Blending the Old and the New - sustainable interior decorating

A little bit of ‘old’ mixed with the ‘new’, has always been my vibe.

I think I am attracted to this look for the interest and warmth it brings to my spaces, and because of my sentimental personality! Seeing pieces that hold generations of stories evokes beautiful memories for me, and they become a conversation pieces with my friends and guests.

Having furniture that is antique, heritage or deliberately looking a little worn (hello Shabby Chic) help to keep a space humble and homely. In my opinion, everything shiny and new feels too cold and uninviting.

I have several special pieces of furniture, which I would classify as ‘old’, but I have been able to successfully incorporate them into our modern home.

The first is a pine glory box. This large keepsake was gifted to me in my teens, from my beautiful nan.

It would be going on 35 years old now, not old enough to be called ‘antique’ yet, but old nonetheless. It is a little rough around the edges and worn on top, but always brings out lovely memories.

I ‘umm-d’ and ‘ahh-d’ about whether to give it a fresh coat of paint. But once I placed it in our lounge room, the original orange pine stain really complemented other terracotta toned pieces in the room.

A lot of people become afraid of mixing wood tones in a home, but really this adds depth and interest; not everything needs to be matchy-matchy.

My second special piece was a Facebook marketplace bargain!

Who can say no to free furniture?? Originally this entertainment unit had a walnut stain with glass doors, in fact one of the glass panes was missing.

But this rough diamond was desperate for a little TLC and creativity, so we replaced the glass fronts with plywood and coated them with a gorgeous patterned hessian. A few coats of antique white paint and voila!

This dingy, chunky unit got a pretty and practical makeover and became a unique piece that no one else can buy! I love upcycling furniture for this reason, and for the affordable and sustainable way you can revitalise old furniture in your home.

My third treasure is a family heirloom that I think many an Aussie girl has had handed down to her.

This 80 year old Singer sewing machine takes pride of place in our home’s entry foyer, repurposed as a console table and a landing zone for our keys and wallets.

Her warm pine colours tie in with the glory box, and she adds a bit of timeless elegance to our very modern house. Paired with a simple mirror and a rotating roster of accessories, this Singer brings the right amount of warmth and welcome to our home.

My advice for mixing in ‘old’ pieces to your ‘new’ interior decorating:

• Don’t get hung up on the age of a piece, instead find delight in the colours, unique style and memories that they bring.

• Dress them up with throw rugs, cushions and accessories to tie them into the rest of your home’s design.

Whether you repurpose or refurbish your old pieces, this is an intentional way to be kind to our planet, save a few bucks and create a look in your home that is unique to you and you alone!

If you need help creating spaces that reflect your personality, and that evoke joy and peace, I’d love to help you. Book your introductory phone call with me to explore the options!