A couple of years ago a friend and I went to one of those Holiday Home Tours, you know the kind where you go to 5 or 6 houses and walk around oohing and aahing and looking at how they've decorated. One of the houses was
clearly a standout above the rest. As we were walking through one of the houses, my friend commented, "I want my house to look like this! I think I need more antiques." And it was true. Though many of the houses were pretty, most of them (this is the suburbs, after all) didn't have a single piece of vintage or antique furniture
of any kind in the entire house! Though I always suspected that an antique piece adds much needed character to a room, her comment
really cemented in my mind how very important they are. There was a clear difference between the house that was truly gorgeous, and the other ones that were just nice. They were all decorated by professionals (most likely) and they were all large houses, so in this case, it was not about the money spent. It was about what the money was spent
on. This is the part where I lose some of my friends, though. They think that if they add an antique, their house will look too old-fashioned. Or, they assume "antiques" are all really expensive. And really, nothing could be further from the truth. Of course a house that is all antiques, with old fashioned finishes and heavily patterned drapes, will look very outdated. And there
are uber-expensive antiques out there. But there is definitely a way to add a piece (or two) without it going too "grandma-y" or breaking the bank. Kind of how I think a mostly antique room needs a modern piece to bring it to life (you can read my thoughts on that
here), I also think
every room can benefit from at least one antique or vintage piece. It makes the whole room look more collected, less catalog-y. And it's better if there is a little character to the piece; the chippier the better, in my opinion. The texture is important here. You can use reproduction if you like (they do add some character), but I think in the end you are better off with the real thing. In fact, if you look closely, even catalogs like Pottery Barn add vintage items to their rooms in the photos. I've often loved something in their catalog, only to realize it's not actually their item! They've added it because the rooms look better for it. The space is less predictable and more unique. It adds depth and character, yet the room still remains hip and contemporary. It can be done!
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| I think the antique desk adds so much to this space! |
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| Love that Mora clock! It may or may not be original, but it still adds a lot of character. Also, the floor is antique and is perfectly distressed. |
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| The chest in the corner makes this living room sing! (And of course, that fireplace!) By the way, if you have a fireplace like that, or you live in some 19th century house with amazing moldings, you don't need any antiques to add character to your house - you already have it! |
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| This looks like all newly purchased furniture and accessories so that Mora clock really takes center stage. |
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