is it naff to decorate a new build with historic features?

[Binkleflip]

Am moving from a classical Georgian building to a new build apartment soon and am going to miss lots of things about the style but not the drafty windows etc!

Not sure if I should decorate all minimalist, shiny and contemporary or if I could get away with a bit of wooden panelling, shelves, shutters, deep colour palette etc. Lots of my furniture is quite traditional so this is where my heart lies but I don't want the decor to look tacky and try hard iykwim?

Anyone done/seen this and have advice? Is a picture rail a step too far?

What is the new build like? If the rooms are airy and open then features like a picture rail won't look too incongruous.

Neoclassical columns, faux-ruined statues and ornamental lions are tacky, but I don't think that's the look you're going for!

IMO a picture rail and panelled doors are OK. You would probably paint the picture rail white so it will blend in with the ceiling drop (but if you do not have high ceilings, paint the wall in a solid colour and the rail to match)

Decoration colours can be whatever you want.

I don't like brass "Georgian" or "Victorian" light switches and sockets. Georgian and Victorian ones weren't brass.

Unless you're planning to sell fairly soon after just decorate it to your taste. Does it matter if other people find it naff?

Rooms are reasonable sizes, an excess of storage cupboards. Am tempted to take out a wall or two but not sure if I should live with it first and see how it goes. The windows go almost to the ceiling and is all a very blank canvas just now so I think that makes rooms seem smaller than they are, thought maybe I could add texture with bookcases so it isn't so bland looking but all the bookcase type walls have windows in so trying to decide if wooden shutters instead of curtains/blinds is overkill? Also if I do this then can't afford to move for a long time so hope the neighbours aren't too noisy

I know it is a fake tv set but I love these bookcases!

I'm not a fan of shutters in new builds - think curtains are cosier and soften things. But if you like them go for it!

would bookcases around windows with curtains be odd?

with library steps?

The most important thing is to be in a home you love, obviously. I think it's best to acknowledge and work with the age of the house, but not to be a slave to it. On the other extreme, pastiche Victoriana can look odd in a new build.

I think wooden shutters, panelling, picture rails, deep colours are all fine - especially if you have big windows. Just keep the details simple, and perhaps think about mixing in a few modern touches to show you're combining the best of both: for example, white wooden shutters against a french grey wall will be 'period' but look more modern than brass curtain hooks against an aubergine wall. IYSWIM.

I like shutters! Or wooden venetians.

Great thread op as I may be moving from a georgian to new build!

We have some bits and pieces that I love that simply won't go in a new place - like our lovely mirror over the fireplace, so not sure what to do about that.

But I think you have to mix it up really. I personally wouldn't add cornicing, panelled doors or a picture rail around the room but I have been looking at metre lengths of picture rail, perhaps three on top of each other, for our paintings. And if you like wood paneling on walls you can certainly make that more modern and fabulous looking.

I've been wondering about window dressings - not sure yet but will look around. You can certainly buy amazing modern print fabric (£££££) to gave beautiful full length curtains. I think shutters may work on smaller windows. Or even big ones.

Our furniture is a mix of new ikea, vintagey G Plan and antique, but it's about style, and how you put it together. If we move I plan to use the same colours I would in our current place

Have you seen www.houzz.com/uk ? There's an app. Like Pinterest dedicated to interiors. Lots of inspiration, and not all twee.

There are also loads of interiors mags.

I plan on doing a bit of scrap booking and drawing out rooms.

I don't think the ceilings are high enough to justify library steps! Are there any panel company recommendations?

The whole place is uniform (cheap looking) laminate floor just now but am also debating carpet for bedrooms (which may be a bit of a pest to do) or just get gigantic rugs everywhere - which may cost more.

oh could spend hours on this! Am also going to scrap book and draw out but am trying to decide in advance so as much work as possible can be done before we move. At the same time I don't want to spend more money than needed then regret it once I am living with it. So spoilt!

We have some lovely wooden Venetian blinds from John Lewis which are a nice compromise - they are neat like shutters but work in a modern house. Rooms with lots of books look quite busy IMHO and need simple window treatments to stop the overall effect looking fussy. Curtains would need to be fairly simple, no very busy prints, pelmets or swinging tiebacks!

Yes.

(Sorry)

I love Alicia's apartment OP! Particular fan of her paintwork. Damn you Netflix!! I would not book shelf around windows, hers is actually a cabinet I think, but have ones similar to hers down the side of a room. Floating shelves and good base doors, don't have to have books on shelves.

I also like wooden shutters on NB's but they might go the way of twigs and pebbles now you can get them in the Next Directory

I love the panelled wooden shutters sometimes found in Georgian and Victorian houses, where they fold away into the window reveal. However you need a thick wall or a designed deep reveal for them to fold away, and I doubt you could achieve a neat installation in a modern house.

I live Alicia Florrick's apartment and everything about The Good Wife Would love her bookcases and shelves too.

could it be done into a bookcase pigletjohn or would that be too tricky?

possibly, but you would need an experienced joiner to design and build them. With modern rigid foam insulating slabs and a thin ply skin, you could probably make them a lot lighter, and better at heat retention, than the originals.

with the what now? Can you give me some links, or carefully detailed technical stuff I can print off and deliver to joiner without looking too ignorant, because that sounds fabulous but I know not what it is, not wood at all then?

instead of a solid wooden panel, you could use a ply skin, sandwiching a piece od Kingspan or Celotex.

I am sure the joiner will understand what I mean.

A 25mm thick slab has about the same insulating power as 50mm of mineral wool

It is a rigid plastic foam, better than polystyrene, and, for such a small job, not expensive

for example