Jennifer Sheahan: How to refresh dated decor
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When you buy a home that’s not brand new, for better or worse you will inherit the previous homeowners’ decor. You might get lucky and walk into a turnkey house that is perfectly suited to your taste with a high-quality finish, but more often than not you will likely want to make changes. This is easy when changes need to be made — when poor quality or damaged items need to be replaced, or if you’re ripping out rooms for an extensive renovation.
It’s less easy when you have inherited items that are high quality and perfectly functional, but are simply not your style. Perhaps they’re a little dated, or maybe they just don’t fit the vision you had for your home. Trends come and go but durable and high-quality materials remain timeless in their own right — even if they’re not quite what you want right now. If you find yourself working with dated but high-quality finishes, there may be no need to rip them out.
Instead, think of ways to refresh these elements and make them complement a contemporary aesthetic that fits your style. Here are some ways to update these classic features without losing their inherent value.
Glossy kitchens
Wood kitchens are having a moment and I am here for it. If you have inherited a solid wood kitchen, count yourself lucky. The last moment they had, a couple of decades ago, saw them being mostly varnished in a dark stain with a gloss finish, typically in some variation of shaker style, potentially with chrome or steel hardware.
This dark glossy look has dated, but solid wood is a gift — it is endlessly versatile, durable, and never really goes out of style. It just needs a refresh, and it’s easy to do. Remove the cabinet doors and thoroughly sand down the existing wood. Go for a lighter stain, such as ash or pale oak, and choose a matte or a satin finish. You could choose to go for coloured paint instead of a stain, but I would lean towards making the most of the solid wood and letting it take centre stage. Hardware is also easy to update — fill in any holes left by previous knobs and handles if necessary, before staining, and replace them with sleek, contemporary materials such as brushed steel or solid brass.
Travertine tiles
We really went nuts for travertine tiles as a nation there for a while. Travertine is a natural stone, instantly recognisable with its rich earthy shades and swirling mottled texture.
It is quite durable and relatively low maintenance. There was a trend to lay travertine tiles in a pattern of varying square sizes in hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms, or in large slabs throughout the ground floor of a home. While this look is of an era, travertine is versatile enough to warrant remaining in your home with just a few updates. The warmth and texture of natural travertine stone is easy to work into a wide range of palettes. If you like a neutral scheme, travertine pairs perfectly with other natural materials and colours such as wood, wool, rattan, linen, and other natural stones. If you like a bolder look, the creamy tones of travertine work beautifully with navy, rich dark blues, and reddish pinks.
If I have convinced you to keep your travertine tiles, first check whether they need to be cleaned and whether re-grouting is required — updating a dark or grey grout to a light colour will make a huge difference. Next, consider the finish —- there was a trend to polish travertine to a shiny finish, which in fairness is easier to keep clean, but a more modern look would be to bring in an expert to re-polish the tiles to a “honed” or “semi-gloss” finish — matte, textured, and contemporary. Finally, it is likely worth re-sealing the travertine as its porous nature will require this every few years to maintain durability, especially in high-traffic or high-moisture areas.
Dark granite
Granite never really went away, but the trend of dark granite countertops was mercifully short-lived. Granite is exceptionally durable, a perfect choice for a kitchen or bathroom countertop, and a beautiful natural stone that would be a shame to discard.
Dark countertops can be difficult to work into a modern design, but not impossible. I say lean into the darkness — the trend of bright open-plan kitchens is passing, and a moodier contemporary look is just the thing for dark countertops. If you have inherited a black countertop, I love the look of going full black with your cabinets. Keep the lines clean and the edges flush for an understated but strong look. If you find yourself with a dark brown or grey countertop, experiment with various samples of natural wood finish in a lighter shade to see which works best.
Trying to compete with paint colours results in a busy, clashing look — it’s best to let the granite be the focal point and tone it down with complimentary neutrals. Open shelving above will help to balance the dark stone visually.
Wow windows
Replacing windows is a huge expense, and if the ones you have inherited are good quality then it’s an unnecessary one.
If you simply don’t like the look of the windows you have inherited, consider these affordable aesthetic upgrades before blowing your budget on new ones. If you have wood, metal, or alu-clad window frames then you’re in luck —these can be easily repainted, just ensure you are using the right primer for the material. If you have uPVC windows, this is more difficult — paint doesn’t traditionally adhere well to this material, although there are specialist companies who use high-tech paint that will last on uPVC.
If the colour of the frames is fine but you don’t like the style, you can consider adding a trim around the edge or panelling directly onto the window pane. You could also add a privacy film which is very easy to install — for example reeded, frosted, or even coloured glass film.
Finally, upgrading your window treatments — that is, your curtains and blinds — will go a long way towards revamping your windows without much additional expense. Swap plastic Venetian blinds for fitted roman blinds, layer in voiles for additional texture and interest, and raise curtain poles closer to the ceiling to make windows appear taller.