Decorating with Antiques: How to mix old and new, modern and antique

Jaw-dropping interiors that are still family friendly, warm and inviting. That combination describes the Edelmann home in Wilmette that’s featured in the March 2010 issue of Make It Better.

Here’s a preview of the home and some great take-away tips:

A few things I learned from Julia Buckingham Edelmann

Wood as art: We’re talking driftwood here. You’ll see it in many forms in Edelmann’s home: cloaking the foundation of a coffee table, acting as centerpiece on her dining room table, serving as a butler in the masterbath. Each piece is gorgeous, earthy and textural.


You don’t have to be afraid of orange:
It’s Edelmann’s favorite color and she brings it into rooms in elegant ways: A French raincoat ad, circa 1965, starring a Audrey Hepburn in a poppy-colored hat and coat; an antique leather wingback chair, an oversize iron toy jack.

Artwork? Follow your heart: Edelmann’s leads her to art featuring faces, pieces with history, and oils. “If I could have an entire wall of old oil paintings, I would in a heartbeat,” she says.

Frames matter: Head to Daken Gallery says Edelmann.

A little dress’ll do ya: Several chairs in Edelmann’s home came from traditional beginnings but got bold, beautiful new looks with re-upholstering. An easy chair from Room and Board, once covered with black chenille got a major makeover when Edelmann re-covered it in cowhides bought from a roadside vendor in Arizona and wispy gray leather. A Midcentury Modern chair got touches of zing with Rose Tarlow fabric.

One of Edelmann’s favorite hunting grounds for antiques: Brimfield Antique Show, an enormous outdoor antique show about an hour’s drive from Boston that’s been around since 1959. It’s held three times each year—this year on May 11-16, July 13-18 and Sept. 7-12.

Favorite local haunts for amazing unique treasures:

Josie’s Antiques
Wilmette

The Find
Highwood

Kimball & Bean
Woodstock

Scentimental Gardens
Geneva

Chicago furniture designer Randall Kramer
Chicago

Randolph Street Antiques Market
Chicago

Revival architectural eyecatchers
Chicago

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