Kevin Bacon’s Living Room Is a Lesson in Layering Antiques
Antiques are one of the few decorating techniques that almost every designer agrees on, and Kevin and Kyra’s Manhattan living room reminds us exactly why.
In their New York home, Kevin and Kyra have mastered the art of decorating with antiques to make their neutral living room feel layered rather than lifeless. Off-white walls, classic parquet flooring, and soft upholstery provide a calm foundation, while dark wood pieces and architectural silhouettes add depth.
The result is a room that feels collected over time, offering a welcome alternative to the polished spaces that can sometimes lack personality.
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It’s a design approach shared by leading designers, who believe that character cannot simply be bought new. ‘There’s a certain timelessness that antiques bring, something that’s hard to replicate with modern items,’ explains Henriette von Stockhausen, Creative Director of VSP Interiors. ‘The richness they add to a room brings a sense of comfort that’s truly unique. It’s often the contrast between the old and the new that creates a certain special energy in a room.’
That balance is what makes the couple’s interiors feel so inviting. A carved dark wood cabinet (much like this beautiful piece from 1stDibs) sits alongside sculptural lighting (like this lamp base from Anthropologie) and relaxed upholstery. Together, it proves that antiques do not need to dominate a room to make an impact. Instead, they work best when mixed with pieces from different eras, creating a home that feels personal rather than perfectly coordinated.
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17th Century English Oak Aumbrey
This authentic 1660s piece captures the exact architectural weight of Kevin and Kyra’s living room console. Its dark-stained oak delivers high-contrast grounding against neutral walls, bringing immediate historical depth to modern spaces.
Twisted Wood Table Lamp Base
Crafted from solid acacia wood with a slim, turned silhouette and pedestal foot, this piece has all the charm of a true antique. It has the exact vertical rhythm and artisan wood feel of Kyra’s lamp base. All you need to do is choose the perfect shade.
Middle Eastern Moorish Folding Chair Shell
With an intricate slatted silhouette and shimmering mother-of-pearl inlays, this piece acts as pure architectural sculpture. It captures the exact global charm, arched crest detail, and rich dark wood texture of Kyra’s accent chair.
Few pieces introduce a heritage feel to a room like silver, and these beautiful vases are the perfect pick for elevating your flowers (or leaving as a stand-alone piece). They can be positioned on a dining table for parties or to the side for a more everyday look.
Turned Wood Stick Lamp Base
An affordable option (it’s hard to believe this is only $40), this lamp base features a stacked, turned-spindle profile in a warm brown wood tone. Pair it with a soft pleated shade to match Kyra’s exact silhouette.
Vintage Wooden Coffee Table
Capture the time-honored charm of historic heirlooms without searching antique markets. Crafted with graceful gourd-turned legs, this piece brings the warm, grounded patina of a 19th-century antique directly into your living room.
As Henriette explains, when finding antiques that work in modern interiors, the key is not to approach styling with too many rules. ‘The beauty of using antiques is that almost anything works. There really are no strict rules. If something resonates with you, that’s reason enough to give it a place. When a piece is meaningful, you’ll always find the right spot for it to shine,’ she says.
The aim, she adds, is not to recreate a historical interior, but to create a space with personality. ‘Most of us aren’t aiming to perfectly replicate a historical interior, but rather to create a lived-in, characterful space that’s both comfortable and beautiful. The atmosphere shouldn’t feel too contrived. Instead, it should be playful and engaging, drawing our attention wherever we look.’
For those inspired by Kevin and Kyra’s approach, introducing antique elements does not require a complete room overhaul. Smaller additions, such as decorating with vintage textiles, architectural salvage, or a single statement piece, can instantly bring a sense of age and texture to a modern home.
‘To help achieve this, think about incorporating architectural salvage or antique textiles,’ Henriette suggests. ‘These elements can add that grounded, lived-in feel we all love, and they can blend beautifully with more contemporary surroundings if you’re hesitant about traditional antique furniture.’
Designing a room with depth comes down to thoughtful curation rather than following a strict formula.
As Henriette explains, antiques offer endless opportunities to experiment. An old screen can become a cupboard door, a rug can be transformed into a headboard, or a vintage urn can become a lamp base. The most memorable interiors are often those that allow objects to evolve, carrying their own stories while becoming part of a new one.
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