7 Vintage-Inspired Living Rooms We Love

Antique pieces are perfectly at home in these sleek modern designs. (Can you spot them? It's like I Spy but with furniture.) 

(Photo: Rose Matis.)

1. A Slice of Scandinavia

Caroline and Scott Marko have created a serene getaway in Smithers, B.C. full of Scandinavian-inspired vintage charm. To wit, the antique Jieldé lamps (a little piece of home inherited from Caroline’s mother). Not only that, the lamps no doubt provide cozy lighting on stormy northern nights and add gorgeous brass detail to the muted beige colour scheme. See the rest of the home for more vintage decor ideas. (Photo: Janis Nicolay.)

2. Feminine Romance

I spy with my little eye…beautiful wood details that compliment the soft elegance of this Peter Wilds-designed living room. The antique wood cabinets give a whole new meaning to the term “shabby-chic” and lend an authenticity to the room; dark distressed wood breaks up the pale colour scheme and makes it visually dynamic. The more you see of this West-End apartment the more you’ll love it. (Photo: Janis Nicolay.)

3. Family Heirlooms

A vintage armchair and rug, passed down to homeowners Vanessa Stark and Misha Olynyk by their grandparents, provide a focal point in this otherwise stark living room; the white painted floors make the precious family heirlooms the stars of the (living room design) show. Take a tour of this beautifully curated Mount Pleasant condo. (Photo: Martin Tessler.)

4. Brass is Best

These Calgary homeowners wanted to pay tribute to their heritage home without sacrificing style. Designer Alykhan Velji used vintage teak mid-century furniture and authentic antique brass curiosities to capture the home’s history while the carpet and white painted brick façade add modern textures that make it worthy of the current era. See more of this Calgary home that proves it’s all about the accessories. (Photo: Tracey Ayton Photography, original photo on Houzz.)

5. Canadiana

Cathi and John Campbell, owners of this Lonsdale condo, have a passion for Eastern Candiana pine pieces and used their antique finds to flank a simple-yet-modern sofa, creating balance and symmetry within the space. The couple are also avid art collectors and we love their black and white gallery wall that anchors the many contrasting patterns on the cushions, chair and rug. Take a look inside this made-over North Vancouver home. (Photo: Janis Nicolay.)

6. Welcome to the Jungle

Give yourself a minute to take in the colours and oddities and you may begin to see a method to the madness. In his own Gastown condo, designer Ben Leavitt repurposed vintage furniture, pairing it with artifacts that span the globe: the 1950s airport desk now houses a grand Buddha bust and the 300-year-old wooden hutch on the right (which you may have missed because you were distracted by the deer head) is home to the Leavitt’s Day of the Dead statue collection. Explore this quirky artist play space. (Photo: Tracey Ayton.)

7. Industrial Whimsy

We would have never guessed that the metal contraption now serving as a coffee table in this Railtown living room began its life as a bookshelf. Vancouver chef—and former stylist—Kate Horsman gives furniture new life by turning things upside-down (literally) to create a modern look made from vintage pieces. Even the retro Wegner sofa has been reupholstered to give the room an element of softness. Peek inside this gorgeous Railtown condo.

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