Vintage interiors with a contemporary touch

Is vintage an advantage in a contemporary interior? Well, yes and no. No disrespect to Nanna, but some things are just wrong. Shag-pile bathmats, lace doilies and plastic sofa slipcovers – what were they thinking?

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Bench with storage box on wheels made of reclaimed fabric and wood

Published: 10:15am, 9 Jul 2014Updated: 5:31pm, 18 Mar 2016

Is vintage an advantage in a contemporary interior? Well, yes and no.

No disrespect to Nanna, but some things are just wrong. Shag-pile bathmats, lace doilies and plastic sofa slipcovers – what were they thinking? Although as the Vintage Home Show in London, www.vintagehomeshow.co.uk, points out, it was a pretty funky era from the 1930s to the 1970s – one “full of innovation and fresh inspiration”, which shaped the design of domestic products, and the way people use their homes.

Fair enough, but surely we have moved on? Indeed, say the army of vintage fans. But in our mass-produced world, we yearn for originality – and a sure-fire way to add flair to your home is to pick up a one-off vintage piece that no one else is likely to have.

Irene Capriz, founder of Casa Capriz in Aberdeen, www.casacapriz.com, sees vintage furniture as a piece of decorative art that is utilitarian. In a contemporary design sense, these items have driven history when they appeared, and are still a strong and influential point of reference for today’s designers or artists.

“Buying vintage means buying a piece of history,” Capriz says. “What I love about this niche market is the fact that you don’t buy a table just because you need something to eat on, but because you felt in love with the shape, the material, the lines and the story behind a specific piece. It takes a lot of knowledge and passion.”

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