Antiques provide the perfect opportunity to inject personality and authenticity into your home, whether you live in a period or contemporary house. They are also one of the most sustainable ways to shop. In our opinion, the most visually appealing interiors are ones which mix furniture from different periods with balance and flair. Achieving this balance in your own home is easier than you might think and is also a great way to give unloved pieces a new lease of life. If you’re buying furniture for your home, first pick out pieces you love and then make sure they are the right size and proportion for the space. A room will come to life with pieces that have character and charm rather than ones that just suit the space. 

We have styled our latest collection of antiques, sourced by Birdie in France, in four completely different looks, all combining the old with the new. We hope this provides you with inspiration while demonstrating how the patina of antiques can complement contemporary pieces for an overall balanced and harmonious look.

Painted Provincial

We love to work with combinations which might not immediately seem obvious but, when styled in the right way, look wonderfully balanced. This provincial bedroom combines some of our latest collection of Continental 19th Century painted pieces with our summer rattan furniture. The organic form and clean lines of the mid-Century inspired rattan furniture adds a contemporary touch to this otherwise French farmhouse interior, whilst our Tulip Embroidered Rug and Broderie Anglaise and Magnolia Cushions tie this scheme together with a charming feminine finish. Recreate this look at home using a mismatch of painted furniture, feminine prints and incorporate a natural material like rattan, jute or bamboo for added texture. The pieces don’t need to be  overly coordinated - it’s relaxed and understated look is all part of the rustic charm. 

Art Deco

There is nothing chicer than good looking Art Deco furniture and we love how this scheme has come together. The clean lines and bold patinas of the furniture balance perfectly with the geometric prints from our Florentine collection shown in both the cushion and lampshades. Mixing antiques with contemporary art is a great way to keep an interior updated and on trend. Inject personality and bring a homely feel to your Art Deco scheme with art, sculptures and an eclectic mix of decorative objects. The tones of Dana Finch’s abstract painting soften the look and create a perfect link to the antiques and textiles. When working with strong patinas such as mahogany, make sure to incorporate other textures in the room to lift the scheme and keep it from looking heavy. The brass detailing of the French coffee table and the woven texture of our jute Cucito Rug soften this scheme whilst adding depth and visual interest.

Mid Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern interiors are very much in vogue and are characterised by clean lines and organic form which work well in any setting, but particularly in contemporary apartments. To create a chic playful look, we’ve combined our mid-Century furniture with our capsule collection of painted Wensum furniture, designed by Birdie and inspired by Danish mid-20th Century design. Our ever-popular Rhombus rug perfectly grounds this scheme with its strong, geometric design and coordinates the colours for an overall balanced look. We’ve tied this scheme together with a striking landscape by Claire Oxley which balances the honey tones of the furniture and the colourful accessories.

French Country Dining

This French country dining scheme is a sophisticated take on the much-loved cottagecore look. We’ve combined Continental painted pieces with our Florentine Rattan Dining Chairs for an informal look, using block-printed floral table linens and jute table accessories to ‘dress up’ the scheme. When recreating this look, be sure to keep your table linens, glassware and ceramics mismatched and informal so that the table sits in harmony with its eclectic surroundings. Fill your bookshelves with decorative pieces such as our colourful Cotton Mache urns to bring the scheme to life.