Old Meets New: How interior designer Pia Shipe creates spaces with soul
There’s something beautiful about a home that feels personal and not just curated. Where a plush new sofa lives in harmony with a timeworn sideboard passed down through generations, and the glow from a modern lamp bounces off the grain of sandblasted antique wood.
“I want my eyes and senses to be delighted by the varied and interesting items – to feel hugged and immediately at ease.”
Pia Shipe, Interior Designer
From choosing where to start, to tips on lighting, switches and finishes that subtly pull everything together, Pia shares the thoughtful details that give a space its soul. Whether you’re planning a full renovation or just craving a room refresh, her ideas will help you to create a space that feels layered, lived-in and loved for years to come.
What’s your golden rule when blending old and new interior design pieces in a room?
When I walk into a room, I want to feel hugged and immediately at ease, but I also want my eyes and senses to be delighted by the varied and interesting items.
I think the most successful way to do this, is to combine old and new furniture and pieces, which allows the eyes to dance around the room, alighting upon unusual and exciting textures, shapes, colours and treasures.
Balance is key when combining old and new pieces in a design scheme for any space – I’m referring to balance in all aspects of the design.
You want the physical size of the old and new pieces to be balanced; for example, if you have a large ultra-modern sofa, pair it with a proportionally large antique coffee table or sideboard.
Ensure there is roughly an even balance in the number of old and new pieces in the space. Not necessarily a 1:1 ratio, but try not to add one tiny vintage side table to an otherwise contemporary collection of furniture.
Lastly, remember to arrange the new and old items across the room or space in a balanced way – you don’t want an old side of the room and a new side!
Where do you usually start: with the vintage piece or the newer design elements?
I actually start with pieces my client already has! Sometimes, these are old sentimental pieces the client wants to hold on to and other times, they have newly purchased furniture that could provide a starting point. Often, clients think I will start my design process by throwing out everything they already own, but that has never happened yet.
I believe your home, even when newly renovated and refurbished, must have a touch of the familiar so the inhabitants can feel connected to the space and truly love living there. Even an old, haggard armchair that has been reupholstered can feel familiar and ‘like home’.
Once we have established an inventory indicating the items we are keeping, I start sourcing additional pieces – whether they are vintage, antique, new or bespoke. I recently designed a dining room where I kept the client’s gorgeous, Danish mid-century dining chairs, sourced a rustic antique dining table, and purchased two contemporary statement end chairs – the result was new yet recognisable – cosy and beautiful, yet not too perfect or unapproachable.
How can fixtures and fittings help balance a room that mixes eras?
Any designer will tell you that lighting is crucial to achieving a good final design – it should not only serve its function of adding light, but the light fixtures should also sit harmoniously within the space and design.
To achieve this, I would look at the overall balance of pieces in a room – statement antique pendant lights in a modern kitchen or a modern, brightly coloured lamp on an antique desk might add the perfect finishing touches.
For fixtures like handles and switches, I’m more likely to take inspiration from the building itself. If I’m designing in an older period house, I’d choose something more classic. In a new build, I’d prefer contemporary fixtures.
I don’t rely on a particular style or finish – I’ll consider the scheme as a whole, ensuring the overall ambience of the space is honoured and make my design choices accordingly.
“I would say, trust yourself when choosing
your new and old pieces.”
Pia Shipe, Interior Designer
What are some common mistakes people make when mixing vintage and modern – and how can they avoid them?
The biggest mistake I see is people trying to emulate a particular ‘look’ they’ve seen online or in a magazine but end up feeling frustrated because it looks flat in real life.
I would say, trust yourself when choosing your new and old pieces. I believe your tastes are consistent.
You will always be attracted to the same sort of thing, so if you follow and develop your tastes, rather than worrying about trends, other people’s opinions, or whether the items you are choosing ‘match’, you will almost by default, end up with a collection of items that sit beautifully together.
As a guideline, however, I recommend avoiding extreme styles when mixing vintage or antique with contemporary styles. For example, I wouldn’t combine overly ornate antiques, like a Louis XIV style chair, with a minimalist contemporary sofa, or heavy curtains around modern, new build windows.
Also, try not to stick too strictly to one era or period when choosing your antique and vintage pieces unless you want to create a themed look from a particular epoch.
Do you have favourite materials or textures that help create a cohesive ‘old-meets-new’ style?
My favourite ‘old-meets-new’ material these days is sandblasted antique wood furniture! I have sourced a few stunning, classic, old-school antiques that have been sandblasted, and the result is unbelievable.
The shape, ornate detail and craftsmanship of yesteryear is visible, yet the ageing, dark varnish has been blasted off, leaving a textured, contemporary, natural and fresh finish.
Discover more advice from interior designs on our Interior Designer Secrets and follow @piashipeinteriors on Instagram start saving some inspiration on how to mix vintage and modern interiors.