GRAND FOUNDATIONS
As the terms “grandmillenial” and “quiet luxury” seep into our everyday vocabulary, we decided to check in with local expert Greg Riley of Yellow House Antiques & Interiors in Mobile. Knowing many of us can relate to the buyer’s remorse we face as we labor over a set of inexpensive furniture directions, he sets us straight on the importance of a few good pieces. As fans of so many interior design vibes, and due to the fact that brown furnishings are back in a big way, we’re all ears as he guides us through the antique pieces every home enthusiast needs.
By Hayley Hill Photos Layla Lambert, L-egantportraits.com Set Design Patricia Hall
As many brave young couples scoop up the glorious historic homes lining Government Street and beyond, we’ve been inspired by their new take on the old classics. We’ve seen disco balls on antique sideboards, every glorious room painted in the same clean cream color dotted with modern black accessories, and more. Making it their own, many are keenly interested in learning about the craftsmanship of yesteryear and which antique furnishings retain their value in terms of investment. So smart and savvy, some are even welcoming the family silver and china.
Grandmillennial style combines traditional pieces with modern elements. Simply put, it is just a new term that defines an established design style with a return to elegance adopted by the generation of millennials now in their late 20’s and 30’s. And for Greg, this is welcome news!
As the founder, owner and operator of Yellow House Antiques & Interiors with his partner Jim Louden, they specialize in 18th and 19th century antiques. Combing the world to handpick unique pieces to bring to the Gulf Coast, they have been in business for over 30 years. Set in a large home, the eye-catching goods simply go on forever. Also a social destination, you’d be hard pressed not to run into friends and the who’s who here. To further utilize their talents, Greg and Jim offer full design services as well as custom furniture, wallpaper, rugs, and window treatments. Not to be outdone, they also specialize in custom lamp work, lamp repair, and quality lamp shades and finials.
And then there’s their expertise. “It is so wonderful that the younger generations are seeking out antiques. I’ve been amazed as to how curious they are to learn about them!” Greg shares. Aiming to provide a simple guide to acquiring the perfect pieces, Greg often advises the younger generations about items that have time-tested beauty, quality, and substance. “I love teaching people about the investment aspect of antiques. Just like real estate, good pieces often retain their value and can even gain value over time,” Greg adds.
Getting to it, Greg’s top antiques everyone should invest in include an armoire, Georgian chest of drawers, sideboard or buffet, blue and white porcelain pieces, and accent tables. With the promise of lasting a lifetime, these classics will never go out of style and can easily be mixed with pieces from other decades — including today’s modern assembly required items.
Talking about quiet luxury, Greg explains, “A lovely Georgian chest of drawers in walnut, pine, oak, or mahogany can be formal or casual and go in any room of the house. I love them in an entryway topped with contemporary art like a lucite sculpture as it sets up what guests will experience in the rest of the home. But they truly can go in most any room as they are multifunctional and offer ample storage. They are wonderful in living rooms and, of course, bedrooms, too.”
Curious as to the term Georgian, Greg says, “There’s so much interesting history to know! Essentially, the Georgian era ran from 1714 up until 1837, when Queen Victoria was crowned. In reality, the Georgian era does not represent any one style of antique furniture but rather, a continuum in the evolution of design. It represents a number of distinct styles from Rococo, to Chippendale, Neoclassicism to Regency, and more. However, there was a certain spirit of the Georgian age as there were waves of incredible art, literature, design, and architecture. We look for dovetailing, mixed materials, hand finishing, and a high standard of craftsmanship. This is why it’s vital to shop at a credible source as it would be extremely rare to find a true antique at a flea market! Over the years many reproductions have been made, but they typically are more expensive and do not retain their value.”
A sideboard or buffet is another one of Greg’s must-haves. “A southern staple, many are not aware of the difference between the two. Antique buffets originated in Europe, mainly France. And sideboards generally hail from England and even America. The best part is that they are both so functional and versatile. They can act as a serving surface for dessert, coffee, h’orderves, cocktails and wine, or an entire meal. Big on charm and personality, they work so well and stand out in large dining rooms. I absolutely love seeing them under a contemporary painting as they easily accommodate the mix of designs we’re seeing today. They also retain their value in a time where younger people are tiring of all the painted subpar pieces”
Moving on, Greg is a true fan of antique accent and side tables. “We sell so many of these as they mix well with contemporary upholstery and furnishings. Typically on the smaller side, they can be used between club chairs, at the end of a sofa, and in unique nooks. The tilt-top pie crust tea tables as well as the Pembroke tables are always in high demand. Interestingly, the Pembroke table is named after Lady Pembroke. When high tea came into fashion, she wanted a table with leaves that would go up when serving tea and down when finished. Now we use them as an accent table for everything!” Greg shares.
If you’ve paid attention, the homes we crave typically boast a piece of blue and white porcelain. “A key to the understated quiet luxury look, we have an extensive selection of these timeless treasures in the store that range from Asian to English Staffordshire. Always in vogue, the blue and white lamps, vases, urns, platters, and plates go with every style of decor and always add a lot of depth to a design scheme. Blue and white Dutch Delft is coveted but since they were universally created, options abound!” Greg tells us.
Historically, blue and white porcelain became mainstream in China between the late 1300s and 1600s before reaching its peak in the early 1700s. The development of this art form was due to a combination of Chinese methods and Islamic trade. The distinctive blue color comes from cobalt ores imported from Persia. These pieces have clearly stood the test of time.
And last but not least, Greg recommends an antique armoire. “I’ve noted people are growing tired of having a television on the wall! An antique armoire offers a solid solution and will serve you well. As homes get bigger, or even if you’re renovating a large historic home, these grand pieces provide a lot bang for the buck! A historical favorite, countless distinguished styles exist and they also blend well with most styles,” Greg explains.
Just like any other type of furniture, the armoire came to be because there was a need for it. In this case, the need was for storage, and who among us doesn’t need more of that? “Updated by the French in the 17th century, the earliest armoires date to medieval times when they were known as presses. Usually built of oak, a press had shelves for storing linens or clothes. Over time the look changed and today people use them to store clothing, dishes, stereo systems, photo albums, and more,” Greg adds.
Thankful for the breakdown and history lessons, Greg sums it up by sharing, “I’ve absolutely enjoyed working with the younger crowd on bringing pieces with substance and elegance into their design schemes. Their response has been great and some have even reported that learning about antiques has proved invaluable in terms of being able to hold intelligent conversations with the quiet luxury crowd, too.”
Hopefully Greg’s five easy pieces make the complicated world of design a bit easier to navigate. A local gem, he’s always happy to guide those interested and we’d bet our lunch, he’ll become an invaluable friend, too.
Yellow House Antiques & Interiors
1902 Government Street, Mobile, AL
251.476.7382
