Mixing Old and New: Vintage Finds in a Contemporary Home
The homes we love most rarely look as though everything arrived at once. A room furnished entirely in new pieces can look underwhelming. It is the old pieces, the ones with a past and a story to tell, that give a home its character.
Mixing vintage with contemporary is not about creating a period look or filling a house with antiques. It is about contrast, and a few well chosen pieces that make a room feel like it belongs to the people who live there.
A collection of vintage landscapes and blue and white china sits comfortably alongside a crisp contemporary sofa at our Cremorne family home project.
Why It Works
Old and new each bring something the other cannot. Vintage pieces bring patina, craftsmanship and a story. Contemporary pieces bring clean lines and practicality. Put them together and each one makes the other look better. A carved timber piece works as more sculptural beside a simple modern piece, and a clean contemporary sofa feels warmer with something aged nearby.
An antique chair reupholstered in a lovely blue patterned fabric, with blue and white plates and a generous contemporary lamp.
A vintage floral oil painting hung above a marble console, layered with a shell, silverware and a cloche.
Start With a Hero Piece
You do not need a house full of antiques. One or two strong vintage pieces in a room is often enough - a sideboard, a chair, a chest of drawers or a piece of art. Give them space and let them do the work. The rest of the room can be quieter and more contemporary around them.
A timber chest of drawers with a round mirror and a painted rocking chair, old and new working beautifully against the grasscloth walls.
A vintage armchair found on the side of the road and re-upholstered in a fabulous Christopher Farr fabric beside a vibrant contemporary artwork in our Mosman Federation project.
Where Vintage Works Best
Timber furniture is where vintage really earns its place. Sideboards, chests of drawers, side tables, desks and mirrors were often made with a quality of timber and joinery that is hard to find today. Art, posters, rugs and lighting are also wonderful places to bring in age and character.
A wall of stunning green and white platters above a rustic timber dining table, a gorgeous backdrop that packs a punch. Image via Pinterest.
A carved vintage chair and timber side table bring warmth and texture against a dark charcoal wall in the primary bedroom at our Mosman project.
Where comfort and support matter most, such as sofas, mattresses and dining chairs you use every day, new is usually the better investment. A good vintage frame can always be reupholstered, but buy it for the frame, not the fabric.
Sourcing Wisely
Auction houses, vintage dealers, Facebook marketplace, markets and family pieces are all worth exploring and don't forget the side of the road, some of our best finds have been someone else's discards! Always measure first, check that drawers run smoothly and the timber is sound, and think about where the piece will actually live. Most importantly, buy something you love, not something to fill a gap. The best vintage finds are rarely planned.
A small vintage still life brings unexpected charm to a crisp contemporary laundry.
A painted vintage console with carved legs, paired with a mid-century style chair and simple framed prints in our London terrace project.
Making It Feel Intentional
The difference between a collected room and a cluttered one is restraint. Repeat a colour or material so the old and new pieces speak to each other, mix eras rather than sticking to one, and leave enough space around each piece for it to be seen. Done well, the room looks as though it has evolved over time, even when it has all come together at once.
At our Mosman Federation project a vintage tailor's dummy adds personality to this guest bedroom, alongside a tall upholstered bedhead and grasscloth walls.
A vintage floral painting beside a generous upholstered bedhead, a quiet nod to the past in a fresh, light bedroom at our Mosman Federation project.
Find the Pieces That Make It Yours
Our Signature Styling Experience brings together the right mix of new and vintage, from sourcing the hero pieces through to the final styling, so your home feels considered and entirely your own.
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