Posted On Oct 16,
2010 - By
Charlotte Nail
Are you in, or are
you out?
Whether you are a
designer, a
fashionista, or
simply a homeowner
with an eye for
design, you have
probably walked into
a room in a hotel or
perhaps a neighbor's
house and thought -
how out¬dated!
Fashion can be a
capricious mistress,
even in the world of
interior design. The
hottest designs can
be "très" chic one
day and passè the
next. While it may
be easy to donate
last year's leggings
to the local thrift
store and run for
the nearest
Nordstrom's,
designing your
living space is a
long-term fashion
choice; so, it is
imperative to be
able to tell the
difference between a
passing fad and a
lasting trend.
Good design is
lasting design.
Consider the works
of legendary
designers, Nancy
Lancaster and John
Fowler their
interiors reflected
a style both casual
and elegant. They
achieved this look
by combining classic
furnishings from
different styles,
French, English and
continental and
putting them
together in a new
way to create
something fresh and
unique. They often
incorporated Asian
porcelains,
Chinoiserie screens,
and other unusual
decorative
accessories that set
them apart from
their competition.
Their unusual
combination of
classic styles has
been imitated for
decades. Why? They
were able to capture
the classic elegance
of antique
furnishings and use
them in a new way to
create a
fashion-forward
trend.
The latest craze
may capture the
spirit of the
moment, but take
time to consider
whether it is worthy
enough to become a
classic or lasting
endeavor. Use
caution when you see
a color, technique,
or stylized design
used too often, it
may be a passing fad
that will leave your
home looking dated.
The classics,
com¬bined with
ingenuity will span
continents and have
universal appeal.
Form or
Function? Both!
Modern is a
relative term. New
things can be
old-fashioned, but
old things can be
updated and
considered cutting
edge. Fresh ideas,
combined with the
classics, can create
an eclectic
combi¬nation that
can be very
exciting. You may
ask why some styles
never lose their
appeal. The answer
is quite simple: the
best designs combine
good form and
function, and arc
made from quality
materials.
For centuries,
artists and
wood-workers have
followed this rule
to perfect the
masterpieces we now
call antiques.
The antiques excellent
solution to the
quandary of avoiding
passing fads; they
have a lasting
quality that cannot
be duplicated. As
the world's best
hard woods and
wood-working
craftsmen become
scarce, it has
become more and more
difficult to
reproduce the
quality and unique
nature of antique
furniture. When the
last fad has down
the coop, the
designs of the 18th
and 19th century
will still be
attracting new
flocks of devotees.
Furniture that
has great form and
function stands up
to the test of time
to become classic
fixtures in our
homes. The Bombe'
chest is a good
example of a
classic; it has
simple lines and
beautiful curves,
while providing
ample space for
storage. It has
proven itself
because of its form
and function, and
thus has been
replicated since the
18th century. The
Wing Chair is
another great
example - in tall
back and arms kept
away the drafts of
old homes, while
tying rooms together
with colorful
fabrics. Thomas
Chippendale was a
visionary, and his
designs are still
being copied today.
Jazz it up!
Once you've
identified your
classic pieces,
bring them
up-to¬-date by
pairing them with
tasteful
contemporary trends.
Play with faux
finishes, clean
lines, painted
furniture, animal
prints, colorful
walls, or a new
trend of your own
design. While each
of these can be
over-powering on
their own, they can
provide a touch of
excitement when
combined with the
classics. Trends
capture a unique
mind set - a
curiosity to look at
things anew and
appreciate both the
old and new in a
different light.
Combine elegant
antiques with the
trends of the day to
find your own
signature style that
defies the test of
time. It is left to
you, the designer,
to arrange and
combine the classics
in a new way to
create exciting
interiors. Antique
are great resources
for the trade, as
they are unique and
well made, and they
are the ultimate
"green" product. Let
the classics help
you start your very
own trend.
