sold online. When styling antique pieces, it is important to respect the architecture of the house you are decorating, says Clara.
Ask These 7 Questions Before Buying Vintage Furniture & Decor on Insta, These Are the Best Places to Buy Vintage Dcor Online in 2022, 42 Pretty Powder Room Ideas That Will Definitely Impress Visitors, 45 Elegant Bathrooms That Make Your Home Feel Like a Spa, 62 Bathroom Design Ideas You'll Want to Try, How to Style a Dreamy, Livable White Room. Dont be afraid to upcycle: a lick of paint can transform old wooden furniture, giving it a renewed energy, says Clara. Think about changing the upholstery of antique pieces which can have a dramatic effect. New elements have been chosen carefully to fit the period furniture like muted de Gournay wallpaper and Prelle curtains to add instant heritage to the space. Always get a receipt when you buy online. Key information should be provided in the description of a piece, such as age, timber, condition and if any restoration has been conducted over the years. Emma likes to source contemporary art as a way to mix things up and keep an interior fresh and intriguing.' You could create a modern boho interior or modern eclectic interior in your space with this technique. The result is a layering of periods and cohesion of tangible detailsthe basis of a contemporary approach.
We should not attempt to create museums, but rather should strive for comfortable living spaces of character and beauty.".
Styling Process: "Sometimes we are looking for stunning period pieces that are beautifully and expertly preserved, and other times, items without a lot of age that are quirkier with character might be just right. Decorating with antiques comes from our innate need for a connection to the past, to believe in a story, and create a sense of history in the space we inhabit. "You want a place to feel rooted," he says. "Especially antiques," she says, "since they were made to fit different spaces and lifestyles. Take designer Micky Hurley's reinvention of his 17th-century Paris flat. Homes & Gardens is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The only rules to finding the perfect antique for your space are to simply follow your gut and keep an open mind on how a piece can be used in a space.
The house appears to have always been there. "I layer reclaimed things so you can't tell what's new and what's old.". Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. By choosing something that youre really fond of from the off will likely mean that you will be pleased with the piece for years to come. Antiques are hardy and have endured the elements this far; they are likely to fail you now. Anything more than 20 years old but less than 100 is usually considered vintage. 'I find that antiques have a timeless quality that is difficult to achieve with most modern pieces, and the depth that they give to a scheme provide unparalleled comfort, explains Henriette von Stockhausen, creative director of VSP Interiors (opens in new tab). For all of the benefits of seeing items in real life, one unbeatable benefit of beginning your search online is how much of the country or the world you can cover from the comfort of your own home. Dunham's design for this living room includes vintage chintz on the armchairs and an ottoman covered in a Flemish tapestry. Baratta, as the first Designer in Residence of the Colonial Williamsburg home, was tasked with reinventing the space in such a way that honors its history but freshens it with a modern perspective. Anywhere from a weekend hobbyist selling bric-a-brac, to antique experts, who once may not have used social media as a platform, selling their wares to the masses online.
Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I tend to prioritize silhouette, texture, material, and scale over the period of an item. Antiques often display fine craftsmanship that is harder to come by today and feature intricate wood carving, marquetry, or decorative flourishes that you wont find in run-of-the-mill modern-day furniture.
Explore their thoughts here. Williamson notes that it's a good idea to have the springs and batting refreshed. Its something that you wont find in any stores anymore. Reproductions tend to get a bad rap, but designers like Anthony Baratta often note how it's important to focus on how the piece makes you feel rather then when it was made. Sometimes one good piece says it all.
Here we share expert interior design advice on decorating with antiques and how to source the perfect piece including buying online. I might use a dresser or a chest of drawers or adapt a piece, maybe adding glazed doors to a bookshelf or converting a console to make a washstand.'. In my work, we never do period roomsperiod! Antique furniture is also one of our favorite sustainable kitchen ideas they bring instant charm and personality to the space while also helping you do your bit for the planet.
