Interior design antiques
12 design tips plus buying advice |
There's no doubt that decorating with antiques has seen a surge in interest in recent times. Whether it’s a case of incorporating heirlooms, or sourcing ‘new’ antique pieces, they have much to bring to any home.
'Connecting to the past with personal items that have a story to tell helps to provide a sense of history and connection,' says interior designer Henriette von Stockhausen.
Here we share expert interior design advice on decorating with antiques and how to source the perfect piece including buying online.
Decorating with antiques
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 . 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.
To reap these benefits, discover how to go about decorating with antiques from the experts.
1. Bring in antiques to lift a room
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
One of our favorite ways to make a home look expensive, decorating with antiques can achieve different emphases, depending on what is selected.
‘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.
2. Consider re-upholstering antiques
(Image credit: VSP Interiors)
Think about changing the upholstery of antique pieces – which can have a dramatic effect.
'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 . ‘However, often it is the juxtaposition of old and new that creates that certain special energy.
'For a contemporary feel, you can add a wacky fabric to repurpose an inherited piece. 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. Repurposing new with old or old with new both really work well.
'I generally try to create interiors that reflect my clients’ lives and personalities and antiques certainly help with this storytelling,’ Henriette continues. ‘Whether choosing one piece in an otherwise modern interior for major impact or a whole house for settled comfort, it’s about blending and mixing periods and styles to make the space come alive.'
3. Ensure your interiors are liveable, not contrived
(Image credit: VSP Interiors)
It’s important to avoid pastiche when decorating with antiques. '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.
‘Nothing should feel too contrived, rather it should be playful, captivating our interest wherever we look.
'Almost anything goes and there are no hard and fast rules, other than whether the piece speaks to you and you like it. If it is special to you, you will find a space where it can shine.
'To create this, also consider architectural salvage and antique fabrics. They can add that sense of connection and lived-in feel that we all crave without looking too staid.
'At the same time they can also be easily mixed into a more contemporary interior – as in this bedroom above – if you are unsure about antique furniture.'
4. Use antiques as accent pieces
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
Don’t rule out using smaller items: these can still make an impact within interiors. ‘Smaller antiques work well as accent pieces, whether it’s a beautiful vase, a side table or a light,’ says Clara Ewart. ‘These little details will make your home feel as if it has organically come together over time.
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5. Start your scheme with a lead piece
(Image credit: VSP Interiors)
Where to begin a room design when you’re decorating with antiques? '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. ‘Just like a lead fabric, the rug should have at least three colors in the design to draw upon and build upwards.'
6. Take the home’s architecture into account
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
Take your cue from your home to create the best effect when you’re decorating with antiques.
‘When styling antique pieces, it is important to respect the architecture of the house you are decorating,’ says Clara. ‘Some houses are well suited to lots of antiques whilst others will benefit from a mixture of vintage and modern.’
7. Bring antiques into kitchens and bathrooms
(Image credit: VSP Interiors)
You might want to follow Henriette’s lead, focusing on the kitchen and bathroom as a place to incorporate antiques.
'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. ‘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.'
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.
8. Swap modern lighting for antique
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
It’s perfectly feasible to re-use old lighting. ‘Antique lighting is a wonderful way to incorporate vintage pieces into a room, not only adding to the aesthetic but providing a key functional element as well,’ says Clara. ‘Most vintage lamps can be easily re-wired, so if you find something to suit your style, don’t be put off buying it if a little work is needed to make it good as new again.’
(Image credit: VSP Interiors)
Antiques don’t have to fulfill their original function.
‘Old paravent screens can become cupboard doors, rugs can become headboards, urns can become lamps and tables can become kitchen islands,’ says Henriette. ‘Creativity is key – let your imagination run wild and tell your own story!'
10. Embrace upcycling
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
Neither do pieces with a history have to be restored to an original finish, including when you’re buying art. ‘Don’t be afraid to upcycle: a lick of paint can transform old wooden furniture, giving it a renewed energy,’ says Clara. ‘We love to make an antique feel very modern with a gloss finish in a bright colour. Likewise, a modern frame on a traditional artwork can give it a new identity.’
11. Mix contemporary with classic
'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.
Emma likes to source contemporary art as a way to mix things up and keep an interior fresh and intriguing.' I love mixing antique furniture with modern art – this can look so elegant. My philosophy on buying antiques and fine art is to buy it if it immediately appeals. Go with your instinct, as you are the one who is going to live with it.'
