How to Use Antique Furniture in an Open Contemporary Dining Room

Do you love antique furniture but reside in a contemporary home? It is possible to successfully join the past and present by using vintage furniture in a modern setting. It is also possible to combine old with new to create an inviting and comfortable look and feel, even if the dining room is open to the living room. The results are an eclectic neoclassic design with unique modern flair.

One of my clients wanted to use a number of antique furnishings in her contemporary home. We did not update the light fixtures with neoclassic reproductions or globes from a flea market or a vintage home decor store. She wanted to keep the house as it was while adding her favorite antique furnishings, and we found a way to combine the two styles. Read on to find out how to use antique furniture in a contemporary dining room, and unite the past with the present to create a stylish and impressive abode.

Furnish an Antique Dining Table in a Colorful Way

My client's antique dining furniture was absolutely beautiful, and although it did not appear to coordinate with her contemporary home, we gave it a splash of modern color and design. She chose bright red placemats with abstract designs. I suggested topping the placemats with sunflower Fiestaware. The solid sunflower-colored plates matched the rich gold walls that were framed by white trim. I topped the gold plates with rolled scarlet-red cloth napkins. Heavy crystal stemware completed the eye-catching place settings. We added a signature piece to the center of the table to achieve the look we wanted. It was comprised of a beautiful crystal vase filled with an array of fresh red, white and gold blooms. Opens spaces were filled in with lacy fern branches.

Place an Antique Bentwood Rocker Between Two Open Rooms

A single piece of antique furniture can be used make vintage dining room furnishings flow seamlessly into the next room. When my client was seeking ways to use antique furniture with her open contemporary floor plan, we decided on a beautiful bentwood rocker. It had been given to her by a great aunt, and it helped to bring the past and present together in the common space between the two open rooms. It looked fantastic in her contemporary home, and she loved the overall look of the space.

You can use antique furniture in your contemporary home by incorporating the aforementioned techniques into the dining room decorating scheme. Furnish antique dining room furniture with contemporary place settings of your choice, and add vintage touches. Use a single piece of antique furniture or an antique plant stand to help two open rooms flow together into a single eclectic neoclassic modern design.

Source: Personal and Professional Design and Decorating Experience