Mixing antiques from different styles and eras makes the space look more eclectic and brimming with personality. So often, Saturday strolls lead to the local flea market or antiques store and then it happenslove at first sight strikes with a hidden treasure. Learn more interior design tips and ideas on OmysasDesignblog. Favorite Vintage/Antique Finds: Arne Norell safari chairs, a 19th-century chandelier, and a large gilt mirror from a New York City hotel. As the traditional interior is slowly entering the spotlight, so is antique furniture. It's a bit like buying a house with decent foundations, you're investing in something that's likely to stand the test of time. 'For a contemporary feel, you can add a wacky fabric to repurpose an inherited piece. Filled with over 45 pages long with detailed write-ups and stunning photos to get you inspired in decorating your space. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. It might still stand out from the rest of your decor pieces, so we suggest pairing it with decor that has a contrasting color to make the space look balanced. A bit of luck befell Bay when he came across a set of Gianfranco Frattini chairs discarded by a local dance club for the dining table. This advice for decorating with antiques will help you add character and charm to your home. The most livable interiors are those that cant be pinned to a specific era or decade, but integrate elements from the history of home design. Combining antiques from different epochs or from different countries may initially feel bazaar, but there is elegance in the madness. Reports and detailed photographs should be available to you as a buyer and you should request a video or additional photograph if there are angles which havent been covered. Nothing feels more stale and lifelessstatic spaces just dont interest me. Antiques also have the power to keep a room from feeling too strict. Charlotte Moss transformed a set of lacquered chinoiserie panels into closet doors for a guest room in her own home. For me, a really large antique/vintage rug sets the tone immediately, says Gilmore, and you can have lots of fun adding and layering around it.. Dont recreate a room from the past. If you love antiques but feel intimidated by buying antique furniture, start with small furniture pieces such as end tables and wooden stools, or decorative pieces like antique French gilded mirrors, lighting fixtures, and rugs. "Fresh upholstery can give antiques a modern feel without sacrificingvintage charm," Williamson says. 'Whether they are inherited pieces that have been handed down through the generations or items that have been collected because they mean something to the owner, the result is the same, says designer Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors (opens in new tab). Juxtaposing antique finds with modern furniture will lift a space; a bold antique brass pendant light will make a statement and catch the eye whilst an oversized vintage rug in muted colours will anchor a space allowing modern furniture and accessories to take center stage, says Clara Ewart, head of design, Kitesgrove. When discussing why antiques are important, Emma adds; 'it is a wonderfully sustainable way to reuse old furniture, often so beautifully constructed and made with very high quality timbers.'. Just like a lead fabric, the rug should have at least three colors in the design to draw upon and build upwards.'.
However, often it is the juxtaposition of old and new that creates that certain special energy. Stripes on a curved settee will highlight its shape while florals on a straight back chair might add some softness." Favorite Vintage/Antique Finds: 1960s vases with a blue volcanic glaze and an antique handpainted fabric screen. To reap these benefits, discover how to go about decorating with antiques from the experts. A balance of proportion across space offers a lot of leeway to run wild with prints, colors, finishes, and styles. The house may be new construction, but you would never know it with the infusion of antiques and historical references.
Favorite Vintage/Antique Finds: a bibliotheque from a furniture fair in London. Read our top 5 Farmhouse Designers to follow. Favorite Vintage/Antique Finds: a mauve mohair Baker sofa from the 70s and an 80s headboard. Its exciting to give an antique new life or to present it in a new and interesting way. Sarah Blank masterfully placed a European tailor's table from Authentic Provence as the centerpiece of this kitchen at the Kips Bay Show House in Palm Beach. Later in the same home, Dunham turned French leather wrestling mats into a large ottoman for the living room. It's a new piece, yet it instantly feels like something that's been in a home for decades. 'Shopping for antiques can be daunting when items require work doing but they're often more rewarding too. Its important to avoid pastiche when decorating with antiques. The images are well shot, the categories are well laid-out and I can spend hours looking through the myriad of beautiful pieces.' A new seagrass rug keeps the room feeling 'of today,' but the subtle slub texture is a nod to the other more organic and antique elements in the room. "My feeling is if something is lovely, it's lovely. Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around theinteriors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. Many dark, heavy wood pieces don't float comfortably and would be happiest on or near a wall.
Antique furniture is show-stoppers that you dont need to mix with other dcor pieces because it creates a statement on its own. A curated look with loads of character will never go out of style.
'I always try to include at least one antique piece of furniture in a room' says Emma Sims Hilditch, Founder & Creative Director, Sims Hilditch. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Antiques are meant to enliven a space with context and history, not to create a museum with velvet ropes. 'Most of us are not trying to recreate an accurate historical interior but a liveable characterful space that is comfortable as well as beautiful, says Henriette. So some of us would either keep it to collect dust or sell it, but did you know that vintage pieces or antique furniture add so much character to your space? We asked several Dering Hall designers for advice on thoughtfully sourcing and styling with vintage and antique objects to craft spaces that are both referential and original. "If you fancy a print, consider the shape of the piece and decide whether to play with or against the form. ", Favorite Vintage/Antique Finds: "I find the most uniques pieces in the most unexpected parts of the world. If it is special to you, you will find a space where it can shine. "New materials can go a long way towards adding contemporary comfort," she says. Favorite Vintage/Antique Finds: a vintage brass Sarreid coffee table and a pair of Alky Chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli. A keen eye for 18th- and 19th-century antiques, the owner of this Hudson Valley home understood how to recreate a storied pedigree. Dunham also repurposed a Georgian sideboard by cutting the legs off and using it as a desk. Repurposing new with old or old with new both really work well. Find fairs in the US and around the world via NAADAA (opens in new tab) (the National Antique & Art Dealers Association of America) together with a list of members.
Peter Dunham is not afraid of any kind of architectural salvage, including 50 feet of walnut bookcases and paneling dismantled in England and reconstructed in this Newport Beach home.
Buy cheap, buy twice. This same formula can work for large-scale decorative pieces, like a giant French gilded mirror or a massive vintage rug to anchor an otherwise contemporary living room. As antiques dealer-turned-designer Rose Tarlow dictates in her book .css-7l5upj{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-7l5upj:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}The Private House, "The juxtaposition of contemporary pieces with antiques makes a room young and alive.