Evoke Old-World Romance With Vintage Silver
Use antique silver cups, candlesticks and pitchers to bring the romance of the past to your present-day home
Melisa LaBancz-Bleasdale
June 12, 2013
Award-winning interior designer, Houzz contributing writer, technologist and proud mother of an amazing daughter. A 25-year career in security technology led to frequent travel that further inspired and solidified a deep love of design and things with soul. My goal is to create calm, beautiful and safe environments that allow people to take a break from every day stress and focus on their happiness.
Award-winning interior designer, Houzz contributing writer, technologist and proud... More
I prefer my silver with a patina. If it's engraved with a name or initials, all the better. One year I decided to polish all the silver in our shop — a miserable idea. The chemicals gave me a headache, and everything was too shiny. Happily, everything tarnished nicely again.
Some may shiver at the thought of tarnished silver, but its elegant and romantic look has made its way into homes of all styles. Decades ago almost everyone had silver or silver-plated serving pieces for special occasions. These days they tend to be either stuffed in a box in someone's basement or sitting unloved on a thrift store shelf. Don't let all that glinty gorgeousness go to waste! Here's how to make vintage silver or silver-plated pieces look fresh in your home.
Some may shiver at the thought of tarnished silver, but its elegant and romantic look has made its way into homes of all styles. Decades ago almost everyone had silver or silver-plated serving pieces for special occasions. These days they tend to be either stuffed in a box in someone's basement or sitting unloved on a thrift store shelf. Don't let all that glinty gorgeousness go to waste! Here's how to make vintage silver or silver-plated pieces look fresh in your home.
Working Vintage Silver Into Your Decor
Adding vintage and antique pieces to a modern space can be a little tricky. However, mixing silver-colored accessories with slightly industrial pieces has been on the uptick for a few years now. If you want a more laid-back look but don't want to go Shabby Chic, try adding a few substantial pieces that balance with something more masculine. In this photo, the large loving cups and tea servers feel less frivolous in the black open cabinet.
Adding vintage and antique pieces to a modern space can be a little tricky. However, mixing silver-colored accessories with slightly industrial pieces has been on the uptick for a few years now. If you want a more laid-back look but don't want to go Shabby Chic, try adding a few substantial pieces that balance with something more masculine. In this photo, the large loving cups and tea servers feel less frivolous in the black open cabinet.
If you have a softer style, try re-creating the ambience in this photo. Mixing a mass of sterling silver frames with select antique pieces — the small trophy and hairbrush set in this shot — creates a feminine, old-world elegance.
Tip: Putting smaller silver pieces together in a designated display creates impact without overwhelming a room.
Tip: Putting smaller silver pieces together in a designated display creates impact without overwhelming a room.
One gorgeous pair of candlesticks standing side by side looks fresh paired with another vintage silver object, such as this vase. Sitting in a place of honor on a dark wood buffet, this vignette speaks to the past without feeling dated.
Use vintage silver or silver-plated containers to store matches, makeup brushes, lipsticks and other trappings on a dresser top or vanity. Vintage cream and sugar containers can hold cotton puffs and swabs in the bathroom.
Try These Vintage Silver Accessories
Salt and pepper shakers. I love antique sterling salt and pepper shakers, especially when they’re imperfect. I pop the tops off and use them as bud vases, stuffing each one full of tiny wildflowers to group on windowsills.
Salt and pepper shakers. I love antique sterling salt and pepper shakers, especially when they’re imperfect. I pop the tops off and use them as bud vases, stuffing each one full of tiny wildflowers to group on windowsills.
Pitchers and tea servers. I love using larger pieces like silver pitchers and tea servers as vases. They look beautiful filled with romantic blooms, like garden roses or hydrangea heads.
Ice buckets. Silver ice buckets make excellent planters. Patinated silver looks chic when the piece is filled with bright feathery ferns on top of a mantel, coffee table or entry console. Grouping three or more together on a dining table creates an interesting centerpiece that evokes days gone by.
Tip: When putting a plant in vintage silver, leave it in its original container so it can be easily removed for watering and draining in the kitchen sink.
Tip: When putting a plant in vintage silver, leave it in its original container so it can be easily removed for watering and draining in the kitchen sink.
Collectibles. Like any collectible, you have to know when too much silver is too much. It’s all about editing for impact.
The fantastic collection of sterling children’s cups shown here is kept neatly together on a small mirrored tray. You notice the items more as a collection on a tray than if they were placed throughout a room.
Tip: Vanity trays are perfect for organizing and displaying smaller items like flasks and aperitif cups.
The fantastic collection of sterling children’s cups shown here is kept neatly together on a small mirrored tray. You notice the items more as a collection on a tray than if they were placed throughout a room.
Tip: Vanity trays are perfect for organizing and displaying smaller items like flasks and aperitif cups.
Compotes. Silver compotes are one of my most favorite things — there is never a shortage of ways to use them. Paired with a glass cloche as shown, a compote becomes an extraordinary pedestal to display your everyday treasures on. Compotes can easily hold guest soaps in a bathroom, car keys in an entry, or rings and bangles in a bedroom.
Tip: If your compote display needs a little color, try clipping a large succulent rosette at its base to put on top. The succulent will last for weeks out of water, and when it looks sad, just pop it back into the soil and choose another!
Tip: If your compote display needs a little color, try clipping a large succulent rosette at its base to put on top. The succulent will last for weeks out of water, and when it looks sad, just pop it back into the soil and choose another!
Silver candlesticks. Silver or silver-plated candlesticks may be the most timeless silver accessory. The design adage that things look better in threes, fives and sevens certainly rings true with candlesticks. The most modern way to display them is in mismatched groups. Using different sizes and heights makes any candlestick display more interesting.
Go on, dig through those boxes in the attic and take a second look at those thrift store shelves. Now is the perfect time to find new uses for all that beautiful antique silver!
Go on, dig through those boxes in the attic and take a second look at those thrift store shelves. Now is the perfect time to find new uses for all that beautiful antique silver!
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Wow - this blog has so many original ideas in it. I love using silver accents, but had never considered letting it tarnish or using it for anything other than its original purpose, but this blog has certainly changed my mind about that [even if I have to force myself to let the tarnishing start]. I will definitely be trying some of these out to see how well they complement one another.