Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Tastemakers
Top Ideabooks
- 3-D Printing Takes Furnishings to New Heights at ICFF 2013
- Upholstery in 3-D Comes to ICFF 2013
- See the Daring Designs at the 2013 Kip's Bay Decorator Show House
- Peek in on Brandon Morrison's Lamp-Making Process
- 10 Visionary Designs That Could Be Coming Your Way
- Sculptor Susan Wallace Turns Screen Doors Into Art
5 Modern Vintage Design Lessons From Emily Chalmers
Layering vintage looks can give a home unmatched personality and character. This London stylist shows you how
Before upcycling, thrift store diving and sorting through Grandma's linen closet became hip, London interior stylist Emily Chalmers had her finger on the pulse of all things vintage.
She's always loved sorting through people's "junk" and finding a gem. The interior stylist, design consultant, author and shop owner says helping people with their interiors has shown her that what holds a home together is the owner's sense and ownership of style. "Be true to your taste," she says. "Your personal style and brushstroke will be the very thing that holds all the different pieces together of your home together."
Curious on how to incorporate your favorite vintage treasures into your home? Chalmers shares five of her favorite professional styling tips to help you get that personalized vintage look.
She's always loved sorting through people's "junk" and finding a gem. The interior stylist, design consultant, author and shop owner says helping people with their interiors has shown her that what holds a home together is the owner's sense and ownership of style. "Be true to your taste," she says. "Your personal style and brushstroke will be the very thing that holds all the different pieces together of your home together."
Curious on how to incorporate your favorite vintage treasures into your home? Chalmers shares five of her favorite professional styling tips to help you get that personalized vintage look.
1. Mix designs from different times. Your personal space isn't a place of fear, so don't be afraid to mix things up — but add things one at a time.
Despite the variety of styles, this modern vintage living room works. Chalmers urges a bit of "mixing and jiggling" from different eras. "But as you layer, keep your design integrity," she says. "This scene would feel completely different if that vintage letter were hanging out on the floor somewhere. But on the top shelf, the letter brings everything together with its sheer size and placement."
Despite the variety of styles, this modern vintage living room works. Chalmers urges a bit of "mixing and jiggling" from different eras. "But as you layer, keep your design integrity," she says. "This scene would feel completely different if that vintage letter were hanging out on the floor somewhere. But on the top shelf, the letter brings everything together with its sheer size and placement."
2. Drapery can add that magic touch. Chalmers loves the way the drapes in this hallway suggest a division of space. "The drapery looks good even if it's just hanging there, rather than physically doing a job or partitioning," she says. It gives the space color and pattern, linking with the tones of the artwork on the wall."
The curtain is two sided, giving the opportunity to add a very different geometric pattern on the other side. "Hallways can often be overlooked, but they are just as important as any other space in the home," she says, "so use every inch — and design opportunity — you have."
The curtain is two sided, giving the opportunity to add a very different geometric pattern on the other side. "Hallways can often be overlooked, but they are just as important as any other space in the home," she says, "so use every inch — and design opportunity — you have."
3. Use vignettes to add visual interest. Carefully arranged groupings add interest to any surface, be it a kitchen window ledge, a mantelpiece, a sideboard or even the top of a bathroom cabinet.
Not one to take composition lightly, Chalmers suggests putting a lot of thought into item groupings. Rather than trying to put everything you love on display, choose a display corner and carefully edit various selections to decorate your home.
Chalmers is exuberant over this homeowner's sideboard collection. "Notice the different heights of the objects and the color splash in turquoise. The lamp is lovely and tall and has a great texture. Also, note here the addition of a dainty holly berry brooch to the lampshade, which gives a quirky finishing touch; it's so simple but very effective," she says.
Not one to take composition lightly, Chalmers suggests putting a lot of thought into item groupings. Rather than trying to put everything you love on display, choose a display corner and carefully edit various selections to decorate your home.
Chalmers is exuberant over this homeowner's sideboard collection. "Notice the different heights of the objects and the color splash in turquoise. The lamp is lovely and tall and has a great texture. Also, note here the addition of a dainty holly berry brooch to the lampshade, which gives a quirky finishing touch; it's so simple but very effective," she says.
4. Be careful when mixing and matching prints. When it comes to patterned fabrics, turn your eye toward scale, size and variety to ensure that the different elements don't compete with one another.
"This modern vintage look shies away from Grandma's bedroom because there's a strong and modern color palette at play of reds, pinks and blues. There are also some good background colors to calm everything down — cream wool on the throw and cream linen on the cushions. This works well with the soft gray background color of the wallpaper," says Chalmers.
The stylist highlights the placement of the artwork on the wall: The pieces hang quite high to allow a "breather" between them and the strongly patterned bed area.
"This modern vintage look shies away from Grandma's bedroom because there's a strong and modern color palette at play of reds, pinks and blues. There are also some good background colors to calm everything down — cream wool on the throw and cream linen on the cushions. This works well with the soft gray background color of the wallpaper," says Chalmers.
The stylist highlights the placement of the artwork on the wall: The pieces hang quite high to allow a "breather" between them and the strongly patterned bed area.
5. Take the time to make your nooks cozy. A nook needs to be in a place you'd want to spend time in. There's just no point in cramming a nook into a spare corner unless there's a draw to that area.
A nook could be in a dark corner near a heater (it certainly doesn't have to be drenched in sunlight), but a quiet spot by the window, as in this picture, is especially lovely.
Chalmers points out that the relaxed, worn linen cushion covers and playful mix of shapes combine to create a welcoming feel.
"This is a great example of something being easy and effective. Fabric has been stapled over the foam seating pads, and the cupboard nearby is stripped and joins in with the general distressed surrounding wood. There's enough length on each bench to lie back a little and put your feet up," says Chalmers.
A nook could be in a dark corner near a heater (it certainly doesn't have to be drenched in sunlight), but a quiet spot by the window, as in this picture, is especially lovely.
Chalmers points out that the relaxed, worn linen cushion covers and playful mix of shapes combine to create a welcoming feel.
"This is a great example of something being easy and effective. Fabric has been stapled over the foam seating pads, and the cupboard nearby is stripped and joins in with the general distressed surrounding wood. There's enough length on each bench to lie back a little and put your feet up," says Chalmers.
Chalmers knows how easy it is to just pick up a bunch of vintage pieces without putting much thought into them. "Pulling off a modern vintage look that's relevant for a home today is not as easy as it looks; it takes time and a great deal of thought and care to make the look appear effortless," she says.
Her favorite design craze at the moment is the geometric crochet pattern. "It's on trend right now, and the vintage crochet look is bang up-to-date while still being totally accessible to people," she says.
More:
Vintage Modern: What Does it Mean?
Vintage Modern Studio in Sweden
Her favorite design craze at the moment is the geometric crochet pattern. "It's on trend right now, and the vintage crochet look is bang up-to-date while still being totally accessible to people," she says.
More:
Vintage Modern: What Does it Mean?
Vintage Modern Studio in Sweden
Comments
Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel Yes, a drape at one side of a doorway can be very nice, but on a rod, not a nail or whatever's in that photo. It looks clumpy and doesn't hang nicely.
10 months ago · Like
· 2
2
DUEALBERI Very interesting, thanks for sharing!
10 months ago · Like
Lanie Brown Love the turquoise lamp! The added brooch made me think of an English lady's hat even before I read the comment.
10 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 30, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
