When old meets new, what a thrill, what a scene. A layered story, with roots and definition. An interior space that responds to you as you enter, or you respond to it. A room detailing transitional interior design has a heart beat. The impact of its layers hit upon entering the space, your eye drawn from each unique piece of furniture, wall hanging, art or artefact to the next.
It is possible that the love for the blend of old and new comes from the sense that none of us wish to sit in the past. We all have an inherent need to evolve and adapt, continuing a stream of inspiration from the past to the present and defining it for the future.
A juxtaposed aesthetic is wildly appealing, of course if the context of the interior you are designing makes sense to be. Blending traditional art with contemporary art can enable the individual piece to stand its own ground, and the contrast between pieces allows each, its own exciting identity. Each piece stands the chance to WOW, rather than be diluted amongst a series of the same style.
When designing within a historical context, for example a period country house, in the first instance I look at the building. Then I will consider the building’s setting, the period at which it was built, then see how one can bring it to the now and beyond, ensuring that the design aesthetic is fresh and brings vitality for years to come. I want to create timeless, yet modern interior spaces with classical notes. These considered factors result in a harmonious, transitional interior design. To me the exciting challenge of my design work is that an interior will never tire, its furniture items, art and objects will stand the test of time to ensure longevity on a practical and aesthetic level.
We are drawn to interiors that sing, that make us feel serene, excited, and generally good about ourselves. With so many antiques, furniture items, art pieces and objects already in circulation, it is a treasure trove to unveil and source.
If you are looking for support with your furniture and art sourcing, I am always keen to help – it’s what myself and my team at Sarah Fortescue love; supporting our clients and finding magical things for interiors that have had a life, therefore have depth, historical context and a story to tell.
If you are keen to discover the fun of sourcing your own beautiful pieces, here are our favourite places to look:
Alfie’s London, Sunbury (Kempton) Racecourse, Goldbourne Road, Leominster Antique shops and Ashburton.
Written by Sarah Fortescue, Founder and Interior Designer at Sarah Fortescue
