DUCKWORTH INTERIORS

STORY BY KATE DUCKWORTH PHOTOS BY GRANT DUCKWORTH PHOTOGRAPHY

When I walk into a room and every piece of furniture looks new and mass-produced, it really leaves me wanting more. It’s not near as interesting and dynamic as a room that has a few pieces with some history, a story, or some patina. I love incorporating antiques and vintage pieces into many of my interior projects; however, there’s an art to doing it well. If you don’t want your house to feel old, stuffy, or like you’re visiting your grandmother (no offense, Grandma) read on!

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efore we dive in, let’s make sure we’re on the same page on our terms. In general, an antique is defined by anything 100 years old or more. Vintage means 20 years or older, and a reproduction is a new piece that was made to look old either by the style of the piece, the finish or both.

I was working with a client to help her build and furnish a new home, but she already had many antiques and vintage furnishings. She asked if we could incorporate as many pieces as possible into the new design. She wanted a study that was feminine and had a Parisian feel. To add some architectural interest where there was none, we added molding to the walls and painted the room a French blue. An antique desk, passed down for generations, floats in the middle of the room. Her desk chair, settee, and end table were all existing vintage pieces. I reupholstered the settee in a leopard print fabric and added a gold bullion fringe along the bottom and also reupholstered the desk chair in a rose velvet. I had the end table painted a pale pink. Now to balance out all of the traditional pieces, we added lucite visitors chairs, a modern lamp, and a new pearlized rug.

In the living room, I pulled a bold and colorful fabric for the drapes. I then built the whole room around this fabric. I pulled the purple and yellow out of the fabric by using a solid purple window shade, reupholstering her vintage wingback chair in a purple velvet and by painting a vintage console table yellow. Now to balance out those traditional pieces (yes, they were very much updated but vintage nonetheless), I used a white, tufted leather sofa, chrome coffee table, and a new rug. A stone fireplace with an antique mirror above makes for some interesting art and reflects the vintage treasures displayed on the mantle. A key element here is also the crisp white walls and ceilings that acts as our blank canvas and really brings in a fresh modern feel to the space.

It’s really hard to make a space feel stuffy when it’s painted a bright color. I highly recommend painting your walls, ceiling, and trim white. If that scares you too much, then use a white with a hint of beige or grey. Don’t be afraid to give new life to those old pieces! Changing a fabric on a well-made frame is always a good investment. Grab a brush and some chalk paint, unless it’s a beautiful hardwood! Pair these aged pieces with some fresh upholstery, new lighting and accessories. I promise you’ll end up with a space that feels good, sparks a conversation or story, and looks much more interesting. In the primary bedroom, I selected a floral wallpaper and matching fabric that’s a modern take on a floral print. I built a neutral and metallic color scheme from the floral print. I took the client’s vintage settee and upholstered it in gold vegan leather, her vintage bench in a silver metallic chenille, and her wingback chairs in a charcoal grey velvet. The bed and nightstands are reproduction pieces; however, the cream leather on the bed and the silver paint on the nightstands make them feel more current. Then, to balance those traditional pieces, I added a new rug and some modern art.