In with the old, in with the new

Maybe Grandma was on to something pairing that old club chair with the faded Persian rug she’s had since the last war. Maybe a modern interior does not have to look like the inside of Karim Rashid’s brain after all. Maybe the classics just need a little freshening up for the new year.

In the spirit of making a something old into a something new, FREAKS free architects gave this Parisian apartment a face-lift by cutting directly through wainscoting and moldings to create contemporary spaces while conserving the Napoleon era decorative elements. It goes to show, there is no need to overdo lipo and implants, less renovation is more renovation.

Have you ever wanted to draw mustaches on the dusty portraits in your grandfather’s study? Fornasetti has, and has given many a countess a youthful comeback on a plate or side table.

Inspired by the decorative frieze lining the ceiling of his Amsterdam apartment, Marcel Wanders conceived the ‘Skygarden’ pendant light so everyone could take a piece of it home with them.

As the decorative molding is only situated inside the light with the outer shell left simple and modern, the light creates a charming surprise when guests sit down at a table it is hung over.

 Old carpets are the new new carpets. The more distressed, the better; but decolorized and overdyed to artfully underline statement modern furniture.

Another piece that recycles beautifully is the Artek chair, which has not been out of style since 1935. So much so in fact, that there is a whole market for second hand, with a specialized 2^nd cycle store in Helsinki.

The current master of classic style with a twist is definitely Spanish designer Jaime Hayon.

Taking inspiration from a mixture of Louis, Georges, Charles and Victoria, the man who singlehandedly brought the knickknack back cleverly uses gilding, tufting and hand painting alongside more contemporary finishing techniques to bring to life a quirky collection of furnishings for the modern-day Marie-Antoinette.

 by Claire Toussaint