The Key to Soulful Yet Stunningly Luxe Living Room Is in How You Combine Antiques – Sofia Vergara's European-Style Space Showcases This Perfectly
Spain meets Sweden, and France meets Italy in this beautifully textured, personal space – over a year later, designers are still taking notes
Sofia Vergara, a powerhouse in fashion and beauty, has now turned her influential eye toward interior design. The 'Griselda' actress has curated a global melting pot within her living room, relying on a single, essential decorating tool: antiques.
Decorating with antiques is perhaps the most effective way to inject personality and instant character into a home. As the winter months draw us indoors, there is no better backdrop for these treasures than a neutral living room like Sofia’s.
In her Beverly Park residence, she opted for a calming palette of whites and creams – a timeless foundation that lets her historic furnishings command the room. This serene aesthetic provides a perfect canvas for the warmth of aged wood and stone during the darker seasons.
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This stunning Italian Baguès-style chandelier features a sweet beaded birdcage form with crystal drops, gold gilt flowers, and three internal candelabra lights. It comes ready to install with updated wiring and includes a canopy.
This shimmery light blue pillow would be a gorgeous complement to a. However, it also pairs well with a neutral sofa (just like Sofia's) or crisp white bedding.
This hand-carved chair, featuring ducks and lions, was transformed from a raw wooden structure into a striking statement piece. The carvings were smoothed, layered with gesso and red clay, and finished with gently worn gold leaf for a rich, textured look, exactly like Sofia's.
This sleek table lamp features a contemporary curved metal base paired with a crisp linen shade. Sold as a set of two, it brings a touch of minimalist sophistication to any living room.
Broad and shallow, this tray elevates everything from countertops to built-ins with both style and function. Featuring bold gray marbling and clean lines, it’s the perfect accent for curated decorative vignettes.
This small candle holder starts as a solid piece of pure alabaster, carefully carved into an elegant cylinder and polished to a luminous shine. When a pillar candle flickers within, it radiates a warm glow. Each piece is naturally unique, with its own variations in the stone’s pattern.
Designer Ohara Davies-Gaetano, who designed the space, explains that the home is a tribute to continental history, featuring pieces from Sweden, Italy, France, and Spain. The living room serves as the heart of this collection. An 18th-century French limestone fireplace – a cozy focal point for the holidays – sits alongside a pale Persian Tabriz rug, bespoke Baroque armchairs (similar to this one from 1st Dibs), and a 19th-century Italian chandelier.
The result is a modern sanctuary rooted in pre-loved beauty. While decorating with neutrals ensures these pieces shine, the 'Sofia Vergara way' also involves layering textures like marble and stone to add sophisticated depth.
The resurgence of antique furniture is easy to understand when looking at Sofia's home. These unique items have already endured for centuries, and their distinct history makes them natural conversation starters during seasonal gatherings. Designer Camilla Clarke notes that she saw this trend rising even before Sofia shared her home with the world.
'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,' Clarke explains. '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.'
These intricate details, such as bobbin furniture, are becoming staples at auctions and within the collections of contemporary brands like Alfred Newell, Soane, and Soho Home.
Despite the emphasis on the past, Sofia’s living room feels fresh rather than dated. The secret lies in her balanced color palette. Amidst the neutral tones, she incorporates vibrant accents – from deep-hued floral arrangements to bold artwork – that prevent the room from feeling flat during the gray winter light. By pairing antiques with 21st-century elements like her marble table, she maintains a contemporary edge.
'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,' says Clarke. 'These spaces are not only elegant and modern, but incredibly comfortable, welcoming and ultimately, liveable.'
Over one year after seeing Sofia’s home for the first time, it remains utterly timeless. Will you be following her example?
