In With The Old: Classic Décor from A to Z

From bar carts and sunburst motifs to dog paintings and floral prints, design historian and blogosphere celebrity Jennifer Boles sheds light on a multitude of classic design elements in In with the Old: Classic Décor from A to Z.

Text by Sophia Jones | Photography by Erica George Pines

Jennifer Boles simply states the concept of In with the Old and her own design philosophy in the opening line of the book: “Classic design never goes out of style.” Jennifer’s newest book is a unique encyclopedia of 100 of the most timeless, treasured design themes and decorations of the 20th century organized from A to Z.

From In with the Old’s opening chapter on acrylics to the closing chapter on zebra print, each entry is brimming with interesting historical details, curious facts, and fun anecdotes. However, it is Jennifer’s fresh, modern perspective and insight on how to put a personal spin on the classics that makes In with the Old a must-read for all those interested in interior design. “And therein lies the secret to decorating with traditional elements,” Jennifer writes. “Sometimes something old requires a little tweaking, through color, finish, or scale, to transform it into something altogether new.”

The Atlanta-born and -based designer founded her award-winning design blog, The Peak of Chic, in 2006 and is also the author of House Beautiful Fabrics for Your Home. Covering everything from monograms to toile fabrics, In with the Old is a compendium of style that prepares readers to reinvigorate their lifestyles and spaces with vintage designs that have transcended the ages.

Jennifer leverages experts throughout the book, lending enduring decorating advice from famous designers, including Billy Baldwin, Sister Parish, and the Duchess of Windsor. Jennifer provides style ideas not only for home decoration but antiques shopping, collecting, and design experimentation.

Jennifer attributes much of her interest in home decorating and gracious living to her “Southern upbringing, my house-proud parents, and my family’s decorator, a true Southern eccentric of great style and maddening business practices,” she writes. Yet, it was not until Jennifer finished Dorothy Draper’s 1939 classic, Decorating is Fun!, that her fascination with design history was fully kindled. Jennifer loved how the book could still inspire and provide useful information, even decades after it had been written. “After years of studying photos of these old interiors,” Jennifer writes. “I came to realize that many vintage rooms are chock-full of great design ideas, there for the taking if only one approaches them with an open mind and a discerning eye.”

Published by Potter Style, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Images reprinted from In with the Old.