Modern heritage style: How to make ‘old meets new’ work in your home

bedroom and living room side by side, both decorated and furnished in modern heritage style
‘It creates a good looking dance between conventional and fashionable design’ (Image: Getty)

Our Instagram feeds are stuffed with beautiful-looking houses that effortlessly mix conventional options and antiques – with fashionable patterns, artwork work and home equipment.

Outdated meets new is a shocking look, should you get it proper. 

This ‘fashionable heritage model’ – which is normally characterised by wall paneling, historic paint colors and patterns, sitting alongside up to date items and surrounds – could be very a lot on the rise. 

However you don’t must reside in a house with a number of conventional options to attain this. Whether or not you’re in a Victorian terrace or a indifferent new construct, there are methods of styling that can mean you can create a feature-filled but up to date house.

What's fashionable heritage model?

Initially, what does this time period actually imply?

‘Trendy heritage model mixes conventional British design components, akin to wooden panelling, wealthy autumnal color palettes and patterned wallpaper, with up to date accents in artwork, ornamental objects, and furnishings shapes,’ explains Wren Loucks, CEO and inventive director of inside design studio Be-kin

‘For instance, think about sitting in a deep-set Howard-style armchair, upholstered in a delicate cotton-linen Claremont cloth. 

‘An vintage oak sideboard is to your left, coated in artwork books and small ornamental objects, and above it's a piece of recent paintings that's robust, daring, and geometric. 

‘The paintings is the “fashionable contact” – and it provides a burst of vitality by way of the aesthetic pressure it creates with the extra conventional design options. This pressure is the essence of the trendy heritage model.

‘When fashionable heritage model is finished effectively, it creates a good looking dance between conventional and fashionable design, including vitality and a way of sudden playfulness to a room.’

big window with shutters and an antique tables and chairs in front of it
You don’t want unique options – however it does assist… (Image:  Athina Kontos / Be-kin tasks by Wren Loucks)

 Empty Black Wall Panel with Wooden Chair
Wall paneling is a traditional function of Trendy Heritage model (Photos: Getty Photos)

white panelled living room with green velvet sofa and scatter cushions
A extra delicate tackle the pattern (Image: Getty)

Trendy heritage is about being excessive on model however large on consolation – in keeping with Avalana Simpson, the artistic director of Avalana Design.

‘It’s a relaxed tackle the luxurious of the English nation manorhouse with fashionable design, bringing historic Britain into the present interiors area,’ she tells Metro.co.uk. 

The look isn’t only a model reserved for these residing out within the countryside, although. 

She provides: ‘It’s a pattern that works fantastically for many kinds of houses, which implies it’s actually fashionable as it's accessible to the lots.’

Websites like Instagram and Pinterest have loads to do with it, as we're all consistently uncovered to pictures of lovely houses, decked out on this model.  

‘Trendy heritage model enhances the unique and historic options of a property whereas additionally introducing fashionable and up to date components to reinforce its unique design,’ says Matt Siberry, head of house at Pinterest.

‘On Pinterest, we’ve just lately seen this interiors pattern soar in reputation as folks search inspiration to renovate Victorian homes in a manner that pays tribute to the previous, whereas bringing within the new.

‘We’ve seen a rise in searches associated to the trendy heritage model, together with panelled partitions, fashionable Victorian inside design and fashionable conventional.’ 


Yr-on-year Pinterest searches for phrases regarding 'fashionable heritage model':

  • ‘Panelled partitions’ + 95%
  • ‘Floral wallpaper’ + 20%
  • ‘Flooring to ceiling bookshelves’ + 20%
  • ‘Conventional’ + 10%
  • ‘Trendy conventional’ + 20%
  • ‘Trendy british colonial model’ + 15%
  • ‘Pink sample wallpaper’ + 30%
  • ‘Striped wallpaper’ + 45%
  • ‘Floral wallpaper’ + 20%
  • ‘Victorian houses’ + 15%
  • ‘Outdated Victorian houses inside’ + 2.5x
  • ‘Trendy victorian decor’ + 20%
  • ‘Trendy victorian inside design’ + 95%
  • ‘Trendy victorian’ + 20%
  • ‘Victorian lounge’ + 60%

*Based mostly on UK searches week ending 4 June 2021 vs. week ending 3 June 2022

However it could work in different kinds of houses as effectively – and has loads to do with the sensation that it evokes, and the rules behind the sustainability of it.  

‘Trendy heritage model stimulates a way of ease and rest for many individuals, which is why so many try to create it inside their house,’ says Wren.

colourful bathroom with floral wallpaper and a mint green sink unit
There are methods of bringing in points of the pattern, whereas nonetheless feeling very fashionable and playful (Image: Getty)

Rustic bathroom with a rolltop bath
A country look, Trendy Heritage lavatory (Image: Getty Photos/Picture Supply)

‘It additionally invitations a way of play as a result of it depends on many ornamental layers to attain the look – so you'll be able to maintain including to and adjusting it, in contrast to a really minimalist model which is far more refrained in its curation.

