Old-Fashioned Charm

A love for classic movies and period design are on display in this southern California home filled with vintage treasures.

- Devlin Smith

Sometimes by looking to the past we find the design inspiration that perfectly suits our modern lives.

This is the case in the home of Claire Schuyff, a Dutch retailer, songwriter and decorator, who created her dream home with vintage furnishings, handcrafted accessories, floral prints and pastel shades. “The house feels like me,” she says.

Claire’s vision for the space, which she shares with her young son, was sparked by the book Granny Chic: Crafty Recipes and Inspiration for the Handmade Home by Tif Fussell and Rachelle Blondel. “[This style] fits very well in this nostalgic type of Dutch house,” she says. “I like to have things around me that have a history. Moreover, they give an interior a flexible, nonchalant character.”

Vintage furnishings are an essential element to Claire’s take on granny-chic styling. “I especially like furniture with a story,” she says. “Nearly all the furniture and accessories in my interior are vintage and have already had an earlier life. Some pieces I love in their original style, and other pieces I restyle with a lick of paint or other changes such as upholstering.”

She’s particularly attached to a vintage lamp featuring a lace and floral lampshade refurbished by a friend and a base repainted by Claire. The kitchen features recycled wood cabinet fronts and a refrigerator Claire freshened up with matte pink paint.

Pastels are another common theme throughout the house and help Claire bring cohesion to rooms decorated with soft handmade vintage accessories like doilies and throws, and harder-edged vintage accents like suitcases and radios. “You can combine things endlessly, as long as the color palettes match,” she says.