Cabinet clever:

Love the clean feel of modern, and the colour and comfort of vintage? Embracing the best of both worlds can be a fast-track to individual style

Have you ever longed to create a space that truly reflects your taste? If so, there’s a fresh, new decor cocktail which allows you to mix and match individual old and new ingredients and it could be just the ticket for shaking up your rooms. “Without a little vintage, sleek modern interiors can seem soulless. And without a modern context, vintage pieces seem fusty and staid,” says interiors stylist Emily Chalmers. “Yet when they come together for this style, interiors become completely fresh.”

Emily’s new book, Modern Vintage Style, opens the door to homes where owners have embraced this approach to create inspiring fun, quirky and personality-filled settings.

It’s guaranteed to appeal to those bored with the bland, who don’t want to slavishly follow trends and prefer to march to their own decor tune.

“This approach is all about trusting your instincts and taste, and using your imagination to seek out the right items for your own personal blend of contemporary and modern,” says Emily.

Even better, the style won’t break your budget, as many vintage pieces cost next to nothing and can be found in flea markets, jumble sales, car boot sales, second-hand shops or church fairs.

“When you find them, it’s like winning the style lottery,” enthuses Emily.

She recommends discarding all the “rules” except one – contrast.

Contrast your decorating style with your furniture to promote that old-andnew atmosphere so distressed ragrolled walls could be the perfect foil for streamlined modern furniture. Get the modern vintage look by following Chalmers’ tips for creating your own old-meets-new interiors:

Source old-fashioned cabinets from local salvage or junk yards, or give existing modern cabinets a twist by decorating doors with antique tiles or vintage wallpaper and adding glass or china handles.

A 60s graphic throw, a piece of old lace, or a crocheted blanket can give a modern high street sofa an injection of vintage.

Scour second hand shops for hand-woven linens, handstitched quilts or old paisley duvets for a bed dressed vintage style. Use empty barrels, ornate chairs, small drawer units or a collection of old suitcases as quirky bedside tables.

If you like a piece but it’s not quite right, consider “style surgery”. Replace a fusty floral seat cover with one in a bold colour or a striking pattern. An item with chipped paint, worn corners or in an outdated finish can be quickly reinvented with a coat of brightly coloured paint.

If you find a vintage roll-top desk, an old sewing machine or an exquisite Chinese wardrobe or another treasure, let those pieces stand alone and enjoy the limelight, rather than cluttering them with accessories.

Old beads, pom-poms, ribbons or sequins sewn onto favourite cushions or curtains will add flair to modern fabrics. Vintage quilts, particularly old hand-sewn crib quilts, make stunning wall art or curtains.

Reflect an era in wall colour. The 50s were all about soft pastels (baby pink, apple green, sky blue); the 60s went psychedelic (hot pink, deep turquoise, dark purple); and the 70s became all warm and neutral (olive green, burnt orange and fresh mustard).