What's the Mix in Your Home?

We read the lead feature in this past weekend's Los Angeles Times Home & Garden section, about the movement of antique stores from brick and mortar shops to online sites, with interest. Growing up, our parents had an antique store for a time and many of the pieces in their house have migrated to ours...

Antiques, defined as furniture and home accessories over 100 years old, are less coveted than they used to be. They've been replaced by a yearning for mid-century pieces. But whether it's mid-century or antique, we find any kind of complete look boring. We prefer a home that mixes it up: mid-century with antique, French with Chinese, Ikea with Louis XIV, Scandinavian with Victorian, DIY shelving with hand-printed wallpaper; a home that reflects its owner. What's the mix in your home? Or how would it be if money was no object? Are you Mid-Century Modern all the way or do you prefer a more eclectic look? Fess up in the comments and send us some pictures! We're always looking for house tours and we'd love to see your homes here.

[image: Living, etc.]

Comments (12)

Sculptural steel & glass coffee table and an understated Louis XV sofa . . . I can't believe it's all mine: http://stylenorth.ca/blog/about/

I have two questions. I've been trying to find a nice vintage chair to reupholster, but I don't know who is reliable and reasonably priced in LA, does anyone have a recommendation?
Secondly, I love the art deco look of the shinny black acrylic look, and want to paint some old lamps with it...what's a good paint to buy for accessories? Thanks!

I live in a loft with antiques. The architecture and furniture are unexpected together, so it feels fresh. But if I moved into, say, a Craftsman house, I'd want to add some more contemporary pieces so everything wouldn't look too "period piece."

I guess nothing really matches in my place, 19th century family antiques, a Louis XVI armchair, scandinavian chairs, an Art Deco console, contemporary artwork, designer lamps edited by Kartell, an Old Master portrait. Besides the danish chairs everything seems to go together, probably because everything is in wood, and there is a lot of dark colors and black laquer.

Some weird mix of craftsman, country, and 1970's mcn. All simple stuff I guess. I like all styles and admire the extraordinry but want my own house to be simple.

I have a mix of everything in my place. The bedroom furniture is art deco from the 30s, and was given to my grandmother as a wedding gift. Unfortunately the sleigh bed that came with the set was initially broken by my sister (we split up the set when we inherited it) and then damaged beyond repair when her basement was flooded. She eventually gave me what was left of her half of the furniture. My headboard, even though it is a similar color wood hue, is definitely from the 70s. The rest of my home is more modern with a few retro 60s touches here and there and an old victorian era clock, which still works, but needs to be wound up every day.

Edwardian and Georgian stuff, and chesterfields. Two modern comfy chairs. Turkish rugs. Colors aren't period (olive, black, cream, plum).

Kind of bohemian. I will probably add some modern steel chairs in the dining room because most chairs which would traditionally "go" with my table are stuffy-looking.

And a drum set and a lot of guitars, none of which are antique. :)

ChrisToronto, that is one gorgeous living room!

MCM industrial diner retro 1950's lots of feminine color

Mine is IKEA mixed with West Elm, plus a three-legged wood chair that my grandfather made before I was born and an antique secretary desk from my parents. I like to call it poverty mixed wtih laziness.

Antiques mixed with contemporary modern pieces a la Room & Board and Crate & Barrel, with subtle asian elements in the accessories and art. Muted palette of tomato red, honey yellow, celedon blue, oatmeal, and chocolatey brown.

Asian and Scandinavian (pieces inherited from my parents) and a few Craig's List finds.