12. Think about restoring unloved items
'Don’t be afraid of buying a piece that needs restoration if it has good bones,' advises Emma. 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.
'Shopping for antiques can be daunting when items require work doing but they're often more rewarding too. There are some brilliant furniture restorers and it feels right that we should support these very talented craftspeople in their trade.'
How to source antiques online and off
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
More of us than ever are buying antique furniture online.
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.
These are the best ways to source pieces you’ll love for years to come both in person and online.
Where to browse for antiques
(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
‘There are many places to find wonderful antiques and you don’t need to have a big budget to find pieces which can be restored, re-upholstered and renewed whether you choose to go to a decorative fair or an auction house,’ says Clara Ewart. ‘Re-purposing one-off pieces of furniture or lighting will also provide a great sense of satisfaction to be continuing the life of an item which may otherwise have been discarded.
‘There are some great finds at flea markets and antique stalls; be prepared to visit more than once as there will be new items available each week from various sellers. Auction houses hold some really special pieces and you can start off at smaller, local auction houses rather than having to go straight to Christie’s depending on budgets.
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(Image credit: Kitesgrove)
Find fairs in the US and around the world via NAADAA (the National Antique & Art Dealers Association of America) together with a list of members. And visit ADA (Antique Dealers’ Association of America) for events and a directory of members.
Europe is a rich source of antiques if you like the idea of travel, and don’t mind the shipping costs to bring purchases home. The most affordable antiques can be found in the European flea markets (Lille, Munich and Amsterdam are the most famous). Brussels has a wonderful selection of antique shops selling very reasonably priced antiques and mid-century pieces.
If you’re visiting the UK, the IACF (International Antiques & Collectors Fairs ) are held in seven locations across England. In London, for a one-stop shop, you can’t do much better than visiting the Battersea Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair .
There are also pockets of the UK where dealers congregate: Lillie Road (Catherine Despas, Dorian Caffot Defawes, M.
Charpentier, Puckhaber, Streett Marburg) and Pimlico Road (Howe, Gallery 88) in London; Arundel (Spencer Swaffer) and Petworth (John Bird, Augustus Brandt, Kiki Design) in Sussex; and Tetbury in Gloucestershire (Lorfords, Brownrigg, AntiqBR) are all places we regularly visit.
Check before buying
‘Be sure to check the authenticity of the antiques you purchase – there should be labels, hallmarks or details of the maker’s location and often a certificate of authenticity,’ says Clara.
Go for what you love
‘Most trends tend to come back into fashion, so we advise buying something you love when you see it without getting too distracted as to whether it will suit the design scheme you have planned – if anything it will enhance the overall look providing rich textures and a connection to the past,’ says Clara.
How to shop for antique furniture
Camilla Clarke and Ottalie Stride, co-creative directors from interior design studio Albion Nord , along with Emma Sims Hilditch of Sims Hilditch interior design agency explain how to source antique pieces.
1. Pay the antiques dealer a visit
It was during lockdown when we saw a boom in antiques being sold online. 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. 'The internet aside, nothing beats seeing a piece in the flesh.' says interior designer Emma Sims Hilditch.
2. Buy antiques online
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.
'The internet has opened up a new world of sourcing. A wonderful resource for designers as well as the public is 1stDibs , for both designers and the public. The images are well shot, the categories are well laid-out and I can spend hours looking through the myriad of beautiful pieces.' explains Emma.
3. Only buy what you love
(Image credit: Albion Nord)
Ensure that what you’re buying is something that you love.
Antiques are hardy and have endured the elements this far; they are likely to fail you now. By choosing something that you’re really fond of from the off will likely mean that you will be pleased with the piece for years to come.
4. Check the authenticity of the seller
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 or ADA in the US, or LAPADA or BADA in the UK.
Trustworthy dealers are likely to help with condition reports, will gladly impart their extensive knowledge on the piece and provide videos to help you with your purchase.
5. Be aware of hidden costs
(Image credit: Albion Nord)
Consider hidden costs when buying online; shipping, restoration and re-upholstery are the most common costs that you should look out for.
6. Ask for a receipt
Always get a receipt when you buy online. This will protect you should anything go wrong with the piece you bought.
7. Measure everything
(Image credit: Future.Brent Darby)
Always check the size of a piece and whether fits the space you have in mind. A helpful tip is to cut out a card or paper template and put it in the spot you have in mind for complete peace of mind.
