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Old and new: How to mix retro with modern pieces

Mid-century modern furniture: arc lamp, coffee table, art print, candle holder, round table, and rocking chair.
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Fuse old and new furniture to create a layered interior that transcends time

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There are few of us who could walk past a genuine mid-century piece such as the Noguchi coffee table and not drop everything to buy such a beauty. But taken out of the context of an antique shop and plonked in your living room, you suddenly have doubts about making such a bold purchase. Vases look wrong, colour schemes fall apart. But there is a way to style such wonderful pieces while maximising 21st-century shopping and home decor.

Stick to neutral colours to fuse age-old wood with contemporary couches. For modern pieces, look for good dupes and replicas to help patch genres together, like the much-loved Acapulco chair which has been making waves this summer. If you’re in need of inspiration, look no further than beachy Californian style. With honeycomb-shaped houses and ranch-style windows, these houses are enhanced by contemporary interior design, not hindered.

Shop the look: Old and new furniture

Houe – Click Rocking Chair, $968, from Shop Your Home and Garden

Abstract artwork by Yayoi Kusama with blue polka dots on a white background.

Infinity Nets by Yayoi Kusama Art Print, $99, from Shop Your Home and Garden

Round wooden table with a wide top and cylindrical base on a white background.

Skovby – #33 Dining Table, $7,698, from Shop Your Home and Garden

Curved black candlestick holder with a loop handle, holding a tall black candle on a white background.

Ildhane Candle Holder, $145, from Good Form

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Hanging pendant lamp with a black metal shade and glass bulb cover on a chain.

French Larder Glass Pendant, $172, from Shop Your Home and Garden

Cream Moroccan-style rug with a geometric diamond pattern.

Winnie Rug, $119, from Kmart

Wooden chair with a curved backrest and a black cushioned seat, on a white background.

Houe – Siko Lounge Chair, $2,028, from Shop Your Home and Garden

Bamboo towel ladder with three rungs, each holding a white towel, against a white background.

Bamboo Towel Ladder, $37, from Kmart

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Black Acapulco chair with a woven circular seat and slender metal legs, viewed from the side.

Acapulco Chair, $75, from The Warehouse 

Noguchi-style coffee table with a clear glass top and curved wooden base.

Replica Noguchi Coffee Table, $2199, from Nood

Arc floor lamp with a curved chrome arm and a marble base, featuring a dome-shaped metal shade.

LAIZE Floor Lamp, $509, from Freedom

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