Working on Homes & Gardens' celebrity style desk, it's certainly not uncommon to find some uniting threads between the ways notable figures decorate.
I love it when I see a common theme between celebrities, whether that's through kitchen cabinet colors or candles in their bedrooms, but the one thing I enjoy even more is when I see something that's entirely unique – as is the case with Lewis Hamilton's juke box.
While Lewis is in the news for co-chairing the Met Gala, I took another look through his Instagram, in which I came across a corner of his living room decorated with a retro-style juke box, unlike any I've ever seen before. A deeper look at the accessory suggests it's a 'Rock-Ola 440 Jukebox,' originating in the late '60s. Its charming design ensured it was a popular model when it first launched, but I would argue it looks even better in a modern home today.
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Revered simultaneously by aficionados of both vintage and contemporary music, this model, reissued perfectly as the second generation from the iconic 1946 Wurlitzer 1015 produced in the United States.
A vinyl record player is a must-have if you wish to replicate the good vibes of Lewis's living room. This one has a stunning look and comes at an affordable price point, making it easy to unlock the same energy.
This classic-style jukebox embodies a vintage charm that pays homage to the classic jukeboxes of the 1950s. Its timeless design, reminiscent of a bygone era, transports you back in time to the golden age of rock 'n' roll, jive, and swing.
When decorating with antiques in a modern home, you shouldn't be afraid to mix your older treasures with more contemporary pieces, just as Lewis has done. To make it easier, Sami Jalili, the co-founder and designer at Arcola Studio, walked me through the process.
'Antique furniture and objects have that capacity to transport us and feed our imaginations. They also tell of times when things were done differently; crafts and skills that today aren’t sustainable, at least outside of highly bespoke and costly production methods. While the world is pulled one way and another, antiques stand as markers of a beautiful, certain past,' he says.
'When placed alongside pieces from our own time, magical conversations can occur. As a studio, we often tend towards introducing strong, heavy volumes into spaces and creating bespoke furniture that extends and amplifies our interior architectural choices. Introducing antique pieces into this context adds so much in terms of texture, layering, and often moments of surprise.'
When choosing antiques to introduce to your living room (or any space, for that matter), you should pick the pieces that spark a reaction in you. If you like music (which, I imagine, Lewis does), then opting for a juke box or vinyl player is the perfect choice. However, the opportunities are endless, depending on what you love the most.
'When designing spaces for clients, we are trying to create an extension of themselves in some way, to give them homes that can truly and uniquely be considered theirs,' Sami adds.
'When we include antiques in projects, we are asking those clients to become custodians of those pieces, and to continue their histories.' What more could I hope for a piece of furniture than that?
