The Ultimate Guide to Decorating with Antiques and Vintage Items

Welcome back to Suzy Anderson Home. Today we'll be sharing our love for all things antique, vintage and handcrafted and how to bring these one-of-a-kind pieces into your home. As I record this I'm in France right at the beginning of a buying trip. Five markets and fairs over the next few weeks to uncover pieces to bring home to our stores. For me there is truly nothing like it and it felt like exactly the right time to revisit our We'll be filming as we go so when we get back at the end of September and into October we'll be sharing some travel vlogs and behind the scenes of the sourcing process which I can't wait to share with you. So let's begin. 1. How to choose a piece. Antique, vintage and rare objects vary enormously in price but I'm personally drawn to a piece's silhouette, texture, history and of course its beauty. I also look for quality of craftsmanship. Dovetail joints at the corners of a drawer, intricate carvings and time-weathered timbers waxed to a beautiful patina. None of this is about avoiding imperfection, it's about knowing what you are buying and feeling confident with your purchase. Chairs are just beautiful, look at this carving, the detail in the painting, beautifully shaped legs. 2. The balance between old and new. To create a home that feels harmonious, lived in and elegant, the balance between old and new is essential. Personally I like to limp the antique pieces in a room to just a few. The juxtaposition of contemporary pieces with the soul of older ones is what gives a space depth and character while keeping it layered and it is reflected widely in European interiors. And if you live in a new build, salvaged architectural pieces are a wonderful way to introduce character. Consider aged timber beams, antique shutters, reclaimed doors or a salvaged fireplace surround. And at a much smaller scale, antique hardware, French enamel house number plaques and other similar details. 3. Pieces I love to source. Artwork and mirrors. By now many of you know my love for antique oil portraits but other art I love to source include landscape and still life paintings, original etchings, tapestry, framed botanical specimens and sculptures. And of course baroque style gilt mirrors with speckled foxed glass, shield mirrors and convex and round regency mirrors all make eye-catching additions while reflecting light back into the room. 4. Lighting. One of the most striking elements in any room is an antique chandelier or a pair of crystal wall sconces. These add a wonderful luster and elegance to even the most modern home. Repurposing a pair of Victorian or French table lamps with handmade shades in a contemporary fabric also works beautifully on modern bedsides or sideboards. And vintage lanterns and candlesticks look lovely grouped on a buffet, dining table or a mantelpiece. 5. Accessories. Some of the decor I look for include old leather-bound books, vintage riding boots or ballet slippers, deco ducks, silverware, fine glassware, glass closures, antique chopping boards and confit pots just to name a few, textiles and soft furnishings. With textiles look for ways to give antique and vintage materials a new life. Old grain sacks can be remade into cushions, table runners and bolsters. Exquisite vintage monogram sheets can become curtains or slipcovers for a sofa or armchair. And an antique vintage or hand-knotted rug in a contemporary space brings softness, colour and pattern in a way that is very hard to replicate, particularly against modern flooring. 4. Where to find them. We are often asked where we find these pieces and on this trip some of the markets we're visiting include the Saturday Street Market in Avignon, the Antiques Fair at La Ile-sur-la-Sorgue and the Antiques Trade Fair which is a trade-only fair in Montpellier. We are also visiting Maison Objet which is a wonderful source of new creatives. I'll be taking you inside each of them properly in the vlogs. And of course if you're in Australia we sell the pieces I've personally sourced in our stores with the container from this buying trip due to arrive towards the end of the year. If there's a particular piece you've been searching for do let me know in the comments as I may well come across it while I'm over here. Thank you so much for watching. I hope you feel inspired to bring some of these pieces into your own home. I truly believe that living amongst objects with age, patina and history adds a warmth, character, visual balance and a sense of timelessness that would otherwise be missed. If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so you don't miss the travel vlogs and behind the scenes coming in the next few weeks. And remember when designing a home you love the beauty is in the detail.