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