8. Try to see antique furniture in person
If possible, always try to see the piece you hope to buy in person. 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.
9. Ask for detailed photographs
Check the condition of the piece as far as possible. 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 haven’t been covered.
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.
10.
Be mindful of cheap imitationsValue often reflects quality. Buy cheap, buy twice.
How do you decorate with antiques?
To decorate with antiques, mix these pieces with newer ones, keeping in mind that the aim should always be liveable rooms not a historical facsimile.
'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 . ‘I know that personally I could not decorate a house, let alone live in one, without antiques!’
(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)
'I always try to include at least one antique piece of furniture in a room' says Emma Sims Hilditch, Founder & Creative Director, Sims Hilditch.
'They [antiques] offer such depth and gravitas, and help a scheme feel grounded and unique.' she explains.
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.
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Are antiques coming back in 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 .
'They [antiques] offer such depth and gravitas, and help a scheme feel grounded and unique.' she explains.
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.'
12. Think about restoring unloved items
How to Decorate with Antiques and Vintage Pieces
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. So often, Saturday strolls lead to the local flea market or antiques store and then it happens—love at first sight strikes with a hidden treasure. Some are lucky enough to have antiques gifted from generations past, while others fancy themselves collectors, plundering through markets to find that perfect piece.
Humans have a soft spot for things that have endured longer than themselves, and a well-crafted dresser or dining table will far outlive the fast-paced trends of today and tomorrow.
Antiques are generally categorized to be objects aged 100 years or more, while anything older than 20 years is considered vintage. However, decorating with antiques and vintage furnishings is one and the same—blending the old world with a sense of the new. Antiques are meant to enliven a space with context and history, not to create a museum with velvet ropes. As antiques dealer-turned-designer, Rose Tarlow dictates in her book The Private House, "The juxtaposition of contemporary pieces with antiques makes a room young and alive. We should not attempt to create museums, but rather should strive for comfortable living spaces of character and beauty."
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.
If you love it, you will always find a place for it.
Statement Pieces
Nickolas Sargent
Sometimes one good piece says it all. 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. Not only is it functional for cook prep, but it also serves as a place to entertain. Bold-hued cabinets keep the space feeling fresh, while the antique island grounds the kitchen with a more traditional approach
Nickolas Sargent
Antiques also have the power to keep a room from feeling too strict. For example, the ceramic tiger from Eleish van Breems, peaking conspicuously from beneath the coffee table, adds a bit of whimsy in this writer's retreat by Kevin Isbell.
Accent Pieces
Nickolas Sargent
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.
Colette Van Den Thillart brings a sense of humor to her rooms with avant-garde finds like this monkey console table from Circa Who.
Francesco Lagnese
Here, Bunny Williams highlighted this Palm Beach guesthouse's Mediterranean influence with a mirror and side table from John Rosselli.
Reproductions and Inspired By
Annie Schlecter
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. "The history of furniture has been fueled by them," says Baratta. "My feeling is if something is lovely, it's lovely. Everyone is hung up on 'period appropriate,' but that's really not how people live now."
Good furniture design has achieved many iterations through the decades, and each remake contributes a new layer of history to a particular design. 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.
This meant embracing reproductions to achieve the desired effect.
Nickolas Sargent
Inspired by her love of antique Portuguese tile, Alessandra Branca partnered with de Gournay to create her own dreamy wallcovering for this Palm Beach master bedroom.
Francesco Lagnese
Thomas O'Brien's most recent collection with Century Furniture harkens back to furniture typically found in seaside homes spanning the 19th century to the midcentury period. Take this 1960s-inspired Dorset Chair, for example, that blends conventional wicker and wrought iron with a whole new approach to repurposed design. It's a new piece, yet it instantly feels like something that's been in a home for decades.
Repurposed into New
David Tsay
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.
Dunham also repurposed a Georgian sideboard by cutting the legs off and using it as a desk.
David Tsay
Later in the same home, Dunham turned French leather wrestling mats into a large ottoman for the living room.
Miguel Flores-Vianna
Charlotte Moss transformed a set of lacquered chinoiserie panels into closet doors for a guest room in her own home.
Layering
David Tsay
Layering older pieces with new design is certainly one of the more interesting ways to embrace antiquities in your home. A master of this method, Peter Dunham emphasizes the importance of introducing antiques in a new home. "You want a place to feel rooted," he says. "I layer reclaimed things so you can't tell what's new and what's old."
