‘Vintage Home: 20th-Century Design for Contemporary Living’, by Judith Miller and published by Jacqui Small, is a fabulous book for the discerning collector of vintage, and a style guide for how to combine vintage and contemporary pieces to create a visual feast.
Judith Miller, a renowned antiques expert with many books and TV shows to her credit, leads us through the tastemakers of the past century with three main chapters, Deco World, New Look and New Moderns, which have been divided into subchapters to cover every possible design style. As my home is eclectic and individual I was intrigued to see the sumptuous interiors shots of how others have combined eras to create their own individual look.
A traditional book lined Paris apartment room with panelled walls, stripped floorboards and a slate fireplace has been turned into a Modernist dream with chairs and a coffee table by Mies van der Rohe. The juxtaposition of the traditional architecture with modernist furniture makes for a characterful and inviting room.
Another striking combination! I love this room with its Mies van der Rohe chair against a black wall and the colourful abstract painting and rug. The Wiggle chair, designed by Frank Gehry in 1972, is made from laminated cardboard and looks like it might actually be quite comfortable.
Wow! Phillipe Starck Ghost chairs with a rustic wooden table below an antique chandelier – stark and contemporary but with added depth from the traditional elements.
Pop Art for a visual feast of color. Not for the faint hearted but stunning in its pure simplicity with a sky blue RAR rocker chair designed in 1948-50 by Charles and Ray Eames. I love the addition of the crochet granny throw which adds a touch of homeliness.
If you want to know more about the evolution of the design movements in furniture and accessories through the last century from antiques to mass produced kitsch then this is the book for you. The homes featured are an inspiration.
Jacqui x
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Images from ‘Vintage Home: 20th-Century Design for Contemporary Living’, by Judith Miller.
Image 1: Simon Upton. Image 2: Miguel Flores Vianna / The Interior Archive / Architect: Juan Ignacio Ramos. Image 3: Nat Rea / The Interior Archive / Designer: Donna Elle / Architect: BPC Architecture. Image 4: Andrew Boyd.