Selecting Timeless Pieces
It sounds obvious, but the greatest hindrance to making a space feel timeless is the use of whatever of-the-moment trend is sweeping the industry. No amount of craftsmanship will keep your curved sofa feeling fresh. Trends create waste: the junkyards of America are full of futons and 1970’s patterns. Not only will avoiding trends lead to a prettier space, avoiding pieces that you may fall out-of-love with is cost-efficient and sustainable. I believe that your spaces, and the pieces that fill them matter a great deal, take the time to consider not just how you feel about a piece of furniture in the moment, but interrogate whether or not you will continue to appreciate the piece in the future. If the answer is no, than it isn’t right for you.
The components of what makes a piece “timeless” are simpler than you think. Your first considerations of a piece should be the lines of it’s composition and the materials used. True, there are classic elements like an English Arm on a sofa that stand out with classic beauty, but a general focus on keeping your frame simple is rewarding. The shapes of upholstery that have stood the test of time are largely utilitarian, with minimal embellishments. A good pice of furniture shouldn’t look delicate or fussy. Selecting a print for a large piece of upholstery isn’t inherently bad, but it will make the piece more contextual, complicating the natural evolution of your space if you wish to switch out smaller elements to refresh. I work to build a strong base into all my designs to plan for small and seasonal changes, and any piece that will “play nice” with the rest of it’s immediate environment is more likely to stand the test of time.
The type of material you use is also hugely important. I avoid bold uses of bright colors as a general rule. Colors are usually a product of their time: think of the avocado green color scheme of the 1970’s, or the millennial pink palates of more recent memory. Consider how out-of-place they would look in a home today. As I mentioned in my blog post about color scheme, bold elements that draw the eye should be added sparingly in accessories and rugs. In regards to furniture, timelessness is found in a piece that looks fresh, but never looks new. I use a lot of linen, leather, and wool for my designs because they weather. They wrinkle and patina, creating subtle changes to your space. They offer fresh clean palates and subtle patterns while allowing a space to feel lived-in and used. I don’t want my spaces to have a “catalogue” feel, rather they should project an atmosphere of gradual creation. A great space will feel like it’s been built over a long period of time.
These materials also speak to an older style of craftsmanship. You’ll see linen and leather upholstery over and over because they were readily available in the immediate communities of the craftsmen who made these pieces well enough to last. Timelessness can be created by doing service to the area where you create. The “fast furniture” pieces you’ll find at low-cost home retail stores often aren’t just low-quality, but are intended for too broad an audience or purpose to really perfect any individual space. If you want a piece that stands the test of time, it must be simple but unique.
Don’t let your search for the unique consume your space however. Timeless design should find a way to make the recognizable feel fresh. This dining table from the Carraway Project is a familiar shape that has proven it’s value in dining rooms for over one hundred years. Using familiar elements like this one makes people feel invited into the space, warmed by a sense of recognition. The natural cherry used to craft it comes from from the Appalachian Mountains and were selected board-by-board. This piece speaks to a craftsman sensibility that will never go out of style. Using pieces made from materials found in your area is a good way to make a piece feel unique and personal, while still feeling familiar and warm.
Timelessness can also be found in the sentimental. For the Caraway Project, we used this desk chair, originally belonging to the client’s grandmother. Our good friends at Fabrics and Findings were able to reupholster the piece with a lovely and subtle pattern, making the piece feel fresh and modern, while maintaining the classic shape and heartwarming origin. Your personal context with a piece can ensure that you won’t grow out of it. If you keep coming back to something in selection, pay attention to that. Every piece has a story to tell!
Happy Designing!