Old-world-style decorating
can lend a warmth and traditional touch to any decorating project. A weathered look, one that seems to have held up under centuries of use, can be part of an old-world style,but so can a richly appointed design. Old-world-style decorating ideas typically center around a particular set of finishes that can mimic the ornate or the simple approach. Do you know what finishes work best in an old-world-style design project? Does this Spark an idea?
Wrought Iron as a Hardware Choice
Chandeliers, sconces, console tables, mirror frames, drawer hardware, door handles --- wrought iron can be formed in a variety of ways. Finding the perfect architectural touch in wrought iron can underscore the old-world-style atmosphere you are creating. Choosing an additional finish in antique bronze can add further old-world style. Additional hand-applied finishes may add further visual interest. Choose one finish and use it throughout to add continuity.
Marble is a Favorite Old-World Finish
Endless halls of marble polished to perfection, columns and stair steps reaching upward with elegance, the image of marble as an indicator of the old-world style is familiar to almost everyone. Marble has an ageless beauty and a European feel. Try adding a few tumbled marble objects, a column, an urn, a pair of lamp bases or marble statuary. Tabletops for consoles, end tables or a coffee table should have curved edge details.
Plaster and Stucco Techniques for Walls
Plaster techniques are found in Venetian and Byzantine designs. Plaster can give a rustic simplicity and a hands-on feel to an old-world style. The understated strength of the materials suggests time-worn tradition and family gatherings.
Patina on Wood and Metal to Create an Aged Feel
Patina can be created to simulate a rustic or distressed look, a reclaimed appearance or an exotic look. Custom stains are also a possibility. Metals or woods can be treated to have the appearance of an old-world style. Antiqued or bronze metal finishes add another layer of texture to any old-world-style decor.
Faux Painting Adds a Warmth to Cold Finishes
Not interested in the real finish? They can be costly in some cases or you may not care for the cold feel of marble or the patina of a metal. There is an alternative to creating these old-world-style decorative finishes --- faux painting or finishing. Decorative painters can replicate any finish from marble to a copper patina.
Tags: old-world style, Old-world-style decorating
