Achieving the Modern Victorian Style: Furniture

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We are back today with another post in our series that is all about, “Modern Victorian”. If you are new here or missed our first post where we intro’ed the series and style be sure to head back HERE to read all about it. But in short “Modern Victorian” is a style that is a spin-off of a very classic vibe, done in a fresh, new, and relevant way. It’s all about excess, drama, and saturated jewel tones but done in a hip and fresh feeling way. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. Nay, in fact, it is for those of you that need and crave color, whimsy, and a bold look in your decor. It’s like someone wearing a bold lip color with blue eyeshadow and tassel earrings – all at the same time. When it is done well, then all you want to do is be that lady, but if something is just a little bit off then it quickly goes from ‘cool lady’ to ‘crazy aunt Carla’.

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With that said, we’ve searched and searched for the perfect pictures to really nail the style for you all while illustrating this trend. But as we mentioned last time, the style is still a bit abstract as it is a little more “out there” and “risky” to pull off in your own home. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t think you can do it and definitely doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it. So let’s get into it. Today we’ve rounded up a collection of some of our favorite rooms that somewhat represent the style and then pulled together a collection of each of the furniture pieces integral to this style for your browsing and shopping pleasure.

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First up on the list is sofas, chaise lounges, and settees. The furniture in this style all has very dramatic yet refined lines mixed with luxe and over the top fabrics. You’ll notice from most of the pics that when it comes to the larger pieces of furniture in this style the majority of them have some special element to them that really makes them stand out. Some have curved lines – whether that comes into play in the wings of the sofa, the arms of the sofa, the back of the sofa, or even the entire sofa itself, like the example above.

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Some keep the more traditional lines but have mixed it up with an abstract pattern juxtaposing the classic lines of an old piece with the modern lines of the textile, like above and below.

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You might not be able to live with a couch THAT bright on a daily basis but with this style, it is all about mixing the old with the new through graphic colors, patterns, and playful elements. You’ll notice fringing, tufting, pleating, ruffles and many “flourishes” that give the piece a playful, dramatic and almost theatrical feel. Here are a few of our favorites that can help you get the look – some budget-friendly, some vintage, and some too good to leave off the list although the price tag is a bit out there. But hey, if you have 13k and are looking for a marsala velvet couch with white fringing like #5 then we have you covered.

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Next up are accent and lounge chairs and in this style, these really do stand out as statement pieces. This style is all about a bit of excess, age, and playful detailing and the chairs that fit within that style have a little bit of all of those elements.

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Much like the sofas, they will all have something that makes them feel unique and special whether that be a luxe velvet on a classic shape, a huge printed fabric that they are wrapped in, or fringe, tufting, or ruffles that further accentuate their shape. This chair above (which was styled out by my friend Victoria from SF Girl by Bay, for her online shop “Super Marche“) is a perfect example of a chair that would fit within this style. Sadly this one sold but she does have a few more in her online shop. The simple lines are enhanced by a beautiful fabric and the fringe detailing.

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This style is all about mixing and matching in a consistent yet saturated and vibrant color palette. Don’t be afraid to pull in a few different colors of chairs into the same room as long as you are able to repeat those colors somewhere else in the room to help pepper around the tones and keep it feeling cohesive instead of chaotic. Here are a few of our favorites – including a few vintage ones we found.

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So, what do you pair with the sofas and chairs you ask? Well, this is where things get a little more tricky. You can go more modern with your choices like above where they used a sleek and modern coffee and side table to juxtapose the more Victorian and antique elements in the room. Or, you can bring in a more vintage looking piece like below. Both work and for different reasons – but the loose rule would be “if you have victorian styled chairs and a couch then pair it with a more modern side and coffee table”, and “if you have a more modern chair or sofa then pair it with a more antique and victorian style table.” Old with new, and new with old. See… it’s simple ?

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Once again it is about mixing the old with the new while keeping it from looking too chaotic or “thrifted”. Here are a few of our favorites that could work well with any of the chairs and sofas from the previous roundup.

Moving into the bedroom, things don’t get any less boring than they were with the other furniture pieces. The beds in this style play a lot with tufting, the shape of the headboard, as well as saturated colors and tones. You’ll notice a few more modern beds below in the roundup as well, which we included because although they look more modern their lines take cues from more traditional pieces. #10, for example, is a very modern take on the timeless brass or wrought iron beds we saw pop up a lot in some Victorian and traditional homes, which when paired with an antique side table or chair would make for the perfect little “Modern Victorian” vignette.

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This style wouldn’t be complete without a roundup of ottomans and stools. Use them in just about any room, and a collection of a few of them together sprinkled around the room is a sure way to get the “Modern Victorian” look. Just make sure that they either have some detailing that makes them feel special or a bright color or pattern to make them stand out. Remember, if the shape is simple then it should be done in a bright color or pattern whereas if the shape is intricate or detailed you can pair it with a more neutral or muted fabric or color.

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Up last are the dining chairs and tables – we love the example below that repeated the same chair shape over and over but changed the color on each of the chairs allowing it to feel like a collection that was accumulated over time versus something that was just purchased. The chairs and tables in this style follow the same rules as the other furniture pieces however with dining tables most lean more modern (with some detailing) and the chairs lean more victorian feeling, creating the perfect combo once they are paired up together.

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Here are some of our favorite dining tables, and chairs:

So, is this a look that you would be into bringing into your home or does it feel too chaotic, abstract, and “funky” for everyday living? All things considered, it is a style that we are loving even if it is a little bit out there and abstract and we plan to break it down even further. We would love to know if there are any spaces you’ve seen that truly embody this style or showcase it well. Link them up below for everyone to use as a resource.

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