Antique Vintage Furniture, Dressers and Wardrobes in Vintage Style, Old Wooden Chairs in the Interior

Recently, people are abandoning a lot of luxury items in favor of functionality. Modern interior design involves a minimum of details and a maximum of functions, but not everyone likes this practical attitude towards their own home. Antique furniture comes to the aid of lovers of luxurious interiors. Depending on the year of production, it can be combined with different interior styles.

Peculiarities

Antique furniture is, first and foremost, history. It is valuable for lovers of exquisite interiors or for people who want to keep family antiques in the form of furniture sets as souvenirs. Old furniture is usually wooden tables, cabinets, sofas and much more. The elements correspond to the Empire, Baroque and Rococo styles. The luxurious design makes these items very valuable for collectors or ordinary connoisseurs of that era.

The main difficulty is finding a well-preserved set of furniture. Unfortunately, in those days, woodworking products that preserved products in their original form had not yet been invented. Often, valuable items are stored in inappropriate conditions, they are abandoned in abandoned houses, taken away to the countryside as unnecessary, and at the same time they do not even imagine what value the item has served its purpose. Almost always, an antique set will require restoration before installation in a new home. The main defects of furniture stored in uncomfortable conditions:

Rotting - oak products are less susceptible to this than all others, but when they are in rooms with high humidity, even good-quality sets begin to rot;
Insects - they can cause complete destruction of wood. First of all, it is necessary to get rid of these pests and only then do the rest of the restoration;
Scuffs - due to constant use, any surface deteriorates, the upholstery on chairs and sofas becomes unusable, and the surfaces of cabinets and chests of drawers become uneven and lose their former appearance;
Cracks appear due to endless changes in humidity and temperature. Furniture stored in poor conditions will require lengthy restoration and elimination of cracks.

Unfortunately, a randomly found set cannot always be put in order, so such furniture is a real luxury item.

Antique-style furniture differs from standard cabinet sets primarily in design. It is he who creates in the room the unique atmosphere of a luxurious castle or the home of noble people.

But such elements are also made in the modern world, using the latest technologies, while designers give them the appearance of old furniture. Even if a chest of drawers or a sofa does not yet have a history, it is more durable due to new progressive technologies. Sets decorated with intricate carved patterns and equally interesting fittings are very popular.

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What is vintage?

Today, the phrase “vintage style” is used mainly as a designation for something old, but at the same time high-quality and beautiful.
In fact, the original meanings did not concern beauty or decor at all. Vintage (from the French vintage) is a good vintage wine of a certain age. The British use the same word to describe the process of harvesting grapes.

In the context of fashion, style, and design, vintage refers to old, well-preserved things (however, the reference to aged drinks remains here too).

It is the “aging”, or rather the age of items in vintage style, that distinguishes them from retro. The second word is modern imitation of antiquity. By the way, the era is another difference between vintage and retro style. In a general sense, vintage is older, covering the pre-war period (late XIX-early XX), retro - post-war, i.e. second half of XX. They also look different: vintage is still a more classic style, while retro developed along with bright art deco and modern modernism.

Which styles are best to use?

Antique furniture is used mainly in rooms decorated in retro, baroque or rococo style. This is not a rule. At the discretion of the designer, each set can be placed in any interior. If necessary, decorate old furniture, giving it the desired look. Familiar sets can be painted in Scandinavian style. Such furniture will look very harmonious in a modern interior. A person who does not understand antiquities is unlikely to distinguish between types of furniture, but connoisseurs will be able to easily determine whether an item belongs to one of the groups:

Classic oak furniture - once upon a time, these sets were located in the houses and residences of wealthy people, delighting wealthy owners with their beauty. Furniture is found in long-abandoned houses, in private collections, among unsightly trinkets in markets. After reaching people who know its value, all elements require long-term restoration;
Artificially aged furniture is a more budget-friendly option when designers age furniture using different technologies. To do this, you should not use old and outdated furniture. It would be much more logical to take a new and durable set. The elements are made from aged wood, which is then used to decorate other parts of the room. Antique furniture is a spectacular option for a chic interior;
Furniture in the Old Russian style is a separate subspecies with which you can recreate the atmosphere of a fairy tale even in a city apartment. The furniture is distinguished by an abundance of carved elements without varnishing or polishing;
Furniture made from old boards - materials worn out by time and poor treatment do not always become unusable. Brushed wood is often used in modern design. Old boards can serve their new owners well. A competent designer, modern wood protective materials can create an incredible interior. Old boards are very thick and durable. This allows them to maintain a presentable appearance after many years;
For lovers of airy and light interiors, furniture in the Provence style is suitable - delicate and almost weightless-looking elements made of wood painted primarily in light tones. The style is consistent with upholstery made of soft and pleasant to the touch fabrics, carved bronze chandeliers and other signs of luxury. Each set seems like a doll, which makes the apartment fabulous and unusual. Aging furniture in the shabby chic style will help create a beautiful Provençal interior.

