We’re in a trend frenzy these days. Echoing the dizzying fashion trend cycle which moves at a faster pace than ever before, our homes are following suit.
Recent years have seen numerous interior trends rise and fall: mid-century modern style is enduring, but we’ve said a firm goodbye to both millennial pink and millennial grey, as well as that short-lived fad for pineapples everywhere, and on everything.
Then there was the rise of 1970s-inspired boho interiors, complete with vast swathes of Pampas grass. More recently, interiors have trended towards a muted, tone-on-tone take, with textural fabrics like bouclé in the mix.
One of the problems with trying to keep up with a rapid trend cycle, especially in interiors, is that it’s completely impractical, not to mention financially ruinous–and really bad for the environment.
In the face of that, it’s not surprising that many Irish homeowners are seeking a middle ground. Heritage and period home interiors, where stylish appeal has lasted over hundreds of years, offer a new design destination.
The greats tend to endure for a reason, but isn’t classic style slightly staid? Not even a little bit, says interior designer Cathy Angelini, from Flamingo Interior Design.
“It can be far from boring,” she says. “A classic interior is essentially one where the overall style is timeless.”
Interior designer Elaine Verdon of Leo+Cici agrees. “Classic is an interior that should feel stylish and timeless. I think it’s exciting to blend classic design principles with a contemporary edge, using colour and texture.”
Both agree that there are a number of things that are the hallmarks of a classic interior.
“Classic interiors generally incorporate well-made furniture, well-balanced colour schemes and often include furniture or design features from the Georgian or Victorian periods,” Angelini explains.
For Verdon, quality is key. “If you can, invest in quality furniture, fabrics, and furnishings, mixed in with some vintage or antique pieces.”
The tenets of a classic interiors style can be applied to any home type or size. While high ceilings, cast iron fireplaces and decorative plaster mouldings are all nice to have, the reality is most homeowners aren’t living in period splendour.
“I think it’s important to stay true to the design style and history of the building itself when choosing your interior style,” Angelini points out. “I would advise incorporating design elements of classic interiors such as symmetry and a neutral colour palette.”
This approach works equally well in a Victorian home or a modern apartment, “without it feeling out of place or disconnected.”
Verdon echoes this. “A modern space is also a blank slate to start from. It’s finding a balance with the modern architecture and adding some timeless elements to create a classic look.”
She suggests adding texture through architectural features such as cornicing or mouldings or through joinery design details.
“Good design and quality rarely dates,” says Angelini. “If your budget allows, start with well-crafted furniture and sound materials.”
Of course, one of the most fundamental ways to nail a classic interior is through colour. “Light neutral colours on the walls and ceilings are typical of a classic interior,” says Angelini.
Verdon suggests looking at chalkier, softer colour palettes, and “bringing some colour in with dusty blues and greens, warmer whites and subtle pink hues.”
For Emma Edmonds, interior designer and colour consultant at Stillorgan Decor, colour is in her DNA.
This year, she says the shades Irish customers are gravitating towards include the colours of the sky, sea, the earth and the natural world.
“I think we are looking for comfort, safety and solace in our homes now,” Edmonds suggests. This plays well with a move towards a more classic interior style. Getting to the fundamentals, a warm white is a good pick for woodwork and will act as a foundation for everything else.
“It’s so important to have a good off-white that works well with lots of different settings,” Edmonds says, suggesting Tikkurila’s Chalk as an option that’s not too yellow.
And you can forget acres of soft-sheen magnolia. Instead, she suggests Slaked Lime or Slaked Lime Mid from Little Greene as the perfect soft neutral wall shade. “My clients are asking for warm browns and caramels now,” she adds. Think Little Greene’s Affogato or Muscovado, or Farrow & Ball’s Marmelo, described as a grounded orange hue.
For those with bolder, but no less classic, taste, Etruscan Red from Farrow & Ball is a dramatic choice that will play well with classic textures like linen, velvets, warm woods and stone.
Finishing touches also give you a chance to add a bit more of your own personal style. Verdon suggests art is a great way to inject personality. “I love seeing contemporary art hung in a classic setting.”
And there’s no need to avoid the trends you like. “The most interesting spaces are a combination of interior styles,” Angelini says. “Start small with some accessories or textiles when introducing trends to see how it works with the overall space.”
Ultimately, she says, go for it. “A home designed around your own personal style will rarely date.”
