Have you ever walked in to a room and just felt at home even though you’ve never visited this space before? If I were a betting lady I would put it down to there being a sophisticated level of cohesiveness in play which can often come from mixing antiques with contemporary furniture and decor.
The key to achieving this look is to have a solid understanding of the architectural elements of your space. Why you may ask? Well your dwelling has a big part to play when it comes to deciding the ratio of antiques to contemporary pieces you may wish to include. For instance, the design scheme would differ for a 1970s A-frame home as opposed to a 19th century Victorian. The later would handle a significant number of antique pieces without looking like a museum whereas the 1970s A-frame would benefit with a more mindful approach.
Once you have factored in any historical or distinct architectural features of your home, you can move on to the desired feel you are wanting to create. For most it would be to achieve a timeless yet fresh space which is inviting to be in.
Regardless of the brief, I like to have at least one unexpected element within a room.
That’s where antiques come into play. They tell a timeless story and offer an interesting take on a space that bulk-produced modern pieces fail to do. If you are lucky enough to have family heirlooms, this is where you should start. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box too. For instance, a matching pair of Adams-Style Neoclassical Vases would look incredible on a bookcase acting as bookends as opposed to using them in their traditional sense.
Family heirlooms offer a sense of one’s purpose as they signify carrying on life’s journey being passed from one generation to the next. For instance, this gorgeous Italian oil on canvas painting below would look incredible as a feature piece within a contemporary dining room that had soft grey walls, with white trim and dark wooden floors. Not to mention what a conversation starter…..imagine what a painting like this has seen in it’s life time!
If you aren’t fortunate enough to have inherited heirlooms, don’t be afraid to shop around. Just be sure you are buying from a trusted dealer and that your piece is authentic before parting with your hard earned cash.
So you have the pieces, now how to incorporate them? I’m aware this can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. I have a few tricks that helped me over the years to achieve a sense of harmony within a room. These being:
1. Mix Old With New.
As mentioned above, be aware that if using all antiques you run the risk of a room feeling like either a storage space or an oddly curated museum. Breaking up your treasured pieces and offsetting them with modern items will help bridge the gap and create a timeless aesthetic.
2. Design Your Space with a Specific Colour Scheme in Mind.
Grouping items by colour is a great trick to calming your zone and creating uniformity. Your eye just sees a layering of one colour as opposed to jumping around from one hue to another. So if you have a gorgeous soft grey antique fretwork side unit like this one below, matching it with other calming greys creates a welcoming retreat for the owner.
3. Mix Different Textures and Materials.
Not many people think of leather straight off the bat when you mention antiques but tell me one person who hasn’t melted when sitting in a well worn leather chair! Leather adds a level of warmth to an area that is hard to beat.
4. Group Your Antiques.
You have an opportunity to create a unique focal point by grouping your antiques into one central point as opposed to having them scattered around. Directing the eye to a wall can really help give a room it’s purpose, like in this study pictured below:
These are just a few tips I use to help achieve a harmonious space. Remember to have fun and experiment as there are no hard and fastened rules and what makes one person’s heart sing will differ to another. I would add though it makes my heart sing to see antiques proudly out and on show as opposed to be hidden or locked away. Not only do they add unique personality to a space, they blend the past with the current day and deserve the right to sit proudly among your contemporary items within your home.