Antique furniture has awakened a revival among interior designers and inspired homeowners in the last decade. Conversations around sustainability have revealed antiques as winners in long-standing debates around slow furniture and become small contributors to the big issues of climate change. Similarly, the stylish layering, intrinsic charm and rich style story of antiques make them leading competitors in decor conversations when it comes to pairing contemporary and traditional furnishing ideas.
As South Africa’s largest emporium of curated and hand-picked antique furniture, The Crown Collection shares 4 convincing reasons why interior decorators are rushing to purchase antiques:
#1 Antiques are sustainable investments
Climate change and conscious consumerism have become buzzwords in contemporary interior design culture, influencing purchasing decisions in favour of slow furniture items.
Relatively inexpensive, mass-produced furniture has a short life span, requiring updates to keep abreast with fashion trends (ultimately impacting our carbon footprint). In contrast, antique furniture is crafted to stand the test of time, and with the added versatility of subtle changes – such as bleaching or reupholstering – the opportunity to transform and reinvent tired furniture pieces extends their lifespan (and versatility) even further.
While the price tag of antiques may appear costly at first glance, when you consider their longevity and minor environmental impact, they become desirable and worthwhile investments (since they actually increase in value over time).
#2 Antiques are unique in a sea of generic & modern pieces
Few interior decorators advise their clients to make their homes mirror the front pages of this month’s SA Home Owner magazine. Though the styles on the glossy cover pages are inventive and stylish, opting to duplicate them in your home will mean providing nothing novel, unique or personalised to bring character and life to your space.
Blending something old and something new is an age-old tradition that is perfectly expressed in homes when it comes to decor and furniture choices.
There’s good reason for this attraction of opposites. The open-plan, light and airy feel of modern spaces can lack warmth and interest. By adding a few antique statement pieces:
- You can spark conversation and layer your design story
- Home owners can break up the generic
- Designers can deliver a unique, inspired space
- The detailed wood carvings, curves, gilded metalwork, marquetry and decorative flourishes of antiques complement the straight lines of modern design, providing a much-needed touch of ‘je ne sais quoi’.
#3 Antiques embrace so many styles
Whether you’re captivated by the flair and charm of French-style decor, or want to transport your home into the Victorian era with ornate, oversized furnishings, antiques are must-have items in this decor pursuit.
Antiques are also a design solution if you want to contrast your aesthetic with a toned-down interior that moves away from excessive ornamentation to a more neoclassical emphasis on symmetry and minimalism.
If you want your home to espouse an Art Deco style with sleek geometric lines, fine workmanship and luxurious detailing then antiques, again, are your answer.
#4 Antique furniture can be repurposed for any functional space in your home
The versatility of antiques, in comparison to their modern furniture counterparts, is unmatched.
The interior design trend of maintaining particular furniture items for a singular function has gone with the wind.
- An antique armoire can move from its traditional function in the bedroom, to storing linen and towels in the passage or bathroom, trinkets in the entrance hall, or providing a touch of character to a modern living room
- A tapestry can move from an artwork on the wall to function as a table covering
- A silver teapot can go from its traditional purpose on the teatray to featuring a colourful display of flowers in the bathroom.
Repurposing antiques can also take the form of reupholstery, gilding, French polishing, bleaching or darkening – which all form part of an added professional service offered by The Crown Collection’s restoration centre.
Choose from our range of antique furniture at The Crown Collection
With over 5 000 stylish decorative antiques in one emporium, The Crown Collection is the one stop shop for the discerning buyer.
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