How to mix the Antiques and Vintage with modern decor
- bey0ndM@gz!ne
- May 7, 2022
- Default, People-Perspective
- 0 Comments
The most delightful and welcoming interiors are not those that look like a perfectly coordinated catalogue from a furniture shop, all belonging to a specific same style or decade, playing like the proverbial “symphony from the band”. Rather, they are meaningfully put together pieces of furniture, a mix of old and new and with a story or two to tell, says, Interior designer, Heena Ahuja.
Many of us possess at least some vintage pieces or memorabilia passed on from our loved ones, which we adore for sentimental reasons or simply for the love and appreciation of their craftsmanship. However, we struggle to incorporate them into our homes, often alongside other contemporary furnishings.
Sonal Bhandari, Founder, SARA Interior designs, suggests that there is no better time than now to embrace those classic pieces, as classics seem to be re-entering the interiors space with more people looking for comfort in the familiar and the warmth of the traditional. These special pieces add story and character to your home and makes it unique.
Here are some tips for you to help create beautiful, layered spaces combining the modern and contemporary with the inherited vintage and antique.
1. The 80/20 rule – make it look intentional
This tip simply means choosing one dominant style to represent the main character of your home and then adding complementary pieces to play a supporting role. Start with big furniture pieces first, representing the 80 percent, keeping them in one style and complementing them with accent pieces of a second style (the other 20 percent) to tie them together. If you possess only one piece of the accent style, (let’s say vintage / antique) try finding an additional piece or a few accessories from the same era or style to buddy them along. This way the juxtaposition between the two styles will feel well thought out and intentional, rather than an accidental mix.
2. Make Antiques your statement piece
Looking to create an extreme impact in your space? Play up your antique by giving it the centre stage. There is nothing better than a bold, over-sized antique statement piece of furniture in an otherwise neutral and modern setting.
Direct the eyes to the classic mirror coupled with a gorgeous vintage chandelier in a contemporary living room or think of a vintage four-poster bed frame in an otherwise lux modern bedroom.
Another example could be to use a large vintage rug as an anchor in an otherwise neutral space decorated with light and modern furnishings. The striking contrast in two styles will lend a sense of drama, and a unique character.
3. Make Antiques your accent piece(s)
If extreme impact is NOT your wish with your antique pieces, then there are ways to incorporate them as a subtle accent to the rest of the décor as well. For example – think of a pair of vintage end tables for a classic sofa or for a transitional style as bed-side tables. Ensure that the accent piece(s) don’t blend in completely with the surroundings or they won’t remain an accent. Make them stand out subtly by having a bit of contrast with the pieces around them through different colour, texture, or materials.
The goal here is not to have a stark contrast in styles to make a bold statement, but to have a subtle difference to make your antiques an ‘accent’ piece, accentuating the rest of the décor.
4. Aim for visual flow and balance
Visual balance and harmony in a space is what makes it warm and inviting. When mixing vintage, antiques and the modern, other than the occasional over-sized piece making a statement, ensure that all other pieces are proportional to each other and to the overall space, creating a sense of cohesion and visual flow.
Often antique items are made of materials such as solid wood, dark metal or leather that have higher visual weight. Balance them well in the space, for example, two similar sized pieces in two different sides of the room, or an antique on one side with a larger sized modern piece to lend visual balance to the space.
Another good example could be balancing detailed vintage dining chairs holding higher visual weight with lighter colour contemporary marble table.
5. Restore and upcycle
Antiques are often loved for their fine craftsmanship that is hard to find in today’s time, the beautiful wood carvings, the soft curves, exquisite detailing and more. Let’s say, you love your heirloom dining chairs. Or you want to hold on to the antique oriental style cabinet bought on travels, but it looks dated with all the chips and discoloration. When choosing to integrate the antique and vintage in your décor, remember to think of both aesthetics and function.
So long as your pieces have great bones, consider giving them a new lease of life by restoring them, partially or in its entirety as needed. Refurbishing an antique cabinet both externally and internally to make it more suitable for modern lifestyles and comfort could be a great way of adding unique touches to your space.
Similarly, fresh upholstery in contemporary prints or colour could be another way to upcycle your chairs, while retaining their vintage charm. They will tie better with the rest of the décor and be one of their kind that can’t just be easily bought from a store.
SARA Interior Design (www.saraglobal.com.hk) was founded in 2012. It is a full-service interior design studio based in Hong Kong, offering bespoke designs and contracting services to both residential and commercial clients.
