Decorating Your Older Home for Comfortable Living

Decorating an older home can be a real challenge.better slant to the backs. The real effect of the
Most of us don't really want to live the way ourroom can be created by how you decorate your
ancestors did. The aim is to get the flavor of thewalls, floors and windows, and by using
era you wish to project without the discomfortaccessories creatively.
and aggravation. Antique upholstery is not notedDecorators are divided about such modern
for its comfort. Antique beds tend to be tooadjuncts as kitchen appliances, TV's and sound
short for modern bodies and most of us prefersystems. My feeling is, good design blends with
an inner spring or foam mattress to one stuffedgood design. Some of the newer appliances are
with straw or horsehair. Although I have cookedbeautifully designed and our ancestors would have
on an iron wood stove and thoroughly enjoyed itmade that stainless steel, side by side refrigerator
in the depth of winter, there is nothing towith ice and water on the door, the showpiece of
recommend it in July. So where do you draw thethe house so I am not a big fan of attempting to
line between authenticity and modern life?hide large modern appliances behind wooden doors
Fortunately you can get modern upholstery, withand cupboards. I do think they tend to look better
modern foam, coil decks and cushions, in olderin stainless or black but that's a personal opinion.
styles and fabrics. Unless you are trying to get aThe exception to the kitchen appliance rule is for
museum room, it isn't necessary to copy thehouses built in the last century when kitchen
original styles exactly. Be careful of proportions,appliances were becoming common. Reproductions
but any upholstery piece which is a classic styleare available in the styles of the 20's, 30's, 40's
will blend with antiques, or reproductions. Fabricand 50's and can make a really clever kitchen
choices can give an antique look and are availablewhich is fully functional.
in reproduced patterns made from modern, lowMy feeling about TV's and sound systems is
maintenance fabrics. If you have antiques, avoidsimilar. If you don't have a media room, there are
the need to put matched pairs of everything. Ourhundreds of styles of armoires which will hide the
ancestors loved that balanced look and many ofTV and look like a piece of antique furniture.
us still find that a comfortable look to live with,Choose carefully. They can be overwhelming.
but if only your upholstered pieces match, theyHowever, if you want the TV to sit out or hang
will draw attention away from your show pieces.on the wall, go for it. You can soften its stark
The exception, as always, is in a formal room. Ifmodernity by the things you sit around it.
you are living in a home from the 1700's andSo when you decide to redecorate and give your
want to get the flavor of the era, you will wanthome a more period feel, keep these things in
more formalized seating patterns. However, themind.
newer trend in historic houses is to have furniture- Lighting is available in any style imaginable and will
from several eras from the original built date togive an effect of authenticity.
represent. Our ancestors were thrifty. Furniture- Conversion rails are available to enlarge antique
was hand produced and costly, so people didn'tbeds and to maximize comfort.
tend to pitch pieces which were out of style. It- Reproduction wallpapers are easy to find and
wasn't until mass produced, inexpensive furnitureare divided into the eras in which they were
became widely available that people startedpopular.
dumping Grandma's pine table in the chicken- Classes on painting techniques and stenciling can
house, or slapped a coat of green paint on thebe taken at your local home store.
solid cherry drop leaf and put it on the front- The library is a great source for popular styles
porch.of all eras. Once you have done a little research
Generally, keep your upholstered pieces subduedinto the look you are trying to create, adapt it to
but try for the correct style (or a modifiedyour own needs and decorate in the spirit of that
version) of the window treatments and caseera instead of trying to create a room which
pieces. Wing chairs have been popular for 300hasn't changed in 150 years.
years, but make sure yours are comfortable toContributions for this article from ON THE GO 4 U
sit on before you decide you have to have them.design consultant, Suzanne Copenhaver who has
Our ancestors had much better posture and likedyears of experience decorating less than perfect
sitting very straight. Classic styles of modernspaces.
furniture keep the lines of the old, but have a