7 min readToday’s design style is less a rigid aesthetic than a sensibility. It's an interpretation—an effortless blend of tastes, periods, and influences that feels cohesive the moment you step inside. Today, designers from coast to coast are revisiting vintage architectural elements and details, incorporating them in ways that are both unexpected and distinctly contemporary.
“We're seeing a renewed appreciation for elements that bring depth, character, and a sense of permanence to a space,” says Tamara Kaye-Honey, principal and founder of House of Honey in South Pasadena and Montecito, California. “These elements tell a story and give a home a sense of soul that transcends trends.”
Take the vertical wooden slats that first appeared in the 1940s and became a staple into the 1970s, for instance. The partitions found a revival with the infiltration of the Japandi style. To keep these partitions from looking passé or too midcentury, New York designer Louis Lin layers the wood with other architectural details from different time periods, combining these with classical dentil molding and Danish-inspired casework, so the final look is “interpretive and abstract, not too themed or nostalgic.”
Dabbling in your own version of an architectural time machine involves seeking out classical elements that have withstood the test of time, surrounding them with au courant flair—no one will ever say that the arched doorways and windows are a tacky trend.
“Character homes were built with integrity and thoughtfulness, and it is our responsibility as designers to protect the detailed aspects of building as we work in this modern era,” adds Kirsten Blazek of A1000XBetter in Southern California.
Take a look at 14 ways designers are using original, salvaged, and replicas of century-old staples to make their work more than just a blast from the past.
Vertical Slats
In the above space, Studio Louis Lin played a bit of a design roulette by integrating linear Art Deco elements with midcentury modern Danish style, tying it all together with one architectural fixture: the wood room partition.
“Screens have long been used across interiors, from ancient palaces to midcentury rooms, because they separate spaces without fully closing them off,” says Lin. The vertical slat dividers are “part boundary, part portal” that works as an architectural element to create a transition without disruptive sight lines or a visual blockade.
Arched Doorways
You could say that designers have a certain loyalty to history and craftsmanship. That’s why the doorway arch—a nod to 1920s and 1930s Spanish Revival—is an architectural detail that often remains in older homes, and is now frequently introduced in newer builds.
“There is a softness to an arched opening that is so appealing. An arched opening acts to invite you into a room,” says Blazek, who offset the silhouette with floral wallpaper from House of Hackney.
Parquet Flooring
Parquet flooring—translated as “little compartments”—found fame after Louis XIV had it installed in the Palace of Versailles in 1684. The Victorians and 19th-century industrialists popularized it among the wealthy masses. Over time, however, the darker, almost orange (and quite shiny!) finish gave way to more streamlined planks, but the checkerboard-like floor is making a comeback—with a twist.
One homeowner described the original parquet flooring as part of a house that was "wearing too much makeup," says New York designer Rachel Robinson, partner at Dunham Robinson. Her studio wanted to retain the natural beauty but make the floors more contemporary by refinishing the floors and the wood trim, in a much lighter stain that gravitated from archaic and into refreshing territory.
Stained Glass
“I've designed a lot of historic homes over the past 20 years and I've definitely noticed a shift from, ‘What are we going to do to distract from all of this stained glass?’ to ‘How can we incorporate stained glass in our project?’" says Louisville, Kentucky, designer Bethany Adams.
“What I find the most interesting is that the clients clamoring for colored glass don't live in Victorian homes. It's newer or midcentury styles that are getting a glassy glow-up.” If you’re considering stained glass outside of a historical home, look for a space with plenty of natural light to amplify the effect.
Beadboard Ceilings
Narrow beadboard paneling is replacing shiplap indoors, especially in homes attempting a cozy, cottage vibe.
“Adding a beadboard ceiling to rooms, which often have a different ceiling elevation than the rest of the space, draws attention to the quirkiness in the best possible way,” Adams says. “Beadboard ceilings have historically been present on porches and sunrooms, so by incorporating that material in an enclosed portion of the home, you're hinting at summer days spent sipping iced tea, even if you're just sipping coffee at your breakfast table.”
Painted Trellis
For a design element rooted in tradition, trelliswork feels surprisingly fresh when viewed through a modern lens.
“Trelliswork has a tendency to be pigeonholed as something quaint or overly traditional, which is exactly why we liked the idea of rethinking it,” says Kaye-Honey. To avoid the classic greenhouse aesthetic, she painted the installation a deep, inky blue, giving it a moodier, more contemporary feel. “We treated it almost like paneling, using pattern, shadow, and repetition to create depth and drama.”
Glass Blocks
Admit it: modern windows can be a little boring. That's one reason designers like Robinson are taking a cue from the 1980s with the return of glass block windows.
