The freshest decorating style these days is...mixed styles.

Tradition and modernity can usually be combined well. Think of abstract art with upholstered lounge chairs, or 18th-century style cotton wallpaper with 80s lamps. The attraction lies in the pleasant tension between styles; refined, artistic, but livable.

As usual, the latest return trend comes from pop culture. Revelry-worthy TV shows like "Outlander" and "Bridgerton" inspired the Pinterest board, filled with tartan pillows, William Morris patterns, antler lamps, copper bathtubs, silver candle holders and sofa beds. Wield a feather fan at "Regencycore".

Just as "Mad Men" did for mid-century modern times, these recent collections were made for the aesthetics of the early 19th century, with tufted sofas, oversized mirrors, chandeliers, gilded decorations and colorful flowers or oriental prints. feature.

Modern elements ease the cumbersomeness of frills and fur while showing its characteristics, allowing you to create a personal space that is not limited to a single style.

“Finding the right quantity for each character in the room is always a balancing act,” said Cynthia Byrnes, founder of the online art gallery and curatorial business in New York City. "Some people don't recommend placing a heavy Baroque French console table under contemporary photography.

"But if scale, color, and architecture complement each other, everything is possible."

The designer is not keen on razing every "old" feature in the project to the ground. They often keep the original architectural details and then add modern elements and furniture instead of stripping the room back into studs.

Claire Paquin of Clean Design Partners in Scarsdale, New York brings red berry, salmon, and ebony pop music into the fresh and white Tudor living room through curved modern seats, cushions and artwork , But retains the elegant beaded glass bay window.

In Brooklyn, Maine, John Ike of the New York design firm Ike Kligerman Barkley purchased the former Odd Fellows building and updated the 1895 structure, but retained many external and internal features. The living space on the third floor has original painted ceilings, mouldings and deep sunken windows, but Ike has filled it with modern Italian furniture, Kartell's tubular illuminated sculptures, and replicas of Ico Prisi panels found on the street market. Modern elements help highlight rather than weaken historical elements.

If you are doing your own renovation and want to introduce retro elements, please consider adding brocade-patterned tiles to the backsplash or feature wall; Artaic's Dramati glass mosaic is worth a look. Native Trails has a hand-hammered copper soaking bathtub that Daphne Bridgerton will definitely like.

As part of this trend, the chandelier is ushering in its own moment. Look for traditional clear glass, or choose the all-black version of Schonbek's Hamilton chandelier, or the multi-color chandelier from House of Hampton.

In his showroom in West Palm Beach, Florida, designer Jim Dove placed de Gournay's L'Eden wallpaper and charming forest scenes behind a protective glass panel. The kitchen series of L'Atelier Paris adds another exquisite French country house element; tailor-made white cabinets, smooth white workbenches and luxurious upholstered chairs make everything look modern.

In the room at Kip's Bay Show House in 2019, designer Young Huh paired 18th-century Gustavian benches with heavy Italian marble dining tables and antique wing chairs. However, the walls have brought everything to the present, including several works from the Cynthia Byrnes gallery, and Fromental's large-scale cubist-style Braque wallpaper. The finished room is exquisite and playful.

Byrnes said there is a trick to make this look right.

"When you mix contemporary art with classical furniture, it is important to consider the scale and characteristics of each piece," Burns said. "Antique furniture of certain periods and styles can easily be integrated with contemporary art. Just like the clean lines, marble, and airy gilding of Swedish neoclassical works. Chinese classic Ming-style huanghuali furniture; and, in Young’s In the exhibition space, you can see the exquisite grandeur of the 18th-century French bergères."

Brittney Herrera, an interior designer and founder of Wildwood House, an interior designer and online store in Portland, Oregon, suggests: “Combining a moody modern table lamp with a traditional rug of the same hue will create a well-planned and stylish look. Use Traditional artwork, modern 17th-century rattan chairs or avant-garde dining table decorating rooms can not only add interest, but also add depth."

Fernando Wong, a Miami-based landscape designer, said that the front and back yards can also benefit from mixed styles.

“I always try to combine modernity and tradition,” he said, citing a project in which he used “a set of vintage rattan furniture from Bonacina, one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in Italy, which was auctioned off. Buy it from Brook Astor’s estate at the meeting and pair it with a beautiful new beverage cart from McKinnon & Harris. Throw in some magnificent French Anduze urns from garden antique shops like Authentic Provence and you will Found something really great."

Kim Cook often writes about design, decoration, and lifestyle topics for the Associated Press. She can be found on @kimcookhome on Instagram and contacted at [email protected]