Dunham's design for this living room includes vintage chintz on the armchairs and an ottoman covered in a Flemish tapestry. A 19th-century circular mirror found on a shopping trip in Avignon, France, plays beautifully with Jennifer Bartlett's modern artwork.
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.
Helenio Barbetta
Marco Bay masterfully layered found objects and family antiques in his dreamy Portofino escape. 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. Ladder-back seats inherited from his parents grace the entryway.
Helenio Barbetta
Bunny Williams artfully mixed old with new in this Palm Beach retreat. A contemporary resin table coexists with an 18th-century Italian console that frames a modern black and white photograph.
Francesco Lagnese
The Antique Home
Dylan Thomas
Introducing the 'antique-obsessed' who can't help but cover the whole house in aged glory from floor to ceiling. Take designer Micky Hurley's reinvention of his 17th-century Paris flat.
His wife, Malu, describes his love of antiquities: "Micky believes the warmth and depth that antiques can give a space is immeasurable—they make it feel lived-in and personal. They are pieces you want to pass on." A French school 18th-century oil painting hangs above a tufted sofa found at Bonham's auction house.
Annie Schlechter
A keen eye for 18th- and 19th-century antiques, the owner of this Hudson Valley home understood how to recreate a storied pedigree. The house may be new construction, but you would never know it with the infusion of antiques and historical references. The house appears to have always been there. In the living room, a mahogany library table once belonging to the Marquess of Downshire intermingles with a more modern Murano glass chandelier. 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.
Collections
Annie Schlechter
Collecting no longer makes a hoarder.
Flaunt it if you've got it! Collections of pottery or textiles make wonderful displays, as exemplified in Philip Mitchell's weekend Canadian cottage.
Annie Schlecter
Mixing Styles and Periods
Francesco Lagnese
Combining antiques from different epochs or from different countries may initially feel bazaar, but there is elegance in the madness. Bunny Williams placed a French Regency console with an 18th-century English mirror to perfect effect in this Palm Beach grand entryway.
Lisa Romerein
Homeowners Brooke and Steve Giannetti mixed both Swedish, French, and American antiques in their restored Litchfield County Connecticut Home.
VerandaVeranda Lettermark logoSara Clark
Sara Clark is the Style Assistant at VERANDA, where she writes about interiors, fashion, style, and the latest design trends.
Antiques in a modern interior: 10 successful examples
Interior items
decorator
“There is no need to treat antiques with excessive reverence.Even the most valuable items can be sanded, repainted, reupholstered, cut and glued with others if a new interior requires it. Things should work. That's what they're made for."
Personal website
Kirill Istomin is well versed in the history of decorative art. All the more surprising is his, at times, free treatment of the legacy of the past. For example, in the interior of this Italian villa, he repainted an old mirror and a console in the master bedroom to match the upholstery of armchairs, and equipped church candlesticks made of gilded wood of the 18th century with electric lamps and mounted them in the dining room.
designer
“It gives me particular pleasure to combine elements that at first glance are incomparable and even contradictory. You play with the details to create the purest design music!”
Personal website
In Hervé Van der Straeten's Parisian apartment, polyphony resounds: van der Straeten mixes his own objects with works by Pierre Charpin, Gunter Belzig, Andrea Branzi .
The oldest in the company are a French Regency writing desk and an early 18th century chest of drawers in lacquered wood, marble and bronze. “I like to fantasize and imagine the past life of these objects and their former owners,” says Hervé.
Founders of the architectural bureau Blockstudio
“When furnishing the interior with antiques, it is better to choose modern lamps. Antique lighting is rarely functional, and without proper lighting, living in an apartment can become unbearable.”
Personal website
decorator
“Antiques are good as accents. But all things - what we sit on, lie down, what we eat for - must be durable and comfortable, and therefore modern.
Alexandra Vertinskaya loves the period of the Russian “estate” Empire style very much, but she is against the dominance of antiques in the house.
“Old Moscow interiors are always eclectic,” she says. — Chests of drawers of Karelian birch traditionally made friends with Chinese vases, polished Finnish walls — with African masks. Remember, at one time they hung in almost every "decent" apartment? And next to it, an estate card table could easily stand. And this "porridge-baby" creates the very Moscow comfort.
architect
“The palette for painting the rooms of this house near Moscow was inspired by the book Interior in Russian Painting in the First Half of the 19th Century”.
Personal website
architect
"Eclectic furniture creates a sense of history in an interior."
