Old
World charm thrives in modern home décor
Old
World design is all the rage in the New World
these days. Home owners and their builders
are reworking neglected old properties and
constructing brand new villas that celebrate
many of the architectural details and finishing
touches brought from England, France, Italy
and Spain during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Kitchens
and baths are often the spaces most dramatically
influenced by design elements from days of
old. Today cabinetry and faucet fixtures in
the kitchen and bath are taking on new looks
that actually steal concepts from old standbys.
Homeowners want to create kitchens and baths
that feel as though they were built centuries
ago. A perfect way to achieve that Old World
look is with finishes that have been created
to look old, but perform with all of the dynamics
of modern day.
Plain
& Fancy Custom Cabinetry is one cabinet
manufacturer who is offering finishes that
bring the old together with the new. For example,
the brush mark crackle finish uses an eleven
step, hand‑applied process to create
the effect of a 17th or 18th century antique,
but without the hassles and dangers of original
antique finishes.
“This
new finish is really interesting,” says George
Achey, president of Plain & Fancy Custom
Cabinetry, the forty‑year‑old
company that has kept up with the tradition
of craftsmanship by offering custom cabinetry
that is classic while integrating the latest
technology. “It uses the newest glaze, paint
and finishing technologies to create a look
that could easily be 100 years old. The good
thing is that, even though the finish is ‘crackled,’
there are no signs of chipping and the finishes
aren’t lead‑based like some original
antiques, so homeowners don’t have to worry
about harmful toxic paint.”
Add
the fact that many of these finishes are offered
in a range of colors from white to black and
a full a spectrum in between, and you have complete
customizable options. Gorgeous Old World inspired
faucets and fixtures are the details that give
kitchens and baths the charm of the old while
offering all of the best in innovation of today.
Since
these finishes are often best expressed on pieces
with intricate details like carved moldings,
mantels and korbels, they are perfect complements
to homes trying to recreate Old World elegance
while also maintaining modern day amenities.
Whether used simply on an accent piece or on
a wall of cabinets coupled with modern day appliances,
these finishing techniques are a great way to
intermingle the old with the new. This trend
continues to be especially popular with custom
builders and designers who often take upwards
of two years to complete that perfect new home
that looks as though it has been around for
years.
Publications
like New Old House magazine have touted the
beauty of creating a lovely new house with classical
details that evoke a sense of heritage. Today
it’s all about creating a new home that echoes
the past while keeping all of the comforts of
current lifestyles. Often finding the perfect
elements to achieve this look is difficult.
Working with craftspeople, who revere the techniques
of the past but leverage the technologies of
today, offers the home owner solutions not available
previously.
For
more information on these “new/old” finishes
visit plainfancycabinetry.com.
Courtesy
of ARAcontent.
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