Browse Forums Interior Decorating Lounge 1 Feb 21, 2010 1:29 pm Hi guys This is one of my decorating dilemmas...how do you mix antiques with a modern home. In the picture below you will see our beautiful 'Loo table' that lives in our bedroom. Its seems to be the right spot for it but I really do not know what to put on the top. As you can see, I have atm just a random collection of things that I love and are very sentimental to me. I know as a collection it dosent work so how can I make this table top look WOW, which what it really deserves. I feel it needs height to start off with, less clutter and perhaps a few special accessories that stand out. I dont like bying things just for the sake of it but would rather use what I have got that are in boxes atm. has anybody got ideas on how to make the most of this table...I am willing to consider any suggestion! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Mrs B Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 2Feb 21, 2010 3:30 pm Hi Mrs B Unfortunately, I can't claim any decorating skills. My usual approach is to try lots of different things and see what works. But I'll have a go at this. Yes, it does need height.....and my idea is a tall. elegant lamp. Then I'd look at reducing the clutter by having mainly one type of object. I'd suggest several framed photos....some in antique silver frames. The should be a variety of sizes and shapes and carefully arranged quite randomly. Maybe toss in a decorative candle or two in front of the frames..... How would this look? - No idea to be honest, but it looks OK in my imagination. The right lamp is the trickiest bit.... Cheers zeke Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 3Feb 21, 2010 3:59 pm I agree with Zeke Mrs B I would get a nice lamp (one of those ones with the crystal/glass balls on the base and a nice shade) and then put some silver photo frames around. Maybe a few small candles - but not too much - otherwise the look will be cluttered. My karma ran over your dogma Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 4Feb 21, 2010 7:55 pm What about a small pedestal mirror & a lamp. It would give a lot of light. Then yu could have all the beautiful perfumes, pictures & ornaments in front. What about a cashmere scarf or table runner to protect the table top? "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality" -John Lennon Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 5Feb 21, 2010 8:44 pm I agree that it needs a tall object, but perhaps something on the wall behind as well...? Mind you, I have no idea about this stuff either. These are interesting...probably not quite what you want, but the composition seems to work: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I see a modern lamp or tall vase, some photos framed in similar materials and perhaps a mirror or picture on the wall? Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 6Feb 21, 2010 8:59 pm It's a beautiful table, but it doesn't seem right in that space to me, I wouldn't put an oval table against a wall or in a corner. Is there somewhere else you could put it? Such as an entry foyer or living area? If not, I think you need to take a look at the arrangement, it needs some height, such as a tall crystal/glass based lamp. Also, the objects look quite random, the frames on the photos don't compliment each other, maybe reframing them might help tie them together. Or, reframe the large photo and hang it on the wall next to the lamp. Also, I love the objects on the tray idea, but the tray itself doesn't seem right, maybe a silver tray? Finally, a white orchid in a pot or a low arrangement of white flowers in a glass or crystal bowl. Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 8Feb 21, 2010 10:44 pm lamps, shamps...! lol GET SOME FRIGGIN FLOWERS!!!! that's it, that's all!! I absolutely love the table, but I have always loved your style Mrs B, you are truly gifted in interior design/decor... I wish you would go pro! I read in one of my "glamour" interior decor books just today, by Jan Showers, that every room should have an antique in it for character, style (ok, she is a "glamour" stylist), but I can see what you like just by looking at what you have put on your table and how. So I def believe the table should stay, if only for it's beauty, but obviously it has a purpose here - that is unless of course it stands out like dogs balls, then it HAS to go! That's up to you... I really liked your table how it is. Of course flowers (preferably fake of course - The Works Bed Bath & Table have some fabulous flower rose cream bunches atm for $15 a bunch - a friggin steal = get down there and get a couple!) in a glass jar, and as miranda would say "that's all" (mind you those glass lamps above are divine!) A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 9Feb 22, 2010 10:43 am Hi Mrs B, I love your table and actually thinks it looks pretty good as it is... with all your treasures on there for you to enjoy. But I like haywgl's idea of some/one of those lamps with the crystal balls at the base and suh's photos of the same type of lamps are beautiful, if you got one of these and maybe took a few trinkets off to make room it would look great I think. Don't you have a silver chandelier in there? Maybe a silver one, they might even make a matching table lamp? Hopefully there is a powerpoint nearby. I like kek's idea of adding a mirror too. Annietom... get some friggin' flowers...!? are you feeling okay? lol..! "Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions." — Elizabeth Gilbert Living in our new house. Currently scaping the land. Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 10Feb 22, 2010 11:01 am sorry donuts - I was getting excited!! LOL I love the decorating part of the build!!! a bit over zealous perhaps A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 11Feb 22, 2010 2:58 pm Love the table Mrs B!! Do you have room to angle in from the corner? You could then put a REAL plant behind it, like a nice palm, or even a floor lamp. It needs less on it, it looks cluttered, take it all off and start again. Keeping silver only on it. NO fake flowers, unless they are so life like you can’t tell the difference. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 13Feb 22, 2010 3:55 pm sorry I stand corrected, fresh plants that smell, leak water, need care and if cut, need replacing - yes great for you Mrs B, unfortunately for me I don't have time for these little luxuries in life atm, although, I guess it's all priorities isn't it!!! good luck! A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 14Feb 22, 2010 4:27 pm Bahaha Annietom, my thoughts about fresh flowers exactly I've told my husband to never buy me flowers! It makes me sad knowing that they're dying for my pleasure... and they're so ephermal. I had fakies for my wedding too, still have them! I tell hubby now to buy me a potato for valentines day. A potato grows, flowers, reproduces, is UNKILLABLE! A much better valentines day sentiment . It's like saying "I don't care that you're lumpy and brown on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts" Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 15Feb 22, 2010 4:37 pm I love fresh flowers too vundaful, but you're right, in my house anyway, they stink within 2 days, grow fungus etc etc - in fact they take so much effort to cut into a vase size etc etc, it's hardly worth it when it's dead in 3 days! BUT if he wants to buy me fresh, and put in vases every 2nd day, that's fine - dreamin!!! However, some of the fake flowers out there are these days are divine, def great value, not cheap, ok, but they last as long as that flower is fashionable to have in a room, I guess some people still feel that fake flowers are like our grannies fake flowers!!! (mind you, they were pretty bad... LOL) A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 16Feb 22, 2010 4:45 pm Too right, I had latex liliums with cream fabric roses for myself and my bridesmaids/groomsmen. Just a few weeks ago at my brother in law’s wedding (they had fresh roses) my father in law fished out his buttonhole that he wore at my wedding and wore it through the evening, as the real rose had started looking ratty! Tickled my funny bone Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 17Feb 23, 2010 6:55 am So…Mrs B…..have you started again with the table top? Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 18Feb 24, 2010 9:01 am Thankyou so much for all your replies and discussion Zeke, haywgl,serialstyler, Kek, mishb,Suh, Annietom, donuts, Michelle and Vundaful I have gone over all your replies a few times and now I am starting to have an image in my mind...not just for this space but all the spaces throughout the house. I have a decorating dilemma in the fact I have many beautiful, precious (to me at least) items in boxes that havent yet found a home. My mothers crystal collection, the boys bunnykins we have collected for them since they were born, china, plates etc How do I display these objects in a modern interior....I need to go to a few modern art museums to see how its done. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that I wanted to use what I have already but I think I have got to move on and start looking at buying other pieces I love that suit this particular home and not our period home before. The ideas I love....The crystal lamp, art work behind the table, a few candles in glass cups and maybe one or two crystal bowls. Photo frames...perhaps glass mirror like the one I have already. My scheme will be glass and crystal with white thrown in. I also love the mirror Suh but it would have to be one with a 'white pearl' finish to the frame...very soft, femine yet with a modern edge. Annie your suggestion for flowers I love and that exactly what I use to have in our old home when the table was in our lounge. I cant have flowers in the bedroom Its a cultural custom on Mr B's side ...(I will leave it at that.) So, off to that 'bed, bath, table' place in Hawthorn to look for few things Hopefully next week I can show you what I have done. if anybody have inspiration pictures, please post them here as I love visuals! Mrs B Re: Antiques in a Modern Interior 20Mar 25, 2010 9:14 am Matilda Mrs B, I love your table! I've been lurking patiently to see what you've done, so thought I'd give a gentle bump to this thread. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com I am looking for someone who might have tackled a similar issue as me. I have a few rendered interior walls, the surface condition is hardly flat. I can see all the bumps… 0 5729 Hi All, I am looking to go with tiles instead of laminate timber flooring throughout my living areas for my new build (Ashbury 29 - Henley). My whole colour scheme is on… 0 22972 Hi Would love some advice on a DIY project I've dived into that's now keeping me up at night. 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