In the lead up to the Fine Sale on 22nd and 23rd June, Cheffins ran a major collaboration with Birdie Fortescue, of Birdie Fortescue homeware. For the project, Cheffins and Birdie styled a number of antiques included in the sale at Birdie’s fabulous North Norfolk home.
Here, Birdie Fortescue gives us her top tips on how to style antiques at home, featuring some of the top lots in this month’s sale.
Birdie Fortescue, at home in Norfolk. Featuring antiques available to purchase at The Fine Sale
Creating vignettes for this collaboration at home was an incredibly enjoyable exercise that gave us the chance to put together a completely fresh set of room schemes. The house itself dates from the early 19th Century and is very well proportioned although not overly large. This meant that the arrangements we curated could quite easily be replicated in a range of home settings. The furniture we chose from the upcoming sale was very much in the spirit of the existing interiors but in a different vein to our own items. Much of the furniture here already is French and is a mix of polished and painted so it was easy to slot in the new pieces and create some interesting juxtapositions. Working with lots of brown furniture was a great opportunity to show just how versatile it can be when styled with contemporary soft furnishings and accessories. Our Loire collection, new for Spring/Summer, was the perfect balance to bring a fresh take on antiques for today’s taste. Styling with our contemporary textiles and lighting enabled me to curate a series of spaces that feels timeless, yet fun and original.
The playroom at Birdie Fortescue's Norfolk home, featuring art and antiques available to purchase at The Fine Sale
ANTIQUE FURNITURE IS FINALLY MAKING A COMEBACK and bringing with it the intrigue of the heyday of English country house living. Rich mahogany, textural rosewood and soft walnut are all perfect bedfellows for the bolder colours that are dominating the interiors scene. The much-loved jewel-toned walls of Georgian architect Sir John Soane are popping up in modern interiors in both in the city and the country, alongside softer earthy pinks and warm naturals. This new palette not only provides the perfect backdrop for antiques, but also represents a better understanding of the ways we are impacted by our home environments. One of Farrow and Ball’s top five colours for 2022 is an unflinchingly cheerful yellow, which is particularly timely in light of the proven connection between the colours we surround ourselves with and our mood. It turns out that clinical whites and ash greys do not make for a happy home (surprise, surprise).
An 18th century bureau, leather chair and side table, with antiques and collectibles available to purchase at The Fine Sale
THE NEW OUTLOOK OF STYLING WITH ANTIQUES is all about embracing character in order to achieve an overall scheme that brings pieces together from a variety of eras and styles. A 19th Century bench might sit below an abstract painting or a polished mahogany bureau could be styled alongside a contemporary coffee table. The idea is to use each item’s unique qualities to create a pleasing look that’s rich in narrative and personality. And this narrative needn’t be confined to home turf. As the world continues to re-open global influences are being used in bolder ways than ever. African textiles, Indian rugs and Chinese ceramics are being paired with modernist sculpture, contemporary photography and sharp, bespoke details for edgy eclecticism. Think the Grand Tours of the 18th-19th centuries but with a grandmillenial makeover.
Lot 419, in the hallway at Birdie Fortescue's house. Available to purchase at The Fine Sale.
MODERN INTERIORS CALL FOR A MODERN APPROACH to decoration which is fresher, more relaxed and homely than in previous decades. Crucially, after the explosion of social media-driven fast homeware, this freshness is starting to look more grown up, with a greater conscience and sense of responsibility. Using antiques as the backbone of a scheme means that fewer new items are required for embellishment. Needing less newness gives greater scope for investment in better, higher quality pieces with trans-seasonal longevity.
Pine and painted table, settee and painting of geese by Sir Peter Markham Scott, lots 640, 444 and 286, all available to purchase at The Fine Sale
STYLE ANTIQUES by contrasting the warmth of aged patinas with textiles and soft furnishings with plenty of eclectic decorative pieces. Textural rugs, statement cushions and embroidered throws will all hold their own in a scheme filled with characterful furniture. Adding unexpected touches and lighthearted accessories will keep the finished look firmly in the present day. Crisp, contemporary glass, minimalist metal and on-trend shapes (yes there is a place for bobbins, bobbles and scallops) can all be used to introduce a touch of effervescence or humour, depending on the setting. The art of the mix requires a light touch and whitisism. A fossilised crab or taxidermy pufferfish might not seem like the most obvious of finishing touches, but true eclecticism is rooted in personality so think character by the bucketload.
Dining table, chairs and chest on stand, all available at The Fine Sale, lots 582, 580 and 400.
MIXING ANTIQUE PRINTS WITH CONTEMPORARY ART is a great way to keep a scheme updated and on-trend. Aim to create bold pairings that break the mould - small scale checks with intricate Chinoiserie, bold geometrics with traditional damask or contemporary embroidery against gilt and inlay. Occasional clever combinations will elevate your look further. In this drawing room the rug and armchair share almost exactly the same trellis design but in different styles and scales. Don’t forget that antique furniture is often surprisingly versatile with pieces lending themselves many different uses in a modern environment. If you need a small desk that’s chic enough to use as a console table in a drawing room, try using a games table. Equally, a 19th century bench could work very well when looking for seating in a narrow hallway.
Lot 457, a tapestry chair, lot 455, a chest on stand and lot 322, a portrait by a follower of Gainsborough Dupont, all available to purchase at The Fine Sale.
To view the catalogue for the Fine Sale, please click here
Birdie Fortescue Homeware can be purchased at https://birdiefortescue.co.uk/
Images by Boz Gagovski - https://www.bozgagovski.com/