Provence style

Classic oak furniture

Artificially aged furniture

Old Russian style

From old boards

Materials and interior details

Among other materials, wood, wrought copper and ceramics are very popular in vintage interiors. They should all look old. Patina is the most precious thing about these things.

An interior decorated in vintage style would be incomplete without some details. For example, this applies to dried flowers. Vintage rooms are specially decorated with dried flowers. All types of seasonal flowers will be appropriate.

The design of bouquets and vases is slightly different from the usual: it is preferable to play on contrasts, placing both large and small flowers in a vase. It is better if the bush is a little shaggy and careless - the flowers should not stand strictly.

Advice. Metal vases are ideal for flower arrangements; You can also use crystal vases.

Another distinctive feature of the style is the subtle inscriptions on objects, as another indicator of antiquity. You can purchase such products in special stores and on the market.

Vintage is a design style that takes shape gradually, so take your time. If you can decorate a provincial country or high-tech style simply by visiting a store, then creating a full-fledged vintage interior will take some time.

One can be found in a store, another in the market, and the third can be asked from friends. The decor will become complete over time and will look harmonious. It is impossible to create the perfect design in one day.

By the way, the presence of many different cute things also contributes to the creation of vintage. Things dear to your heart are never acquired quickly, right?

To create a vintage style in the interior, many things “migrate” from the attic to the room, where they find a new life in a new environment.

Vintage is a way to give things a second life. In vintage design, many items have already served their purpose, and you can and should give them a second life. Just think about where and what things would be appropriate. If an item doesn't fit into one of the rooms, it may find a place in another.

Operating rules

Photos of old furniture look tempting, but soon after purchase the furniture may lose its old appearance. Proper operation will help prevent this. Ideal conditions:

The air temperature is 17-24 degrees Celsius;
Humidity about 60 percent;
The sun's rays are not allowed to hit the surface;
There are no heating devices in the immediate vicinity of the furniture.

The placement and removal of old furniture should be carried out by professionals who can protect it from damage.

To protect valuable specimens from termites, mold, wood-boring beetles and other parasites, special wood impregnations are used. They can be purchased in specialized stores, as well as on cabinetry supply websites.

The main criterion for long service is rightfully considered to be the caring attitude of the owners towards their property. Timely removal of dust, rubbing with wax and oil compositions help maintain the attractive appearance of antique products.

How to distinguish an original from a fake

Unscrupulous sellers are trying to sell a modern copy under the guise of an antique item. You can avoid this by remembering the signs of antique furniture:

Unevenness. The drying of wood makes the dimensions of furniture made from it slightly different from the same measurements on the opposite side;
No matter how hard the restorers try, cracks, chips and abrasions will be visible upon close inspection. An ordinary magnifying glass will help you find them;
Uneven surface color. This is due to sunlight;
Screws with a flat head have long ceased to be used; this sign can be considered reliable;
For antique furniture, sellers must provide supporting certificates.

Every person wants to place elements of past eras with their own history in their home. They are chosen in specialized stores or at auctions. A restoration specialist will help you verify the originality of your purchase. Not every interior requires the presence of original sets; sometimes you can get by with just high-quality copies.

Before getting rid of old furniture and taking it to the country, you should ask about the history of each element. They may be valuable. If the owners want to update the interior, then decorating old furniture will be much more interesting than purchasing new ones. You can find ideas for changing the appearance on the Internet and decide for yourself which ones are suitable for working with antique furniture. When planning interior design, paper construction is used. This measure will help you choose options for arranging furniture, putting together a picture of the future room and assessing the overall appearance.

