You decided that you wanted your home to have this nice vintage look to it. So, you repainted and refinished some things throughout it and even bought some furniture and other decorative items to make it happen. Now, you’re pretty pleased with how things turned out. However, if you really want to cap off its look, then you need to purchase some antique doorknobs for the doors in your home.

Antique doorknobs are the perfect option for adding some vintage style to your home. They are extremely appealing to the eye and what’s so great about them is the fact that you actually have a lot of options to choose from. How so? Well, it is because they can be made out of many different materials that are then finished in a variety of ways, creating ones of many lovely shapes and sizes.

For example, you can purchase antique door knobs that are crafted out of beautiful glass. Now, don’t think that there is just one choice available, because there are actually hundreds to choose from. Like, ones that feature a simple round shape with a glistening mirrored center. Or, ones that are cut into a diamond shape and have crisp clean edges. There are others that even feature swirling designs. Plus, different colors are also offered from ones that are ruby red, to others that are baby blue, and some that have an emerald, even a lavender tint.

Another fabulous material that antique doorknobs can be crafted out of includes porcelain or ceramic. Generally, ones made from this material will be in the shape of a sphere or oval, but that does not mean that they are plain and boring. In fact, quite the opposite is true since they will come in all sorts of colors and will even feature hand painted designs like flowers or looping patterns.

In addition to the glass, porcelain, and ceramic material options, antique doorknobs can also be crafted out of metals like brass or bronze that will feature a finish that is burnished, brushed, or even hand rubbed. Along with the stunning finishes, some will also have looping scrollwork and patterns put right into them. There are even ones that will have distinct designs and patterns like star shapes, even eagles and lion heads.

When purchasing antique doorknobs for your home, make sure to get the right ones for the right door. Yes, there are different ones that do different things. For instance, if you’re getting one for your bedroom or bathroom, you want to get a privacy one that can be locked. However, if you’re getting one for the door entering your home, you need to get an entryway version that locks using a keyed cylinder. There are also ones that don’t lock that are called passageway doorknobs which you would use for like a closet hallway and dummy ones that are just for show. To easily check out all the choices, just go online and do some comparison shopping.

In the end, if you decided to go with a vintage look when it comes to your home, then purchasing antique doorknobs is essential. They’ll give your space a fantastic completed appearance that will have everyone running to you for decorating advice.

The immense popularity of the retro themes of the 1960’s has unfortunately meant it has been a little overused. This has lead some style conscious homeowners to look back a little further to the 1950’s and even 1940’s for a historical reference point. Though paired together under the banner of “vintage”, the two decades did actually have quite different looks and nuances. Here we will take a look at both periods and see how simple it is to recreate the increasingly popular vintage look for our own homes.

Very much taking its lead from turn of the century British interior design, the 40’s style was still concerned with heavy use of floral wallpapers and fabrics. For a sincere recreation of this particular feature, look for wallpapers, curtains and cushions that contain daisies and rosebuds. Colours to include are pinks, greens and blues that have a grey tinge to them as colour schemes during the 40’s were generally quite muted. In keeping this muted look, settees should be covered in either cool green or beige velvet. If you cannot find a settee in these classic colours simply buy some cheap fabric in the style you want and have some slip covers made up. As in the case of Victorian style, a dark wood finish was favoured for furniture, however it was now much less decorative and more streamlined. Look for sleek sideboards in a dark wood finish for the sitting room and delicate dressers for the bedroom also in a dark wood to remain faithful to the 40’s look.

If it is a little less formality you desire then advancing a decade to the 1950’s will give you the same vintage feel but with a much lighter tone. Fabrics and wallpapers remain heavily patterned but now they are concerned with geometric designs inspired by new sciences of the period. Recreate this look with polka dot cushions and curtains matched with starburst or atom print wallpapers. All should be in sugary reds, blues and yellows.

Make your house as open plan as possible. The popularization of the television meant homes in the 1950’s were built in a much more open style than anything seen previously so that wives preparing meals could still be reached by advertising! The 1950’s home recognized the emerging importance of the kitchen as the hub of family life so lots of attention was given to their design and the appliances that went in them. Things to include in yours are a chequerboard vinyl floor, melamine fitted kitchen and lots of chrome appliances. The effect is purposefully quite brash as what you are trying to recreate is very similar to the American-style diner. A cheap roller blind will really finish off the look but if you really want to splash out why not add an oversize pastel coloured fridge-freezer- a real icon of the period.

Whichever end of the vintage era you lean towards you are sure to be delighted with the finished result. Vintage style is set to grow massively in popularity over the next few years and its timelessness will ensure your home is still looking top notch by the time vintage means 2008.

Here is the store that inspired the look of my room: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp
P.S. I’m also using this wallpaper on one of my walls:http://www.keepdesigning.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/vintage-vector-pattern-samples.jpg
^ the one on the bottom left corner

When it comes to redecorating, the kitchen is a favorite by far. Many consider the kitchen to be the heart of the home and is certainly the room where we spend most of our time so it makes sense to give it a cool decorator style.

One decorating style that is becoming very popular is a retro or vintage style and adding vintage decor to your kitchen can be a fun way to get a new look as well as acquire some neat collectible that you can show off to your guests.

When decorating, one should consider wall color, flooring, window treatments, furniture and, of course, accessories. To accentuate your vintage decor, you might want to consider using vintage tile on the walls or painting in vintage colors. Some popular color combinations for vintage kitchens include cream and green, red and white, pink and blue. These days even the 1970’s retro styles are popular so you might even consider going with a harvest gold or avocado green and orange color scheme.

