Give your home a classy look with vintage furniture
Above is a marble centre table, sofa set, and wall hangings that can stand the test of time. Left is a tree stump telephone stand. Right is a mirror, drawer and other vintage accessories on display at an exhibition recently.
Photos by Rachel Mabala & Godfrey Lugaaju
What you need to know:
To change colour, clean with a wet sponge let the surface dry and add the colour you want.
Furniture completes and complements a home, the type of furniture incorporated in your house determines the class and time put in while choosing it. Vintage furniture is one kind that will give you the class and elegance you want.
Vintage furniture can be described as old furniture of 30 plus years that is brought back to life through redesigning. It is also furniture that is timeless.
Joris van Roosmalen, the director Royal Palm Interiors, notes that since a home is a nest where people feel secure, comfortable and fine, every home should have a special environment to last for a lifetime.
“Vintage furniture involves turning old fashion furniture into new styles but keeping in mind the traditions of the old making. Though vintage furniture is expensive, it lasts for 50 years and above because it’s made of 100 per cent solid wood,” he says.
Vintage furniture maintains your emotional value as it gives you a clear environment and a peace of mind.
Roossmalen says they combine old with new and modern pieces to create individual, unique, classy furniture and from the highest quality wood that can last long enough.
Vintage furniture ranges from, chairs, tables, doors, windows, wall hangings, decorations, door holders, room dividers, door and window locks, lights, stools, cupboards among others.
The chairs and tables
The chairs are of different make, there are those made of wood throughout and there are some that are complemented by cushions. The chairs can be placed anywhere, in the house depending on the owners wish. For a new look, you can change the fabrics at any time.
Tables are also made of wood but can be given a glass finishing on top to give it a touch of modernity.
Lamps
Vintage lamps are warm and come in different colours such as blue, yellow, red, and green, which makes them unique and different from any other type of lamps.
These lamps can be placed on lamp holders in the different house corners, or in the ceiling to lighten up the entire house. Sharon Amoding, a landscaper, notes that the outdoor lamps can be placed next to flowers or on the fence.
Decorations
You do not have to buy different ornaments for your house because vintage furniture comes with its own decorations. These are in different shapes, inform of flowers, trees, wall hangings among others.
These are painted with a colour that matches the rest of the vintage furniture in the house. “However vintage decoration is not only limited to vintage furniture, you can also decide to buy vintage decoration to complement your house furniture,” notes Mary Namukose, an interior designer.
There are also durable vintage mirrors that are finished with hard wood, this makes them heavy, durable and unique. The wood is given designs which double as décor. These work best on sitting room walls.
Windows and doors
Windows and doors are given vintage shutters and locks that given them a more classic look, they are made of old wood which is given a rough like colour tone. It will give your modern house a touch of old times. The colour tone can be changed anytime depending on the owner’s choice.
“There are also beautiful divider vintage furniture that are used to separate rooms, for example if you want to create a bar in the dining room, you can use the dividers to create another room,” Roosmalen.
Installing vintage furniture
Just like any other furniture, Roosmalen looks at the habits of the in mates, by knowing your behaviour and ways of living, he can tell which furniture suits you and where to place it.
However sometimes it’s important to fulfil the wishes and needs of customer though advising them and adjusting where necessary is paramount.
Costs
Mirrors range from Shs144,300 to Shs4,810,000. Tables are from Shs144,300 the small ones to Shs7,400,000 (dining tables set, tables among others). Decorations range from Shs3,700 to Shs1,850,000.
Care
Joris Van Roosmalen of Royal Palm Interior, gives us tips on how to take care of vintage furniture.
Vintage furniture doesn’t need special care because it’s just like any other furniture.
“Outdoor furniture shouldn’t be exposed to rain and too much sunshine as these will damage them hence reducing their strength,” he adds.
Often treat with insecticides, “licensed oil or tick oil” to kill termites and other insects. These can be found in container village in Kampala and veterinary shops.
To change colour, clean with a wet sponge let the surface dry and add the colour you want.