Originally used in commercial and industrial buildings to bring natural light into factories, basements, and other dim interiors, these gem-like blocks became defining features of Art Deco and Art Moderne architecture before making their way into homes. They enjoyed a major resurgence in the 1980s, and now they're back once again. Today, designers are embracing glass block windows as sculptural (and practical) design elements.
“Glass block windows serve the practical purpose of bringing in daylight without compromising privacy,” says Robinson, who used the 8-by-8-inch blocks as an enlarged counterpart to the 4-by-4-inch wall tiles. “Their subtle green tint reinforces the room's tonal palette.”
Those in the market for pieces with richer textures and patterns, call up salvage yards and architectural reuse centers, which can carry affordable inventory.
Tapestries
The antidote to sterile and beige interiors of the past decade is to pluck a piece from the past—ideally, one that has a story. To add extra depth to a room treated with Venetian plaster, Pierce Jordan of Shane & Pierce in California and Texas used a tapestry as a medium that felt richer than traditional art.
“I think tapestries have made a massive comeback,” Jordan says. “There are so many various versions, and many have multicolor but remain subdued.” By their very nature, tapestries are threaded with character and narrative. This project used a piece that was purchased in Paris in the 1970s and passed down by the owner's grandmother. “Tapestries are an amazing conversation starter because they are generally old, and people want to know the story behind them,” he adds.
Vintage 4-by-4-Inch Tile
Subway tile is certainly on its way out, and 4-by-4-inch ceramic tile is back in. It was a top pick for the post-WWII housing boom through the 1970s. Many historical homes still have the cheeky squares in pastels, often with contrasting trim pieces. Designers today are embracing the look and even seeking out original vintage tiles. Heather Peterson, for one, sourced Talavera tile on Etsy for a bar under the stairs. The pattern was used to “dress up the whole corner” in a single-row application.
Robinson seeks out ceramic tile from defunct American manufacturers by perusing Vintage Tile Shop, a resource for original designs that are actually new rather than salvaged.
“Many older American tile manufacturers produced extraordinarily nuanced glazes and colors that are difficult to replicate today,” she says. “These materials remain relatively affordable because they're often viewed as salvage rather than collectible design objects, but that perception is beginning to change.”
Fluted Glass
Fluted glass may be known from the Art Deco and Victorian eras, but it has a rich history that goes back to the Egyptian pharaohs. This glass is also called “reeded” or “pressed” glass, with early versions made of molten glass that was molded into the ripple shape.
Jeanne Hayes, founder of Camden Grace Interiors in West Hartford, Connecticut, uses it to obscure “the realities of the day-to-day,” while giving a space an almost enigmatic appeal.
Open Millwork
Jenkins is seeing a resurgence in feature fireplaces and open millwork—both of which offer a nod to midcentury architecture and act as eye-catching architectural elements. Unlike a slatted room divider that functions to compartmentalize the space, the millwork works double duty to bring in storage, which is something most families need in contemporary designs. Unlike the reddish woods that were prevalent in midcentury and 1990s looks, the current interpretations lean closer to white oaks and birch.
Inglenooks
Midcentury modern certainly has its place, but designers are looking as far back as the Middle Ages for inspiration.
“Inglenooks are having a resurgence as homeowners seek cozy spaces within larger homes,” says Tom Riker, partner at James Thomas in Chicago. The design studio repurposed an 18th-century French limestone mantel and surround to create a dramatic inglenook, lining the interior with walnut paneling and creating an inviting spot for late-night cocktails.
Arched French Doors
Arched glass entryways are symbolic of the Italian Renaissance—it was the go-to style used in the Florentine Medici residences. The classic Roman arches defined the semicircular fanlights that were then prevalent in Georgian and Federal architecture, and are looking quite at home in modern interiors.
Designer Shannon Eddings left the original doors of this 1922 home to give the living space and dining room a sense of symmetry.
Original Millwork
For Hayley Chavez of HLC Studio in Clovis, California, it’s all about embracing the original architectural details—leaning into warm wood tones, built-ins, and rough-hewn beams—instead of starting fresh.
“We love working with original millwork, as it brings immediate depth and character to a room,” says Chavez. “Whether it’s original floors, picture rails, or cabinetry, classic details bring soul to a home.” A picture rail helps carry your eye around the space, and the exposed beams on a Craftsman ceiling create architectural transparency rooted in authenticity.
To highlight both, Chavez brought the walls back to plaster with Roman Clay by Portola Paints to give the house that “original worn look” that could never be achieved with flat drywall.
