There comes a point in every renovation when homeowners and designers face a choice: how “new” do they actually want this space to feel? Where does one draw the line between celebrating a space’s heritage and living in the past? And how does one make a new space feel at home in old bones? To get to the bottom of this age-old conundrum, I tapped a few renovation experts from The Country Design 100—our list of 100 designers, tastemakers, antiques experts, furniture makers, and more who are defining the country aesthetic in 2026—to get their opinions. Below, two of these experts share their thoughts on how to design a new space like an old one and the secret sauce for making new things look older than they actually are.
Restore What You Can, Replace Only When Necessary
“Restore, not replace” is the guiding light that both our experts swear by. “Refinish the floors instead of ripping them out. Repair the windows. Keep the doors,” says interior designer and renovation guru Leanne Ford. “Those layers of age are what make a home feel warm, grounded, and soulful.” This ethos may require a dedication to letting go, says designer and fellow renovation expert Christina Salway. “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good,” she says.
Root All Your Decisions in Age
When you do have to replace, there is but one rule: stick to the source material. Like any good page-to-screen adaptation, you want your project to feel like an extension of the existing material, not a completely new take. (Unless you’re going for an Emerald Fennell-esque approach, which, more power to you.) Whether you’re picking tile for a kitchen or a paint color for the living room, always consider the original space. “Every house has a story, and I want to honor that before bringing in anything new,” says Leanne. If you don’t know where to start, look to what’s already in your house. You can shop for similar period-appropriate pieces at your local architectural salvage yard.
Now, this doesn’t mean you need to completely stay true to your home’s original era. The best “new old” homes are open to intentionally mixing eras when it feels right, and perfecting this mix is key to blending old and new spaces thoughtfully. “You can install a vintage vanity [in the bathroom] and pair it with an updated faucet. Or, you can set old windows into fresh drywall,” says Leanne. “There’s almost always a way to incorporate modern function while still keeping people questioning what’s original and what’s new.”
Don’t Overthink—or Overbuy—Things
When it comes to the little stuff that makes a house a home, Christina and Leanne warn against making it “too” perfect from the start. “I think there is a very modern instinct to make every inch of a house accountable, and part of what is charming about old houses is how they feel accumulated over time,” says Christina. “That means purchasing a piece in the moment that someone needed it or was inspired by something, instead of planning for every single thing ahead of time.”
This advice is the key to creating a well-decorated home that feels thoughtful. Ready-made sets are fine starting points, but allow your own taste to guide you and trust that good design does take time. Some of the most intriguing homes are filled with collections that took a lifetime to bring together.
Leanne agrees, urging you to live in a space and collect slowly before filling it. “People want everything done at once, and that’s usually when regret creeps in. Old homes reward patience,” she says. “Let the house evolve over time instead of forcing it to meet some artificial finish line.”
Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