Your window treatments can have a big affect on the look of your vintage décor. One of my favorite ways to accent a vintage kitchen is to use vintage curtains. You can still find nice curtains from every era without paying an arm and leg for them and if you can’t find something suitable, you can always cut up some vintage tablecloths or dish towels and make curtains out of them.

Decorative items are key to pulling your vintage décor look together. Even if you can’t replace any other items – you can get a new look by changing the decorative accessories! Concentrate on getting tablecloths, dishware and canister, in colors and patterns that match your particular vintage decor style. Stainless steel canisters and breadboxes are quite popular as are metal canister sets in patterns such as cherries, plain pink and powder blue. Make sure to incorporate lots of vintage yard sale finds along with old interesting items as well as vintage plates, tablecloths and dish towels.

Use wall space to really show off your vintage finds. You can display collectibles and odd items on shelves or hang them right on the wall in groupings. Remember when displaying items it is better to group them in odd numbers and vary the height to add interest. When hanging items on the wall, place them in a geometric pattern which you can try out by placing them together on the floor first to see how it will look.

It doesn’t have to take a lot of skill or money to get a great vintage look in the kitchen. Smart shopping and a good eye for vintage accessories is all it takes to have great vintage decor you’ll enjoy every day.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2n0vmtz&s=3

Please answer if you know where I can buy furniture and stuff to make my room look all vintage-y & resemble the picture some. Thx

There is a wide array of home decorations styles to choose from that it is sometimes difficult to determine which one suits us best. To help us decide which theme or style to go for, here are some information about our different options on home themes and styles:

1. Traditional

The traditional or classic look is said to be timeless, one that never gets outdated. This is a style preferred by many people because of its warm, inviting and welcoming environment that is made even more beautiful by the choice of classic colors such as warm wood tones and neutral shades, and classic prints such as floral patterns and symmetric designs.
The traditional theme is ideal for those who want to be on the safe side when decorating their homes and not for adventurous souls who want to experiment with bold colors or explore exciting new designs.

2. Contemporary

Modern times call for modern home décor, so they say. Contemporary décor are those that are edgy and more adventurous. The color palette of this theme typically includes black, gray, silver, red and white. We do not see any floral patterns here but more basic geometric shapes.
Metal is the common material for modern pieces of furniture. Examples are metal wall plaque, metal wall sculptures, and contemporary wall hangings. The principle of this type of theme resides on form, artistic expression and minimalism.

3. Country

Country décor makes you feel like you are right in the middle of the country and rustic environment. Vintage fabrics, floral patterns, stripes and checkered patterns are some of the common things you would see in a country theme. It is also typical to see wall arts featuring roosters, horses and cows or decorative plates, bowls and pottery. Colors are usually bright and of shades of red, orange, brown and yellow.

4. Tropical

A tropical theme will enable you to enjoy the wondrous feeling of being in the tropical islands right inside your home. You can bask in the warmth of the sun, frolic in the ocean and imagine sand between your toes.
You can create this theme by using home décor that have light and bright hues of blues, yellows, oranges and greens. You can use fabrics that contain patterns of palm trees, hibiscus blooms and floral designs. Tropical home accents include shell décor, woven baskets, bamboo mats, and tropical plants.

5. Ethnic

Ethnic or tribal theme is characterized by dark earth tones such as brown, deep red, yellow and green. Beaded patterns, wooden bowls, clay and terracotta sculptures, and natural ornaments are some of the many home accessories that will help you achieve an ethnic look for your home. Wood is the material commonly used for this theme. And you would hardly find metal accessories like a metal wall plaque in this kind of theme.
When decorating our homes, one of the first things that we plan is the overall theme or style that we want to achieve. Having a general style or theme not only makes decoration a lot easier but also enables us to attain harmony and unity.

The Retro 

If what you’re looking for is a quirky contemporary design, a retro style is most fitting. This concept incorporates psychedelic colors that made the 50s up to the 80s popular. Pop arts and lava lamps are also commonly found in retro designs. Retro accessories and furnishings are not hard to find. Aside from your local vintage store, they are certainly available at severalfurniture New York store. 

The Urban 

Homeowners who are living in the concrete jungles of New York almost always find their style affinity to urban designs. This design is also tremendously popular to young twenty to thirty-somethings living at high lofts and condos in downtown areas. Urban style is great for small spaces because most of the pieces are space-savers. Some of the urban pieces you’ll normally find in several furniture New York store are made with clean lines and black to light primary colors. 

The Mid-Century 

Another popular contemporary interior design is mid-century. Many of the pieces in this type of style are architectural and cubic. Like the urban style, almost all the furnishings in a mid-century contemporary style are space-savers. It is typical to see pieces with sleek lines and made from a combination of traditional and non-traditional materials like vinyl, glass and metal. 

There are several homeowners who like a softer version of the mid-century contemporary style. They achieve this by incorporating pieces with soft edges and using mostly wood, leather and glass. Fabrics are also possible but reserved for pillow tops and minor upholsteries. 

The Art Deco 

If you’re looking for streamlined pieces with seemingly gleaming façade, art deco is right for you. Pieces you’ll find in this type of collection are free from any intricate carvings. The entire look for art deco is luxurious without being exceedingly formal and plain. When visiting a furniture New York store, be sure to look for pieces with white, ivory lacquer finish and made from mirrors, glass or metals. Wood furnishings, in addition, must be finished with lighter tones. 

Mark Michael Ferrer 
Furniture New York