HOW TO INCORPORATE AN HEIRLOOM

Vintage finds, family favourites and antique pieces can really make – but also break – a scheme. We asked the experts to share their wisdom…

- JENNIFER MORGAN

Living with old things rather than buying new is the sustainable solution of the moment, but how do you mix them in with your new stuff without making your home look ‘granny’? We asked three experts – an interior designer, an interiors stylist and a vintage furniture retailer – to share their knowledge…

I’VE GOT GRANNY’S MID- CENTURY SIDEBOARD… SHOULD I MAKE THE WHOLE ROOM MID- CENTURY IN STYLE?

‘No!’ screams Andrew Jonathan Griffiths, interior designer of Andrew Jonathan Design. ‘If you decorate by following one specific era of design, you’re creating a space that’s stuck in the past and becomes derivative. You may well be inspired and drawn to a mid-century aesthetic but look at how you can contrast it with your own style and the different features of a room.’ Nicky Phillips, decorating editor, Ideal Home, agrees: ‘Creating an overly themed room can be a disaster.’ As a style, mid-century is quite forgiving, agrees Sandrine Zhang Ferron, founder of Vinterior: ‘It pairs beautifully with many other aesthetics without overpowering them – its versatility is one reason why it remains so popular today.’ Nicky suggests mixing mid-century with a Scandi look, an uber-modern urban style or an industrial, rustic look.

BUT HOW CAN I MIX FURNITURE OF VARYING STYLE AND AGES WITHOUT THE ROOM LOOKING CHAOTIC?