How to Make Vintage Decor Look Fresh and Modern

Designer Julija Stoliarova offers useful tips for turning antique furniture and vintage treasures into unique additions to contemporary, modern and transitional home interiors.

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January 09, 2023

By: Lauren Oster

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Photo By: Lawrence Braun

How to Infuse Classic Finds With Contemporary Energy

When it comes to creating immersive environments that style-conscious vacationers love, Julija Stoliarova — Eastwind Hotels’ creative director and co-founder — is a natural. Her contemporary and hygge-forward, Scandinavian-vintage-meets-midcentury-modern design has made Eastwind Hotel & Bar (and cabins like this one, above) a must-stay (and photograph) destination for outdoorsy aesthetes in the Catskill Mountain town of Windham, New York. This August, Eastwind’s new Lake Placid destination opened its doors to instant acclaim; her thoughtful take on a classic motor lodge is elevated sylvan style at its coziest. Think of her as a guide through the wilderness of flea-market finds and antique decor — and follow her sure-footed steps here.

See More Photos: Pro Tips for Incorporating Antiques Into Any Space

Prep for Vintage Shopping With Dimensions and Measuring Tape

Having an idea of how the treasures you unearth on antique-acquisition forays will fit into your space gets you halfway to success. Measure those nooks! “Know the size of your rooms before going antiques hunting,” Julija says. “You never know what you’ll find and you have to always be ready by knowing if it fits inside your space. Don’t forget a measuring tape; it will very helpful during your trip.”

For this cabin in Windham, Julija let the natural look of the honey-toned pine walls take center stage. The furniture is a mix of vintage and new pieces: “We chose to have a new couch for this space as it’s a sleeper sofa,” she explains. “I definitely prefer simple shapes of furniture but with a little twist. I chose this couch because of its rounded shape, as I wanted to complement a wooden cabin but not to overwhelm or overtake the space.” That purchased-new, practical piece balances out much older objects like the mounted badminton rackets and the vintage books hanging on the opposite wall.

See More Photos: Rustic Redefined: The Best of Modern Cabin Style

Let Your Home’s Location and History Inspire Your Embellishments

This Catskills property was built in the 1920s to serve as a bunkhouse for hunters, fly fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts, and Julija knew she wanted to pay homage to its past. In the hotel and bar, “you can find vintage badminton racquets, wooden canoe paddles, prints of local wildlife and even classic cameras throughout the central lounge and accommodations. Including photographs and decor that depict native landscapes, flora and fauna provides a sense of place indoors and allows the flow of natural splendor to continue within the interiors,” she says.

The bar area also features a strategic bit of Nathalie Lete’s Mushroom Forest Wallpaper. The picture-perfect arrangement to its left was quite the process: “It was pretty challenging to use different objects on the wall,” Julija confesses. “But I learned it by always laying out the frames and objects on the floor first, then taking a picture of it. Most of the time I change my layout many times before I actually hit the first nail in the wall.”

See More Photos: 11 Ways to Decorate Walls With Yard Sale Finds

Go Wild With Birds and Botanicals

This “writer’s nook” is a lovely example of how Julija has leaned into her natural avian affinity. The duck table lamp and bookend weren’t purchased together — they flocked together, if you will. “I am in love with ducks and owls, to the point that now I feel like any object that has a duck or an owl always follows me,” she says.

Botanical prints, in turn, are tried-and-true building blocks of her designs. “You can find them in antique markets — or, if you use so many of the prints like me, you can find them in vintage books,” she adds.

Resist the Urge to Use Window Treatments

This modern-take-on-midcentury lounge feels contemporary rather than precious, thanks to crisp contrast between the walls and pieces like the jewel-green loveseat as well as Julija’s less-is-more approach to the black-framed windows. “I don’t really like window treatments in common spaces. I love large windows and always want to bring nature closer,” she says. Mushroom-printed accent pillows on that loveseat and the binoculars on the coffee table reference those spectacular views. “When I was designing the lounge, I wanted to use earthy tones and bring all four elements to the space,” she adds.

See More Photos: 11 Types of Windows

Aim for a Minimalistic Bedroom With a Mix of Textured Objects

This angular, custom-upholstered platform bed and crisp linens offset more fanciful and decorative elements like the macrame on the wall and the more curvaceous pieces above the bedroom’s long, low dresser. “I wanted to create simple, clean lines and complement the space with objects that are feminine and masculine so all travelers are connected to the room,” Julija says. “The bed is definitely more tailored, which in my eyes is a masculine piece in the room.”

