Mixing old, new design elements makes a room more interesting - and economical

You probably didn't realize, when you put an ornate old picture frame next to the sleek Pottery Barn sofa in your living room, that you had your finger on the pulse of North America's design culture.

But you did.

What some interior designers call "transitional" decorating - artfully mixing contemporary pieces with vintage ones - is "the No. 1 featured style in magazines like House Beautiful, and in Elle Decor on a fine level, and in Cottage Living," says interior designer Mallory Mathison.

It's a trend that seems tailor-made for 2009. It works in any room, and helps you get style mileage out of things you already own or buy second-hand. It's also environmentally friendly and practical to use older items in otherwise contemporary rooms.

"There is something to be said about a well-made, 50-year-old piece still doing its job in your present home," says designer Brian Patrick Flynn. "A lot of older things were just made better. But mixing those quality older pieces with something new gives them a fresh look."

Another money-saver: The look can be easily tweaked and ages beautifully, unlike all-modern or all-traditional rooms. "If everything is brand new and matchy-matchy," Flynn says, "your home will look like a catalogue or a showroom and appear flat or dated."

Designer Janine Carendi agrees: "Interiors that do not age well," she says, "are those that are designed without any reference to other styles."

Mixing old and new has its challenges, of course. But it can be done just as easily and more affordably than sticking with one style. "Contemporary is hard to pull off without looking cheap if you don't have very fine things," Mathison says. "And traditional can get old and staid if you don't have very fine pieces also."

Another bonus: This approach is all about personal expression.

"I have never come across a client who is one-dimensional," Carendi says. "And interiors should reflect their experiences, tastes, travels and personalities. Mixing old and new is a way to achieve this."

Sounds appealing. But how do you create an eye-catching combination of old and new, rather than a jumbled hodgepodge of conflicting styles?

TEXTURE, SCALE AND SHAPE

"It doesn't matter how many old or new pieces are mixed together, but rather how it's done," says Flynn, whose trademark style is creatively combining the two. "A muted, traditional sitting room can be totally updated with one piece of bold modern art. On the flip side, a super-minimalist modern space can be given that unexpected touch of traditional with a crystal chandelier hanging above a sleek dining table."

One good tactic is using contrasting textures, like smooth and rough or shiny and matte. "If your new pieces and old pieces all have the same or similar textures, the room will fall flat," Flynn says. "If your new sofa has the same type of upholstery as an old ottoman, break it up by introducing a new texture with throw pillows."

"In my old loft, I paired a sleek 1960's vinyl sofa with rustic barn door window shutters, a gigantic traditional brass chandelier sprayed red, chrome 1970's club chairs and a super plush kelly green shag rug. It worked well because it was balanced and had a collected look. The different styles were all united through colour and scale."