In With The Old

Distinctive styles such as retro and vintage are great fun to play with, whether it means decking out your living room in full 1950s style, or adding just one or two pieces. We asked four retailers about the distinctive traits of these furniture styles, and tips on mixing it in with your own home décor.

Artful House

The vintage furniture you’ll find at Artful House has a historic element, and owner PADMAJA RAJAGOPALAN primarily works with architectural elements such as old doors, windows or wall panels, constructing pieces of furniture around these items. 

“While buying vintage furniture it’s important to pay attention to the quality and overall aesthetics of the restoration,” explains Padmaja. “This includes respect for the originality and imagination behind the piece, the overall proportions, the colour palette used and other attributes that contribute to the ‘wow’ factor. Modern aesthetics are integral to the vintage pieces we have curated at Artful House.”

Padmaja’s Tips

The versatility of vintage furniture means it can be used across a broad range of styles. “On the one hand, you have the home of a consummate collector who cannot resist a one-of-a-kind find; we can see this kind of homeowner being instantly drawn to a piece like our arched doorway console.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Padmaja has clients who focus primarily on functionality with their décor, yet they want their home to look interesting as well. “The right vintage furniture can easily hit the spot for this. Our charcoal-grey vintage cabinet is highly functional and attractive at the same time, and it pairs beautifully with a contemporary striped wingback chair.” She recommends fabrics as a great way to seamlessly tie décor elements together, and the store carries a range of contemporary fabrics to complement various furniture pieces. “Overall, vintage furniture is an easy pick that works well with a mix and match approach.”