Classic homes bring to mind ornate curves, gilded mirrors and velvet curtains. Yet the picture has changed.
Classic homes evoke striking accessories, grand furniture, heavy dark curtains and crystal. Today, however, classic style presents a much simpler, more elegant version of that image. It is also a way of life, bringing with it dignity and quality, timeless furnishings and treasured pieces. Associated with luxurious living, the style comes fully into its own when the décor is complemented by architecture with high ceilings, spacious rooms, large windows and decorative plasterwork.
A straight-lined L-shaped sofa would not feel at home in a classic interior. Instead of mass-produced pieces, these homes feature bespoke furniture with quality craftsmanship evident in everything from solid wood legs to upholstery. Traditional French designs combine with antiques. Today, simplicity has a place in this atmosphere too. Rather than filling every corner, the approach favours fewer, carefully chosen pieces. A seating arrangement for 6–8 people at the centre, a table setting for two beside the window and a highly polished solid wood dining table with slender legs are preferred. Elegance is felt throughout the space.
Accessories for classic homes are not ordinary commercial products bought from a typical shop. Family heirlooms, antiques and pieces with stories take centre stage. Signed artworks hang on the walls, illuminated by crystal lamps. Alongside traces of the homeowner's past, the selection includes treasured objects that have accompanied other lives. An old dagger bearing an Ottoman tughra, a Louis XIV-style console or vases referencing Regency style may be used. Unlike in the past, these accessories are displayed within a modern setting.
When we enter a room, colour gives us our first impression of its style, because the eye registers it before furniture details or material choices. The dark palettes of classic homes of the past have now given way to lighter colours. Cream shades dominate today's classically decorated homes, particularly on walls. This allows special pieces to stand out and furniture details to be appreciated. Chenille and velvet are prominent upholstery choices, while Ottoman motifs lead the patterns. Large, artistic floral prints appear on curtains, and Anatolian motifs on rugs. Each has meaning, a story and an enduring appeal.