See More Photos: How to Combine Masculine and Feminine Styles

Present Vintage Objects With Complementary Tones

This showstopping fireplace nook and six niches surrounding it demonstrate how beautifully a strong palette plus a bit of restraint in collecting can make any pieces feel like works of art. That box at lower left is a humble old edition of Trivial Pursuit! “When curating this fireplace tableau, I found that balancing the bold objets d’art with the clean, minimalistic lines of the inset shelves draws your eye to the terracotta-tiled wall,” Julija explains. At this 70-year-old Lake Placid property, “hues of terracotta, sage green and oatmeal are found throughout with color pops for contrast such as the black fireplace and the brightly colored books.” Develop this look by choosing two or three tones that will form the backbone of your space’s decor. Then undertake your own scavenger hunt for vintage pieces.

See More Photos: 45 Must-Know Tips for Styling Your Built-In Bookshelves

Mix Antique and New Lighting to Enjoy the Advantages of Both

The iconic Georges ‘La Précieuse’ pendant light in this room is a new piece and a favorite of Julija’s, as it’s available in many of the colors she uses throughout Eastwind’s spaces. “As much as I love vintage lighting, it is a bit more work, as we have to rewire it and make sure it has a lot of life in it before we place it in our rooms,” she explains. To ease into working with older pieces, try combining vintage shades with new hardware. “I like to be different, and vintage is the best way to go knowing it will always be a statement piece in the room,” she says.

So-Called ‘Matchy-Matchy’ Furniture Isn’t Always a Bad Thing

When it comes to just-so collections of vintage pieces in spaces she’s designing, Julija doesn’t reach for existing furniture sets — but she doesn’t shy away from pieces in similar or even matching tones, either. Consider how the warm woods in this space’s loveseat, desk, dresser, armchairs and platform bed create a cohesive look. “Sometimes vintage is all about matchy, you just have to know how to use [pieces] together,” she says.

In rooms like this one, “you can see a lot of texture: fabric, wood, metal and ceramics, but they are all in a similar color palette, making it matchy and ‘unmatchy,’" she explains. “It’s the unexpected items” — like the glass coffee table and upholstered bench with bold, ‘70s and ‘80s character — “that make the room more playful but still minimalistic.”

See More Photos: 20 Gorgeous Ways to Style Stained Wood Furniture

Hunt for Vintage Books in Person and Prioritize Hardcovers

“Since this cabin is situated in a meadow surrounded by trees, I used vintage binoculars and animal and bird books [as decor], so people have an activity to do during their stay,” Julija explains. When it comes to shopping for those books, “I love going to library sales, school book sales, outdoor flea markets and garage sales,” she says. “Hardcover books tend to hold up better over time … and aesthetically I find they look more refined in a space, but the topics of the books and hues of their exteriors play an important role in my selections as well.” Nature and sporting books are her favorites to source.

Soften Strong Lines and Crisp Palettes With Vintage Rugs

Julija achieved balance in this suite by offsetting its white bedsheets, stone wall and overhead lighting with burgundy vintage rugs. “Those rugs also complement the red woodburning fireplace in the room,” she says.

See More Photos: Trend Alert: Oriental-Style Rug Inspiration

Use Buffalo Plaid and Sheepskin to Make a Monochromatic Space Touchable

The color-coordinated textiles at the foot of this bed bring texture to its strong black-and-white style story. The mushroom-printed accent pillows on the bed are identical to ones Julija deployed elsewhere — and they’re a Swedish friend’s handiwork. They’re also a favorite motif: “I’ve always loved mushrooms and ended up using quite a bit of them in rooms and common spaces,” she says. The overall look is classically Scandinavian.

Go Ahead and Get Quirky With Bathroom Decor

Make the most of the many practical elements you must include in the bathroom by pairing them with something delightfully whimsical — like, say, an old trout net. “I wanted the bathroom to be more playful, as without [the net] it’s a bit serious,” Julija explains. “If you are a fan of vintage items, I do recommend having fun and not being afraid to use pieces that are unexpected for bathrooms.” Your move, kooky wallpapers.

See More Photos: 40 Wow-Worthy Bathroom Decorating Ideas and Tips