We caught up with AAADA’s vice president Chris Hughes this week, ahead of next month’s much-anticipated Sydney Antiques and Art Fair to talk about how antiques are back in fashion (they really are the quickest way to finish a room, and bring out our individual style).  

But it’s the smaller pieces we are seeking from porcelain to glass and bronze to personalize our rooms, according to Hughes.  

“Antiques are one of the best ways of adding individuality, character, and personality to our spaces,” says Hughes. They represent true luxury – simply because they last, and make interiors look (and feel) better. They have a history, and pedigree from an older, grander time with a texture that’s wonderful to look at and live with.  

Hughes points to mega fashion brands such as Gucci and Chanel who have been going all-out for statement interiors filled with rare pieces from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries using knockout backdrops featuring French Louis-bergere armchairs,  Italian gilt commodes, chandeliers, Georgian bookcases, encrusted mirrors, ancient porcelain vases, and embellished screens, to showcase their products.  

Antiques mix and match with everything, and one or two pieces go a long way. They are also good value at the moment. Make the most of the opportunity. It won’t last.  

The Sydney fair is a rich hunting ground, with more than 45 of Australia’s top-drawer dealers showcasing their stock. You get to see one of the best selections of antique furniture and accessories in one place – along with all the accessories. 

Go for gorgeous commodes, consoles, mirrors, desks, decanters, silver trays, boxes, silver, porcelain, bronzes and art that will bring presence, even grandeur, to any room 

Make sure you don’t miss our special report on September 7 of the pieces we’ll be shopping. AADA, http://aaada.org.au