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Blending Old Objects into Contemporary Home Decor
By Arthur Sneddon

Contemporary, of course, means different things at different times. When your grandmother got a tiger-oak side table for her wedding, and your mother got Fiestaware to put on her kidney shaped coffee table, they were both contemporary. But contemporary home décor now means glass, minimalism, and plenty of storage for electronics. You cannot spurn your family heirlooms; you must simply find a way to integrate great-grandmother's Victoriana into a 21st century home.

Small Things

Some small antiques blend into contemporary home décor perfectly. Glass vases, silver, and textiles designed with clean lines and classic style are easy to use. The fabrics in many old quilts, for example, tend to be more neutral from a time before very vibrant dyes were invented. Geometric patterns are the easiest to sew – perfect for contemporary home décor.

Primitive pieces are also wonderful accents in a contemporary home. An oversized, well-used dough trough is a perfect centerpiece on any large dining table. Fill it with something like sand or pebbles for a more modern look. Arrange bamboo in grandmother's old milk churn; the contrast makes both look better.

You must rely on contrast to make the more overwrought pieces look their best. Aunt Mildred might want you to display the antique pink epergne she gave you, but where can such a big piece of ruffled, dainty pink glass fit in contemporary home décor? Hang it as a chandelier. Or, make a modern monochromatic ensemble. Let one shelf of the bookcase be the “pink” department, and put all the pink there. Single-color groupings fit well in the contemporary home.

Furniture

Antique furniture is quite easy to put into contemporary home décor. Many contemporary styles are inspired by the past in any case. First, upholstered pieces like couches and chairs are the easiest to bring up to date. Replace seventies avocado or fifties floral with your own modern colors. Even pieces with elaborate carving can be toned down when matched with the right upholstery.

Consider breaking up sets, too. If a country table and six Windsor chairs look too country for your contemporary home décor, just use the dining table and pair it with new upholstered chairs that fit the rest of your style. Place the chairs in the other rooms of the house as side chairs. That way, you use the old pieces, but “dilute” their old-fashioned look. Even mom's kidney-shaped table has a place: remove the legs and hang it on the wall. It is automatic abstract art.

Author Details:
Arthur Sneddon, writes for a selection of web sites about home improvement, and related subjects such as flooring, interior design & landscaping

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