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Conditions of care

In order for antique furniture to retain its presentable appearance for a long time, it is necessary to properly care for it. One of the most important conditions for its safety is a categorical ban on wet cleaning. Periodically wipe the surfaces with a dry cloth, after which a special composition is applied that repels dust. To clean carved decorative elements from dust, use a special brush or brush with natural bristles. Bronze, brass and metal inserts are treated with cotton pads soaked in ammonia.

It is strictly not recommended to move antique items on the floor. This can lead to paint chips and irreversible damage to individual elements that will be impossible to repair.

Special requirements must be placed on the conditions under which antique items are kept. Their location near sources of heat and moisture is unacceptable. Direct sunlight also has a destructive effect on them.

Recommendations for choosing furniture design when arranging an interior

Dry cleaning of furniture

Use of special protective equipment

Photo

Candidates for return from attic exile

Furniture and objects made of natural wood. If the item does not crumble into dust, it is worth reviving it: repairing or replacing fittings and fasteners. It is not necessary to use old furniture for its intended purpose. There are many options for transforming things: for example, a pot-bellied chest of drawers or a table with carved legs can become a stand for a sink.

Suitcases and chests. An antique chest with iron staples is a treasure, an artist’s and designer’s dream. He deserves to move from the wilderness of the village to a city apartment. It can be turned into a coffee table - the main accent of the living room. It is convenient to store spare blankets and blankets in the bedroom. In the hallway, such a chest can serve as both a banquette and a shoe rack for high shoes.

You can make anything from retro suitcases: a bedside table, a dressing table, and even a bed for a dog or cat.

Waste paper, glass containers and other rubbish. Well, there is enough of this goodness at the dacha. Soviet newspapers and magazines, old books will also be useful to you. Decorating residential interiors with yellowed pages is experiencing a clear boom.
Old newspapers can be used to replace wallpaper. Yes Yes exactly. Of course, the newspapers need to be cleaned and coated with a special varnish after sticking. And, of course, you shouldn’t cover the entire room with such “wallpaper.” One wall for contrast is okay. Such a retro accent would look great in the hallway, kitchen, or home work area.

A newspaper page with an interesting report or news can be inserted into a glass frame to create a stylish artifact.

We are returning Soviet carpets to the city.

Soviet carpets were most often made of wool, so they felt warm and cozy. Unlike the synthetic consumer goods of the 90s, carpets from the USSR era fit perfectly into a modern interior. The main thing is to create the right background for them.

Glass jars, bottles and bottles should not be thrown away either. They make vases, lampshades, candlesticks, and beautiful storage containers.

Look at junk with an artist's eye

You may not find a stunning buffet in your attic. But you will collect a whole dump truck of broken chairs, faded masterpieces by unknown artists in carved frames, lace curtains covered with who knows what... Examine the finds carefully: an object can sparkle if you rid it of excess and spoilage. Feel free to be a cool-headed auditor. Take the beautiful parts, get rid of the old ones.

You can cut handmade lace from holey curtains and sew it onto new curtains for the kitchen. Or place the lace in a beautiful frame under glass...

Saw off the twisted legs from the rickety table, place them under the new tabletop - you will get an elegant coffee table. Or, conversely, use only the countertop.

A cloudy picture or an old cabinet door is not at all pleasing to the eye, but a mirror in such an authentic frame just begs to be added to a modern apartment.

Resuscitation of “antiques”

If you like something, but its condition is deplorable, revive it: paint it, reupholster it, paint it with patterns, change the fittings.

Before painting, the furniture must be thoroughly cleaned, washed, the drawers covered with soda (to remove odors), and dried. Then sand, fill the uneven areas and prime. The labor-intensive sanding process (it's a hell of a job) can be skipped. Special adhesive primers have appeared in paint stores that allow the paint to adhere perfectly to any surface, even Soviet polished ones.

If you can't decide on a paint color, choose light, pastel shades or white. Such furniture can easily fit into a modern environment.

Sometimes partial staining or painting in different tones enhances the beauty of the item and its vintage style. For example, the tabletop can be coated with transparent oil so that the structure of old wood is visible, and the base and legs can be painted.

Armchairs and chairs from the 70s are the most grateful clients of the reupholstery. They are quite strong, but the upholstery of those times is depressing; Soviet furniture makers used very dull colors. Choose a beautiful fabric, and the furniture will serve you for many years.

Soviet furniture from the 70s and 80s (and there is most of it among dacha trash) is not so difficult to remake, because... it has simple shapes. Put the cabinet on wheels instead of legs, paint it with bright paint, add extravagant fittings - you will get an outstanding piece for a children's room or hallway. After such a rework, no one will say: “Why do you need this junk?” Such transformations are now in fashion.

