Best of the Week: 27 Spaces That Mix Old and New Elements
Antique and vintage pieces bring a sense of history and character to your home – here are some spaces to inspire you
If you’re looking to add personality to a room scheme, introducing one or two well-chosen aged or worn pieces is a great way to go about it. But if you’re unsure how to work an antique or vintage element into your interior, fear not; we’ve gathered together 27 of our favourite old-meets-new room schemes on Houzz to furnish you with all the ideas you’ll need.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
2. Location: Sydney, NSW
Features: A classic mid-century cabinet draws the eye in this modern, moody-blue living room.
Features: A classic mid-century cabinet draws the eye in this modern, moody-blue living room.
3. Location: London, UK
Features: Aged features such as rustic, wooden stools and rusty pendant lights add interest to this London kitchen.
Features: Aged features such as rustic, wooden stools and rusty pendant lights add interest to this London kitchen.
4. Location: London, UK
Features: Allowing the room’s original features to shine, including its stone fireplace and weathered timber floor, elevates this London ensuite into something truly special.
Features: Allowing the room’s original features to shine, including its stone fireplace and weathered timber floor, elevates this London ensuite into something truly special.
5. Location: Bowral, NSW
Designer: KELA Building Group
Features: A worn laundry tub looks striking paired with crisp, navy-and-white striped wallpaper.
Designer: KELA Building Group
Features: A worn laundry tub looks striking paired with crisp, navy-and-white striped wallpaper.
6. Location: East Sussex, UK
Features: A minimalist kitchen is given an unexpected twist with the addition of a weathered, farmhouse workbench.
Features: A minimalist kitchen is given an unexpected twist with the addition of a weathered, farmhouse workbench.
7. Location: Surrey, UK
Features: A delightful mix of old and new, including classic Tulip chairs, contemporary Flos wall lights and a traditional-style sideboard painted electric blue.
Features: A delightful mix of old and new, including classic Tulip chairs, contemporary Flos wall lights and a traditional-style sideboard painted electric blue.
8. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: SoulBird Styling
Features: A medley of old frames brings a predominantly white work space to life.
Designer: SoulBird Styling
Features: A medley of old frames brings a predominantly white work space to life.
9. Location: London, UK
Features: It’s the imperfections in this worn dresser-turned-vanity that make it such an eye-catching feature.
Features: It’s the imperfections in this worn dresser-turned-vanity that make it such an eye-catching feature.
10. Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Features: White, pops of black and warm, weathered timber – a simple and striking combination.
Features: White, pops of black and warm, weathered timber – a simple and striking combination.
11. Location: London, UK
Features: A modern take on a classic slipper bath, a solid cast-concrete sink and on-trend, polished concrete walls.
Features: A modern take on a classic slipper bath, a solid cast-concrete sink and on-trend, polished concrete walls.
12. Location: London, UK
Features: Retro touches in this contemporary space include a mid-century cabinet, an Art Deco-inspired floor lamp and a worn, leather magazine holder.
Features: Retro touches in this contemporary space include a mid-century cabinet, an Art Deco-inspired floor lamp and a worn, leather magazine holder.
…and here’s that delightful open-plan room from another angle
13. Location: Cairns, Queensland
Designer: Balay Vandyke Designs
Features: A pair of antique Indian doors gives this front entrance gravitas.
Designer: Balay Vandyke Designs
Features: A pair of antique Indian doors gives this front entrance gravitas.
15. Location: Blegind, Denmark
Features: A rustic chest of drawers and dining table and a medley of vintage-inspired pendants are the stars of the show in this otherwise fairly minimalist kitchen.
Features: A rustic chest of drawers and dining table and a medley of vintage-inspired pendants are the stars of the show in this otherwise fairly minimalist kitchen.
16. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
Features: Retro details such as a mirror-panelled door and aged timber chair add character to this simple, grey-and-white scheme.
Designer: Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
Features: Retro details such as a mirror-panelled door and aged timber chair add character to this simple, grey-and-white scheme.
17. Location: London, UK
Features: An aged oval mirror, a vanity with a distressed finish and patterned floor tiles in complementary hues.
Features: An aged oval mirror, a vanity with a distressed finish and patterned floor tiles in complementary hues.
18. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Lisa Burdus Interior Design
Features: A traditional brass bedside lamp is a delightful finishing touch in this bright and eclectic bedroom scheme.
Designer: Lisa Burdus Interior Design
Features: A traditional brass bedside lamp is a delightful finishing touch in this bright and eclectic bedroom scheme.
19. Location: London, UK
Features: Industrial-inspired lights, distressed timber-clad walls and bold, patterned floor tiles make for an appealing combination.
Features: Industrial-inspired lights, distressed timber-clad walls and bold, patterned floor tiles make for an appealing combination.
20. Location: Cammeray, NSW
Features: A deep, worn leather armchair and a mid-century timber dining table combine with whimsical, modern lighting and a bold, yellow-and-white striped rug.
Features: A deep, worn leather armchair and a mid-century timber dining table combine with whimsical, modern lighting and a bold, yellow-and-white striped rug.
21. Location: London, UK
Features: A classic Eames rocker and vintage-style lighting in a pared-back, industrial-inspired kitchen setting.
Features: A classic Eames rocker and vintage-style lighting in a pared-back, industrial-inspired kitchen setting.
23. Location: Chicago, USA
Features: A pair of mismatched old consoles used as side tables make striking features in this contemporary bedroom.
Features: A pair of mismatched old consoles used as side tables make striking features in this contemporary bedroom.
24. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Studio Ezra
Features: A collection of old picture frames and a well-worn bench seat are set against sleek, concrete floors and steel-framed, floor-to-ceiling windows.
Designer: Studio Ezra
Features: A collection of old picture frames and a well-worn bench seat are set against sleek, concrete floors and steel-framed, floor-to-ceiling windows.
25. Location: Birmingham, UK
Features: An ornate, metallic-framed mirror brings this understated grey, white and silver bathroom scheme to life.
Features: An ornate, metallic-framed mirror brings this understated grey, white and silver bathroom scheme to life.
26. Location: Norway
Features: A collection of mismatched old chairs and a timber coffee table that has clearly seen better days add a touch of warmth to this cool, white scheme.
Features: A collection of mismatched old chairs and a timber coffee table that has clearly seen better days add a touch of warmth to this cool, white scheme.
27. Location: Kooyong, Victoria
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: The ornate detailing on this period home sits comfortably alongside sleek, slatted-timber cladding – a delightful interplay of old and new.
Tell us
Do you love combining old and new? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite photos, like the story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 28 Entries With Impact From Around the World
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: The ornate detailing on this period home sits comfortably alongside sleek, slatted-timber cladding – a delightful interplay of old and new.
Tell us
Do you love combining old and new? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite photos, like the story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 28 Entries With Impact From Around the World
Features: A collection of mismatched old chairs adds interest to a sleek, white scheme.