Modern Vintage – What’s That?!

During my recent visit to Australia (of all places) I came upon a wonderful  “meaty” book – French Flair: Modern Vintage Interiors (published by Flammarion) – check it out. I snapped it up knowing right away that this book would appeal to my daughter Michelle who is in love with this style and who does a wonderful job of incorporating it into her home.

So what exactly is “modern vintage”?  (There’s an oxymoron if I ever heard one!)  It certainly is not about excess – every surface being covered with bric-a-brac, old textiles or containers of silk flowers.  Nor is it about blatant kitch, although a bit of kitch might find its way into this type of décor. It is all about balance: simple elements such as a lovely plain velvet sofa or an old wooden table enhanced with touches – I say touches – of cool vintage articles and/or true antiques (i.e. really old stuff). For instance an old typewriter displayed on a table in a corner of your living room –note – one old typewriter.  Or a plain bright pink throw adorning a white antique chair. The art of knowing how to display articles really comes into play here.  And the French are especially good at this. As the description for the above-mentioned book states: “From 1960s mannequins to antique books to a salvaged Parisian streetlamp, any kind of paraphernalia can define and enrich the personality of a home by giving it a history. Styles and periods don’t need to match because French design is about integrating the unexpected alongside unconventional details to make a modern home unique.”

Of course a pic or two of what I’m talking about would help so I will see if I can find some images to share with you.  If this style really interests you do see if you can get your hands on that book! A bientòt!