The old pieces They have a charm that is difficult to overcome due to modern and avant-garde designs, thanks to its character and uniqueness. So much so, that a single well-chosen object achieves raise the level of any room, adding an extra dose of style and personality that radically transforms spaces. Experts of the caliber of Eric Navazo and this is confirmed by the latest trends in interior design. Increasingly, there is a commitment to mixing, Include antique elements in contemporary spaces. However, as we know that this fusion is not always easy, we have asked one of the top interior designers in our country What keys to follow to find balance and achieve aesthetic harmony. This is what he told us.
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© Juan Martín for Casa DecorEric Navazo
With careful selection of parts different eras, origins and styles, The interior designer achieves simple, but highly aesthetic and suggestive spaces, without artifice, calm and balanced atmospheres. This ability to mix and create unique projects, Full of character and soul, it comes from his solid training with great masters of interior design.
Erico began his career with the antique dealer Fernando Campo de Restelo, who taught him analyze and appreciate antiques, as well as decontextualize period furniture to masterfully integrate them into modern interiors. This foundation allowed him to develop a keen eye for identifying how each piece can enhance a setting. Later, he was lucky enough to work with the Portuguese interior designer Duarte Pinto Coelho, from whom he absorbed the naturalness and impeccable style that characterize his current work. Furthermore, Erico recognizes Pascua Ortega as one of his greatest mentors.
Since founding his own studio in 2000, Erico has made order, calm, impeccable finishes and very subtle mixes its hallmark. achieve balanced and serene spaces, where each piece seems to be in its natural place. His dedication and critical eye have established him as one of the most prominent interior designers in our country, with an approach that combines artistic sensitivity and technical perfection.
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© Juan BarajaHow to give personality to contemporary spaces
According to Erico Navazo, antique pieces give a special uniqueness to any room, making each interior truly unique. These pieces They are not simply decorative objects, but they tell stories, They evoke bygone eras and add a sense of cultural wealth to the environment. “The antique pieces are cultured and refined,” explains Erico. Incorporate items vintage also allows create such elegant contrasts like the one you breathe in this atmosphere of your own home.
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© Carla CapdevilaTake care of the proportions
The interior designer insists that It’s not just about mixing styles., but to find the right balance so thatthat each piece makes sense inside the space. One of the main difficulties when working with antique pieces is that, in many cases, they have extraordinarily large or striking proportions, which can clash if they are not placed in the right place. “You have to search andl ideal space for each piece”says Erico, underlining the importance of do not force its inclusion in the design, but to integrate them naturally so that the whole is coherent and aesthetic.
This reading corner, which belongs to a project by Arquesta Studio, is made up of an iconic Lounge Chair by Charles & Ray Eames, a fully custom-designed backlit wooden bookcase; a golden hanging lamp and a colorful rug with geometric patterns.
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© Nini CortadellasEvery vintage piece counts
When it comes to incorporating parts vintage in a modern home, Erico Navazo It is not limited to a specific type of object. For him, any old piece can become an essential element within the space, whether ora table, a closet, a mirror or even a classic fireplace like the one we see in this project ÀBAG Studio.
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© Paloma Pacheco TurnesFirst of all, consistency
By incorporating parts vintage In a contemporary environment, it is essential to pay attention to certain aspects to ensure harmonious integration. Erico Navazo highlights that “the proportion of each piece of furniture and how the pieces relate to each other” is essential to maintain visual balance. For him, the mix is part of the magic: “I love that the dining room table and chairs are of different styles“he comments, underlining the importance of contrasting elements from different periods without losing coherence. We see it in this corner of Jung’s showroom, a project in which he collaborated Erico Navazo, among other interior designers. Besides, taking old furniture out of context and using them in unexpected ways also helps create contemporary spaces.
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© Montse GarrigaPieces that tell stories
For Erico Navazo, the story that accompanies each piece vintage is as important as its aesthetics. Recover old furniture and give it a second life Not only does it add character to a space, but it also brings with it a unique emotional charge. That connection with time and the possibility of using a piece of furniture outside of its original context allows Erico to create interiors full of soul, where each piece becomes a silent witness of past eras, integrating naturally in contemporary environments.
In this reform of Luzio Studio, The adaptation and updating of the owner’s antique collection was key to achieving a contemporary home but with elegant and classic touches. In the living room, the armchair, the kilim and the table lamps They are antique pieces.
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© Heidi CavazosIn its proper measure
An excess of old objects can end up overload the environment. According to Erico, clarity can come from a well-thought-out design. In this dining room, the team Coblonal combined a rack vintage metallic with a table with a black marble top, custom designed, and nordic chairs, also vintageupholstered in an earth tone.
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© LickRestore and merge
Restore a piece vintage without losing its essence and, at the same time, making it adapt to a modern aesthetic is a true art. According to Erico Navazo, “the antiques they must be restored judiciously, “They must be respectful of the original elements and, above all, of the patina that time has left on the furniture.”
As to the materials and colors that work best To integrate these objects, Erico is clear about his commitment: “The furniture of washed wood is a must“. This type of finish adds a freshness and simplicity that fits perfectly in modern environments. In this dining room, the beige paint on the walls, from the firm Lick, It creates a serene and timeless background that enhances both the Carl Hansen wooden furniture and the warm-toned rug.
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© Jordi FolchWhere to start?
For those who want to integrate elements vintage in their spaces but don’t know where to start, Erico Navazo offers clear advice: always bet on original parts. “The important thing when incorporating antique furniture is that it is authentic,” he explains, underlining the need to reject replicas or imitations. According to the interior designer, the key is to look for objects that, even if they are not the most valuable or well-known, are are genuine and vintage, since they provide a unique character that reproductions cannot offer. “Avoid replicas that are made in the style of…”, recommends Erico.
The decoration of this living room, a project Brákara Studio, includes iconic pieces such as the Cesta lamp by Miguel Milá or the PH5 ceiling lamp by Louis Poulsen.
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© Amador Toril for Casa DecorA perfect example
One of the most recent projects of Eric Navazo is the bathroom he designed for Strohm Teka at Casa Decor 2024. “It’s about a contemporary bathroom in which I combined old pieces, many of them from Antigüedades Marsol, with others from current design”he explains. The result was a unique space, where the ancient and the modern merged harmoniously. Antique elements, such as the lyre-legged table in the background of the image (a unique piece made between the 17th and 18th centuries), added personality and character to the bathroom, while the elements designed by Erico himself They brought freshness and modernity. This balance between different eras allowed the creation of a elegant, sophisticated atmosphere and, above all, timeless.