Personal website
“Designing my interior, I imagined myself as an architect of the 1950s, who forgot about the shortage of materials,” says architect Pavel Zheleznov.
- I allowed myself plaster moldings, doors with deglazing, oak herringbone parquet, Jura marble window sills interspersed with ancient shells. The furniture is quite eclectic, but it gives the feeling of a home with history. The sideboard of the beginning of the 20th century seems to have been inherited from the grandmother, and the aluminum chair was bought by the grandson. So everything fits."
Owners of the 19th century wooden tower, now the Terem Astashovo hotel
“We tried to recreate the original interiors of the 19th century. But since antique beds do not come in large sizes, only the headboards were used from them, and the bases were made new. Still, modern people need comfort.”
Andrey Pavlichenkov and Olga Golovicher restored a 19th-century wooden tower lost in the Chukhloma wilderness and turned it into the only hotel-museum in Russia with a completely recreated 19th-century atmosphere.
Antique furniture and utensils were searched for in neighboring villages and also carefully restored.
Architect, designer
Tuscan mansion of the 16th century by the famous architect Roberto Baciocchi, famous for the interiors of Prada and Miu Miu boutiques. In the historical context of the house, the architect introduced modern materials and pieces of furniture. It is difficult to understand what in this interior is related to history, and what was created by Baciocchi himself.
Chesova Polina
5 Ways to Fit Antiques into a Modern Interior
In recent years, antiques have become increasingly popular among designers and connoisseurs of non-trivial interior solutions.
In addition to the fact that things with history are capable of, as nothing else, to emphasize the status, viability and taste of the owner, they can be a great way to invest in the future. Over time, the cost of such a purchase can increase several times.
Antique or rare, that is the question.
Let's start with the fact that the concepts of "antique", "vintage" and "rarity" are not identical.
Rare and unique items are called rare, the value of which does not depend on their age.
If if it is aged from fifteen to thirty, and in some cases even fifty years. The thing should not only be time-tested, but also bear the imprint of the fashion trends of its era.
And, finally, a rare item is considered to be at least fifty years old. In some countries, only things created no earlier than the first half of the 19th century have the right to be classified as antiques.
Antiques can easily create amazing combinations and aesthetically complete living spaces.
And at the same time, a mindless heap of antiques can turn the most stylish home into a museum or a “junk shop”.
Five proven tricks to avoid this .
Thanks to them, you can harmoniously fit retro objects even into the most capricious spaces. 1. Less is more.
In modern apartments, antiques create unique interior contrasts. It should be remembered that such objects always attract increased attention. Moreover, the older the subject, the more attention and interest it can cause. That's why it's so important not to overdo it.
According to the designers, it is better to give preference to one or two, maximum three antiques. At the same time, it is better to leave the decoration neutral and restrained, it will be an excellent background for antiques.
The only object with historical value can be distinguished by zoning and special lighting. In this case, he will play the role of the main chord and make the rest of the interior sound.
If there are a lot of vintage items, a finish masquerading as antique will help to correctly integrate them into the interior.
Artificially aged furniture facades, columns and stucco covered with a noble patina, paintings in carved gilded frames will help to give the interior a historical sound and "painlessly" introduce antique items into a modern home.
3. Old things - new life.
Effortlessly and gracefully add a bit of retro to the interior by updating antique items. For example, use vintage headboards for modern beds or equip candlesticks from the 18th century with electric lamps. According to the designers, there is nothing wrong with changing old things.
Well-known domestic decorator Kirill Istomin is convinced that even the most valuable of them can be sanded, repainted, cut and glued with others if a new interior requires it.
4. Remember the color.
In order for the proximity of ancient and modern things to be harmonious, designers advise choosing light colors for finishing the room.
It is they who will help to make friends the past and the present and create a single ensemble out of them.
Rare furniture made of dark wood is recommended to be installed against a light wall or next to a sofa in a lighter shade. The resulting contrast will emphasize the elitism of the antique item.
5. The era matters.
Specialists strongly discourage mixing items from different historical eras.
Exception - you are an experienced designer or decorator and have an innate ability to mix disparate details.
In all other cases, it is better to add antiques to the interior that belong to the same historical period or eras, between which there is no large time interval. So a rococo-style banquette will be in harmony with an empire-style chest of drawers, but a vintage armchair from the 50s will not fit into this tandem.
As you can see, it is quite possible to harmoniously fit antique objects into a modern living environment.
