One of the hardest interior decorating choices in American luxury homes, is whether or not to include upscale preppy influences. Is covering your walls with paintings of horses and dogs subtly nostalgic, or, is it tacky and fake?
Anyone with old school preppy grandparents can tell you, it’s ok to be fake as long as you’re being authentically fake.
The meaning of modern prep never really changes, but what it looks like transforms with each generation. Somewhere along the way, Stanley tumblers became more cool than Solo cups (at least for now). And, logos go in and out of fashion so fast these days, it’s easier to just ditch the embroidered polo shirts.
What happened to The Official Preppy Handbook
Every devoted student of The Official Preppy Handbook knows that true prep means never emulating other people. If you run out and buy boat shoes the first time you go sailing, you’ll probably have some mystified friends wondering why you didn’t wear flip flops in 80-degree weather.
Next thing you know, having learned to dress appropriately for the weather, you’ll wear proper boots and a cashmere sweater to a Friendsgiving, while your friends still show up in flip flops and shorts while it’s 50 degrees out! What just went wrong?
The horse painting in the picture belonged to my great-great-grandfather. Where I grew up in Michigan, I didn’t go riding. But I still appreciate the family heirloom. We’ve tried to decipher my grandmother’s handwritten notes as no one remembers the name of this handsome stallion. I’d probably think it was pretty strange if someone had a painting of a random horse on their wall.
Repair, repaint, refurbish
Wear and tear is a normal part of everyday living that should be a source of pride. If your hardwood floors have a mark from a particularly rigorous day of play at a Christmas gathering, that may be a timeless story to be treasured and shared rather than erased with sandpaper and varnish.
Excessive refurbishing decreases the longevity of your furnishings and decor as well as significantly increasing the maintenance costs of your home. When your home is overly pristine and museum-like, you may find that your neighbours become nervous about having a glass of red wine on your sofa or bringing their puppy to visit. Part of maintaining an elegant home is deciding what to repair and when and how often.
This decision should balance aesthetics, your budget, and your entertaining needs as a host.
Know your own story
You might be surprised to know that when you tour historic homes, a significant amount of the high-end art and furniture you see is replicas. What’s even more fascinating, is that sometimes those replicas were commissioned by the Gilded Age owners of those homes and not by the trusts managing the properties today.
What does being authentically fake mean? Sometimes it means wearing costume jewelry with a $5,000 ball gown. And sometimes it means making 10 copies of a beloved sculpture for your 10 kids and grandchildren. It doesn’t matter what the reason is long as you have a reason.
And, contrary to understated WASP lore, many historic American homes were curated by interior designers with flashy Roman tastes.
If you want to learn more about sophisticated American styles, put down your copy of The Official Preppy Handbook and tour the homes that Americans have lived in for centuries. When it comes to your own home, don’t be afraid to furnish and decorate your own way.
Read more thought-provoking discussion of the principles behind quiet luxury interiors.