Sofia Vergara gives antiques a modern upgrade to create a living room with European flair

Sofia Vergara, a force of influence in the fashion and beauty industries, just extended her power to interior design. The Griselda actress curated a melting pot of countries and cultures in her living room – with one key decorating tool: antiques. 

Decorating with antiques is perhaps the most impactful way to add instant interest and exhibit personality in any room. However, there's arguably no better setting than a neutral living room like Sofia's. In her Beverly Park home, the actress chose a soothing white and cream palette – creating a timeless and unintrusive base that allows her antique furnishings to take center stage.

Designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano, the figure behind the space in question, notes that the entirety of Sofia's home pays homage to continental antiques, with pieces from Sweden, France, Italy, and Spain. However, the living room epitomizes her love for antiques. Here, an 18th-century French limestone fireplace and a pale Persian Tabriz rug meet bespoke Baroque armchairs and a 19th-century Italian chandelier, resulting in a modern space rooted in pre-loved beauty. 

As hinted, decorating with neutrals allows these antique pieces to steal the attention they deserve, but we should also look to combine multiple textures, including precious marble and stone, to add further depth, the Sofia Vergara way.

A quick glance at the living room answers questions as to why antique furnishes are enjoying a resurgence. These one-of-a-kind pieces have already stood the test of time, and their uniqueness will never fail to start a conversation. It's unsurprising, therefore, that designer Camilla Clarke has observed a rise in antiques among her clients (yes, even before Sofia treated us to a look around her space).

'As the use of antiques in the home has gathered momentum in the mainstream over the last year, we'll see shoppers looking for more specific styles and becoming more discerning in the kinds of antique pieces they want in their homes,' she says. 'This is especially true of antique wooden furniture. Mid-century coffee tables and chairs will always be popular, but we are now seeing a resurgence in more decorative, 17th-century styles with thoughtful details like hand-turned bobbins or barely twisted legs.'

Camilla Clarke

Creative director at London-based interior design firm, Albion Nord, Camilla Clarke has worked at some of London’s leading interior design practices. Clarke uses her artistic background to influence her interior designs on everything from contemporary penthouses to Georgian homes.

We have noticed bobbin furniture is increasingly popular at antique markets and at auctions, and this is reflected in some of the contemporary homeware companies’ recent collections, including those by Alfred Newell, Soane, and Soho Home.’

Despite its focus on century-old pieces, Sofia's living room maintains a modern aesthetic that feels anything but dated. The secret? Her color palette. Alongside her neutral paint and furnishings, the actress has added pockets of vibrancy, from her deep-hued flowers to her statement artwork, that ensure the color scheme never appears dull. She also pairs her antiques with more modern furnishings (such as her marble table) that keep the room firmly in the twenty-first century. 

'By mixing foraged, pre-loved items and contemporary and bespoke pieces alongside explosions of abstract color, we have given each residence its own distinct sense of identity,' Camilla says. 'These spaces are not only elegant and modern, but incredibly comfortable, welcoming and ultimately, liveable.’ 

Shop the Sofia Vergara-inspired edit