During a trip to the outskirts of London, England where Brad Roemer and his wife visited different bed and breakfasts, Roemer was instantly moved by the vintage characteristics of the villages they frequented. Of course, he ensured that the Brad Roemer team scouted vintage-looking homes for his real estate company in California, he also found novel ways to add a flair of vintage in interior design upgrades and renovations.
If you’re a die-hard lover for the rustic feel, then you’ll love these quaint how-to tips that you can apply to your own space.
- Are your bedroom walls feeling plain and boring, or even slightly dingy? Change up the atmosphere by pulling off that old, ruddy wallpaper in exchange for wood. Yes, sounds a little out of the ordinary, doesn’t it? However, wooden walls with a stone fireplace is something that will invite you to sleep soundly every night. In order to keep your bedroom space feeling open and airy, there’s no need to tack on wood to every one of your four walls. Purchase slabs of wood at your local vintage store and create long, thick stripes on the wall where you keep your bed.
- Put your old heirloom pieces to good use as you add a vintage thrill to your space. Your old grandparent’s suitcase double as a place to keep your old baubles but also as a decorative item. Think about stacking a smaller suitcase on a low, simple side table.
- Low investment pieces can seriously make a difference in your home’s look and feel. Purchase a few crips quilts as a throw on your L-shaped couch in the den or living room, and hang up china plates. Think blue and white, as often seen in Portugal, for a nice European addition. A few kitchen canisters propped up against your stove for rice, sugar, salt and flour is another kitsch way to add some vintage in your home.
- It’s all about the bed when it comes to vintage interior design. Don’t underestimate the beauty of a four poster bed, although there’s no need to stick with the curtains as they can bring some unnecessary weight to your room. At the bottom of your bed, you can add a vintage chest to keep your heavier wool blankets and extra linens for the chillier months.
- In the essence of spring time, we must pay tribute to the lovely florals that were a centerpiece to the vintage era. Bringing in some delightful floral wallpaper in smaller spaces, such as your guest bathroom or solarium, will allow for the perfect final touches. Add in a vase of fresh flowers that you’ve grown from your garden and you’re set for this new journey through time.
Finding the right pieces for your home will not happen automatically. This is an error we see over and over again with our clients and followers–they wish to purchase everything at once. As Brad Roemer often suggests, you must first create a comprehensive vision of how you want your space to feel and look like before you get started. If you don’t have an interior design or real estate team to help you out, then it will be a very slow process. Every few weeks, dedicate time to scouting out your local flea market for vintage pieces that you can add to your home. Regularly follow the Brad Roemer Pinterest page for weekly ideas on how to incorporate rustic decor items into your home.
