The antiqued and aged style of design can be beautiful but it’s easy to tip over into looking like an old folks home. Here are a couple simple rules to follow that will make our home look like it’s been plucked out of the past in a classy way.
Avoid bright colors and light prints for wall paper. You want to display the regal quality of the days gone past. Not the hospital like quality of a retirement home. Medium depth reds and gold complimenting dark rich, natural grain hardwood will achieve this nicely.
Sometimes it’s the simple things. High quality silk flowers were, at one time, a regular occurrence in many houses. You’ll want to avoid having contemporary photographs. It’s best to have paintings on canvas or other hand done pieces of art. A modern photo will break the design. If you must use them, then I suggest alerting them to black and white or sepia ton before displaying them. Also, get a good picture frame. Oval was a popular design in the past and breaks up the wall more than a square frame. The more ornate the frame the better it will add to the design. Think about design elements such as these when starting your design so you can plan to utilize them.
Keep everything impeccably clean. From the nooks and crannies of the ornate furniture to the cheap silk flowers, you want this home to look like a museum quality display, not an abandoned house at the end of the street. Our guests don’t need to be reminded of a horror movie when they stay with you. Don’t forget the details either. Cobwebs seem to be attracted to artificial flowers in a way that is supernatural.
These are just some ideas to think about while you design your beautiful new home. There is a lot to think about but if you pull it off well it’s a design that nobody will ever forget.