‘It has a way of informality about it, which creates a relaxed inside temper. 

‘Shoppers are additionally very conscious of the function they play in local weather change and wish to spend their cash on moral, sustainable merchandise.

‘The truth that fashionable heritage model works greatest when utilizing antiques and repurposing present furnishings, makes it a really moral design model.’ 

‘You possibly can obtain the genuine Victorian look by preserving essentially the most intricate interval traits of a property – together with its wood beams, bay home windows and even stained-glass entrance door,’ suggests Matt. 

‘Vivid colors and patterns are so on pattern right now and likewise look wonderful when mixed with Victorian options for the “previous meets new” really feel.

‘We advocate incorporating wealthy color and patterns into the house and including vintage furnishing touches to attain the proper fashionable heritage model.’

And the specialists are in settlement that taking part in with sample, color, options and ‘set dressing’ is the secret.

‘When you've got low-level wooden panelling within the corridor, paint it a darkish historic color and set up patterned wallpaper above,’ suggests Wren. ‘For instance, Hamilton Weston have a wallpaper assortment known as “historic” which has some lovely choices. Beautify the wall with fashionable paintings, which you can grasp in a “salon model.”‘

She additionally suggests considering of every desk and sideboard floor, as a chance to create a tablescape.

Bedroom with dark green panelled wall and a bed and bedside table
Layers are vital and useful to construct the look you need (Image: Getty photos)

white chalk brick wall with two prints hanging on it, with a green sideboard in front, hosting a vase with pampas grass
Repurpose present furnishings and purchase antiques (Image: Getty photos)

She provides: ‘A tablescape is an assortment of objects, mindfully curated. It might be a set of artwork books, with their spines on show, and close by a good looking fashionable vase overflowing with tulips. 

‘Combine in desk lamps with cloth shades. Desk lamps have a standard really feel about them, and low-level gentle creates a relaxed temper.

‘Repurpose present furnishings and purchase antiques. Keep away from high-street retailers, with fashionable furnishings designs which might be simply recognisable.’

The color palette you employ, in addition to the way you pair with different colors and patterns, will play a big half within the success of this look.

‘Historic wealthy paint colors from the archives akin to golds, moss greens and royal blues are lifted to create extra of a wow issue, and take centre stage versus a muted again seat,’ advises Avalana. 

‘Attempt introducing a livened-up palette of sundown yellow, botanical greens and teal.

Rreception room in Siobhan Murphy's house featuring bespoke mural design on every wall - even the ceiling
The reception room in Siobhan Murphy’s home options Avalana’s bespoke mural design on each wall – even the ceiling – and is fashionable heritage, from a recent maximalist perspective. (Image: Pique Portraits)

‘Wallpaper gives a super selection for bringing daring sample and dramatic color to function partitions or total rooms – designs which reproduce Victorian botanical prints or busy florals, for instance, draw the attention and add curiosity.’ 

Nonetheless, she advises that to evoke fashionable heritage, these prints ought to be reimagined with recent maximalism and complemented by fashionable paintings and prints.


The golden guidelines of recent heritage:

  • Be aware of sample scale and blend it up. Don’t maintain all of the patterns the identical scale in a room.
  • Take into consideration color concord and move, after which each from time to time, add in one thing that creates pressure.
  • Use antiques – patinas add authenticity to this model.
  • Keep away from shopping for new objects designed to seem like antiques. There are such a lot of unimaginable antiques on the market, that can add authenticity to your design scheme.

  • As extra householders get braver and bolder with colors and patterns, they're additionally exploring utilizing the ceiling because the fifth wall of their property to create the phantasm of area and create a continuation of the scheme. 

  • Creating an opulent backdrop to an area utilizing heritage paints, time-honoured wallcoverings pays homage to a splash of vintage furnishings and treasured house decor gadgets from instances passed by.

  • For many who thought paneling would exit of trend simply as rapidly because it arrived might be shocked to see it prevail right here. It offsets the room completely and also you must also contemplate massive, undulating cornice mouldings to emphasize the peak of your rooms.

When requested if there are any dos and don’ts, Wren says that, firstly, you need to have enjoyable with it.

‘Be aware of how every room flows into the subsequent,’ she provides.

‘In case you are utterly redecorating your house, it’s a good suggestion to start with an total idea design to give you clear route from the beginning, which features a color palette for every area.

‘Keep in mind that ornamental layers create this aesthetic – so after getting your key furnishings items, then take into consideration lighting, then take into consideration ornamental objects and artwork.

‘Work and assume in design layers.’

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