Old World Interior Design
Interior design can often be categorized by a time of style. In this article, we cover old world interior design themes, issues and ideas.
Old World Interior Design
One interesting design concept that is gaining in popularity is Old World. Interior Designers have often been responsible for the revival of past styles and Old World is an example of this tendency. Old World is a decor, but the Interior Designer can incorporate this into an overall concept. The style is marked by a comfortable and broken in look. Accessories are used that show wear and usage. Such items as textured walls and tumbled marble enhance the look of the Old World Room.
As is usual in Interior Design, the proper use of space is part of the Old World design concept. The rooms are open and airy with detailed ceilings. Natural elements such as wood and stone are used freely in the walls and floors. The idea is to favor distressed, matte, or honed finishes while avoiding anything that is highly polished.
Deep, vibrant, earthy colors are used. Burgundy, navy, and forest green are the three most popular colors used with ocher and cream also seen. In addition to color, accessories add to the rich, but old and used look of the room. Ceramic jars and wrought iron are often used in contrast. Woven tapestries, rugs, and jars with a distressed gilt finish are common accessories.
The Old World concept can extend to the bathrooms. Oversized hanging mirrors and large numbers of towels on racks are common motifs. Even a modern whirlpool hot tub can be converted into Old World by using tiling. Lighting should come from sconce style lamps and chandeliers to complete the Old World look.
Nostalgia has become popular as more and more people are beginning to view the polished stainless steel look of the modern home as having no soul. Deep inside, there is a longing for a past time when things were much less hectic and complicated. This feeling is somewhat of an illusion. Our grandparents did not live a live of ease and comfort in those old homes that make us nostalgic. The truth is that the advent of modern appliances freed people from an endless round of backbreaking labor in order to maintain a home. Therein lays the true challenge to the Interior Designer when seeking an Old World look. They must integrate the modern conveniences that have made our life so much easier into the look of times gone by. This is the true desire.
We wish to live in the style of the days gone by but keep the things that have made our life easy. This is the job of the Interior Designer; to give us the best of both worlds.