The process of redesigning a room often comes with the inevitable question: How can we future-proof our space? Renovation is costly and time-consuming, so it's natural to want our decisions to impress for centuries to the future. This is where Brittny Button comes into play.
The Los Angeles-based designer has a solution for ensuring she creates 'soulful' spaces that stand the test of time – but this involves choosing pieces that have already endured for centuries.
'I always lean towards antiques. Decorating with antiques adds warmth to a space with something old and makes a big difference,' she comments in an exclusive interview with H&G.
The art of shopping for vintage pieces and sourcing sustainable furniture is one thing, but taking these pieces into our modern homes is another. So, how can we combine these contrasting styles in the same room?
'When I started doing this in my projects, I didn't know it was going to work. However, the key is to ensure they don't compete in the same space,' Brittny comments.
'For example, if I'm using an antique wooden table, I am not going to pair it with another wooden piece. Instead, I'll go modern with something different, like fabric. Something like an upholstered chair that's not competing with the antique piece because they're so contrastable.'
Incorporating antiques is one of three key ways – alongside the right paint and lighting – that, Brittny says, allows us to elevate any space without a big budget. However, it is only natural since it's a formula the designer has mastered from her teenage years.
'The design world can be a little bit intimidating because you have high-end experts with unlimited budgets. But that's not who I am. I am someone who grew up in flea markets, and my parents bought antiques. I decorated my room as a teenager in a shabby chic style with a big chandelier in the middle and other antique pieces,' she says.
'With this in mind, I would say that lighting is something that you can find relatively affordable, whether it's Etsy or salvaged from a flea market. Paired with paint, you can transform a space, and you don't have to spend that much money.'
'Paint and lighting really go a long way, and when paired with soulful pieces, you can elevate your room to new heights. That's all you need to transform a room in an unrecognizable way.'
H&G's antique shopping edit
We're following Brittny's advice with some of our favorite vintage pieces of the moment.
This set of four cherub wall lights in gilt bronze ormolu (circa 1880s) is a powerful way to follow in Irina Shayk's lead. They make a certain statement on any wall.
