Ancient and Modern

Many people view ancient and modern as worlds apart and opt for one or the other when it comes to choosing an interior style. This book shows how putting the two together can create bold, dramatic effects and lead to an enriching and individual environment for the 21st century. From a modern American apartment with antique furniture to a conversion of an ancient cow-shed with salvage fixtures and fittings painted a uniform white, the book gives many examples of mixing the old with the new. It offers practical solutions for low-budget interiors and shows how to create a harmonious collection of old and new objects over time. Ancient and modern elements can be mixed throughout the home, and the book covers every type and size of living space, including both conventional rooms and contemporary open-plan areas such as lofts. Many possible aesthetic blends are explored, using old and new furniture, fixtures and fittings and key details like textiles, lighting, utensils, art and objects. The central theme underpinning the book is the continuity between ancient and modern - the fact that common forms and a shared aesthetic connect elements from different times and cultures. Accompanying text and beautiful photographs show how many ancient objects are startlingly modern in concept and design, and how many modern forms are in fact simply expressions or continuations of ancient motifs.

Cynthia Inions is a respected interiors writer. Formerly Interiors Editor of Marie Claire, she has also worked on many other magazines, including Elle Decoration and Homes and Gardens. She is the author of The Storage Book, published in 1997 by Mitchell Beazley, and One-space Living, published in 1999 by Ryland Peters & Small.