Unnecessary dressers and nightstands can be turned into dollhouses and kitchens for your children. You will need paint, toy dishes and a little imagination.

Vintage interior color

Vintage belongs to the romantic style, so shades should be chosen in the appropriate direction.

The best option would be pastel and soft colors. Beige, yellow, peach, light pink, blue and soft green shades look great.

The main color can be white, but it is recommended to choose it only if the furniture will be shaded by surfaces. If the furniture is white, it is better to choose warm colors (pink, green or blue).

To be completely consistent with the style, the colors should appear washed out.

Vintage style uses not only light shades. It is quite possible to place bright accents in the room.

Brown, purple, blue and dark green colors suit this style. It is preferable to use green and brown colors in the design of the textile part.

But at the same time, tablecloths, napkins and bedspreads are chosen in white or milky color.

Vintage-style interiors use prints with flowers, motifs and images of plants and trees. All this adds calm and atmosphere to the room.

Fabrics and wallpapers in Chinese or Japanese style will fit perfectly into the overall look of the room. Don't forget to add a pop of color to any room.

But keep in mind that it must be one thing - surface decoration or furniture.

In the living room

The first and most important thing to remember when working with antiques is the game of contrasts. And the greater the contrasts, the more advantageous the antique item looks.

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Place old cracked wood surfaces in close proximity to clean new mirrors, chrome elements, velvet and pure natural linen. Find the most honorable place for the antique item - in the center of the room or so that it can be seen from the entrance.

Antique carpentry can be difficult to restore. If you live in a house from the last century, think twice before replacing this rare beauty with MDF doors. Give them for restoration, and your apartment will acquire that chic that will simply be impossible to replicate using new materials.

Perhaps you have real treasures in a closet or attic at your dacha. Explore this area, and if you come across something worthwhile, be sure to find a place for it in your living room. This could be an antique watch, as in the photo above, decorative items, sculptures or something similar. Don't hide in the background what should be proudly displayed.

Lighting options

During the birth of the style, artificial lighting was just entering homes. The light was dim, incandescent lamps alternated with candles, so the overall picture could be called dark.

If the goal is full compliance, focus on a soft, warm and diffused glow. No white spotlights.

Chandeliers come either with printed fabric shades or chic wrought iron ones with “cup holders” reminiscent of candelabra. One point per room will definitely not be enough, so add a floor (floor lamp with ruffles), a table or a wall (sconce on a candelabra) to the ceiling lighting.

In the dining room

Antique items such as chandeliers or floor sculptures look especially good in the dining room. An antique chair at the head of the table, which is adjacent to a modern set of seats, can also become a striking accent.

If you are lucky enough to own a good quality dining room set, a little restoration will turn it into a masterpiece. New upholstery, painting with antique craquelure - and the job is done.

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The upholstery of antique furniture can be deliberately lush. Use tapestry, velvet, velor. To support the vintage theme, it is good to use a mirror with an antique effect in a duet. The rest of the interior items in the room should be demonstratively new and modern.

Where to buy restored Soviet furniture of good quality

There are companies that specialize in restoring old furniture. It is enough to express your wishes, describing the style chosen for the room, and specialists will change the appearance of decrepit sets beyond recognition.

Antique stores and vintage showrooms sell restored Soviet furniture of the highest quality. Ready-made offers of restored items can be found on numerous flea market sites such as Avito, in thrift stores, at flea markets, and through friends.

Despite the variety of factory furniture, it can be difficult to choose an option depending on personal preferences, since many offers are very similar. The buyer is faced with the difficult task of creating a unique home, which can be done with the help of Soviet sets and other interior items.

In the bathroom

In the bathroom, use old antique furniture, which is now practically not in mass production - pencil cases and storage cabinets with high legs and other artsy items. They will become the main decoration of your bathroom. You can support them with mixers in a classic design - here you should forget about a real rarity - functionality comes first.

In the fireplace

A fireplace room or just a place by the hearth - it doesn’t matter if you are the happy owner of an antique portal. Decorate it as you wish. You can, for example, create a holistic image of the hearth and use the antique design of figurines and frames standing on the fireplace. Or, on the contrary, you can again highlight the contrast with modernity and hang a fashionable print above the antique portal.