6 Old-school furniture pieces with a modern twist
What do you do when you love vintage furniture but you need it to have a little modernity too? You look for clever reproductions that nod to the original ideas, but incorporate contemporary design features and clever touches. It’s the proverbial best of both worlds! Here are some key pieces to look out for:
Statement armchairs
Armchairs and recliners aren’t old fashioned - nowadays, you can get modern versions that give you the ergonomic comfort of new seating, combined with classic lines of timeless designs. Few things look as elegant and eye-catching as a single armchair, particularly in a contrasting colour to the rest of a room and you can be as daring as you like. Love the look of vintage Chesterfields? Opt for a padded armchair with stud detailing. Enjoy the aesthetic of egg chairs? Look for a swivel version from your favourite retailer.
The way to really capture that old-school vibe is to choose modern pieces upholstered in traditional materials, so don’t shy away from those luxurious velvets and brocades.
Ottomans
It doesn't get much more old school than a storage ottoman, but forget the Lloyd loom cases and heavily-patterned tops by going for something a little more modern. Storage benches - that work so well in small hallways - are the contemporary cousin of the traditional ottoman and they are fantastic. Designed to be sleek, understated and functional as well as beautiful, they still work in the same way, just without the fuss. We particularly like simple wooden versions with plush upholstered tops.
Coffee tables
If we could all afford a genuine vintage Danish coffee table, there wouldn’t be any left to buy, but the modern alternatives have come a long way. Now, you can enjoy the sweeping lines, simple elegance and timeless styling of a vintage coffee table, but without any of the concerns of leaving a watermark, scratching the wood or ruining an antique. Modern versions of classic coffee tables have also been designed to fit smaller homes with ease and are now easier to maintain, especially when there are children in the house. Because nothing ruins vintage wood quicker than wax crayons and a budding Picasso.
Hallway tables
Back in the day, your home wasn’t complete without a stylish console table in the hallway, and the trend is back with a vengeance! Rather than choosing solid wooden versions, these days things are a bit more pared-back and almost industrial, with simple steel frames and glass tops being very of-the-moment. Though they don’t resemble their predecessors very much, the inspiration is still clear to see, especially with some of the more custom options that include things like umbrella racks and shoe shelves.
If you are a true vintage lover, you might be able to pick up a cheap old fashioned sideboard that will make for a fun upcycling project, which looks to be the hobby for 2020/21 in terms of clothing, so furniture can’t be too far behind. Chalk paint finishes are still fashionable, but for a really on-trend idea, you need to go bold and bright, with funky patterns too. Who wouldn’t love a polka dot console table, after all?
Divan beds
There will always be people that prefer simple furniture styles, but for those needing as much storage as possible, old-school divan beds but with a modern twist are an ideal investment. You get all the hidden organisation of a storage bed, but with none of the outmoded curtainesque sheets or quilted base.
The most modern styles are those where the entire sleeping platform lifts up, exposing a wealth of storage space underneath the mattress. No need for unreliable drawers that seem to stop sliding the second you need them to oh, and the old fashioned headboards are a thing of the past too. Modern divans can have either a low profile, headboard-free finish or something super contemporary and sleek.
Home office desks
We’ve saved maybe the most pertinent for last. Now that so many of us are working from home, thoughts are turning to creating beautiful home offices that we actually WANT to spend time in. With this in mind, plenty of us are looking to vintage set-ups for inspiration.
Impressive desks are a luxury but, if you have the budget and love the vibe of the commanding power desk, it’s worth looking at the modern varieties that have integrated tech ports and sneaky storage in place. The last thing you want is to spoil the old-school CEO illusion with wires hanging out everywhere, which is why discreet pull-out keyboard shelves and hidden wire slots are so clever. They are almost invisible in some of the desks now available too.
Enjoy a nod to the old-school with modern convenience, reliability and styling woven in when you make your next furniture purchase, by choosing a new item inspired by classic designs. Especially if you don’t have the time or energy to master the art of upcycling!
