The Secret To Adding A Sense Of History To Your Room
A monogrammed pewter sugar bowl, dried peony, old book and globe alarm clock make a pretty vignette.
Have you ever been watching a great movie or T.V. show and found yourself looking at the set in the background wondering how they put it all together? What is the secret to a well loved room with a great sense of history? In a world where everything is mass produced, kind of cookie cutter, how do you make your space authentic representing your personal style? This is where antiques and/or vintage items come into play. Maybe you've inherited a collection of fine art, china or perhaps a beautiful antique piece of furniture from your relatives. These types of items are special to your family and give your home a sense of history.
An antique Alabaster lamp with it's beautiful patina and details.
When I am designing a room, I love to use one of a kind items that are antique or vintage to personalize a space. There are all kinds of places you can go to find these items. For example, you could browse your local thrift stores, Craig's List and other neighborhood swap meet sites. You can check estate sales and of course my personal favorite antique fairs or antique malls. I especially love the antique fairs or antique malls because there is a large collection of different vendors with quite a selection of items. It is a lot of fun to take a day and enjoy checking these places out. As you meander through the different vendors, looking for things that really appeal to you, the items you choose create personality and warmth in your space. These objects represent you and your family's interests, giving style and a sense of history to your room.
An antique Haviland monogrammed lidded bowl found at a thrift store lends it's beauty to this table setting.
There are all kinds of things to discover from furniture, garden accents, fabric, hardware, books, china, art and accessories galore. By adding a few of these very personal items, you will really add a timeless elegance to your space. These vintage or antique items often come with a great patina or age to them. That patina adds character details to the object giving a sense of history to your space. A lot of times even in movie sets, you'll see old sports banners, or vintage trophies, maybe a few antique furniture pieces bringing that sense of history to the set. Just by adding a few pieces, it creates a very cozy and inviting feeling.
Silver trophy cup with bird's nest and antique flower frog add a sense of history to this antique hutch shelf.
An antique French enfilade adds a sense of history with its tiger oak curved paneled doors and ornate hardware.
Here is a close-up picture of the French enfilade.
In some instances, these items can stand out alone like a piece of artwork or sculpture. It could be something as simple as an old typewriter, or maybe a piece of garden statuary. With my love of gardening, I personally love antique or vintage garden trugs and baskets. Not only do I love that they reflect my love and interest in gardening, but also the fact that they add great texture and serve a purpose of holding flowers to the rooms in my home. So now you know the secret, adding a few personal antique or vintage items to your room will give it a warm sense of history.
An old cement urn looks like a piece of art.