Hipstoric Heritage Is the Answer to Modern Farmhouse Fatigue

When I was growing up, my family had a rather unorthodox holiday tradition: We’d hijack my grandparents' NYC apartment and have a “Bergdorfs day.” The department store—which is known for its fantastical holiday displays—always seemed to layer the seasons’ previous trends with a foreshadowing of looks that would appear in next year’s catalog. And so, when I ventured uptown this year in an effort to reclaim my youth, I couldn’t help but notice how the store’s theme seemed to mimic my personal one: Going back to your roots. From a retro ‘80s-themed window to a traditional iteration with an antique brass cash register—each vignette seemed to emphasize last year’s Newstalgia movement, and the rustic, traditional direction it’s taking in 2023. So much so, that the combination even has a name: Hipstoric Heritage. 

And at this point, you may be wondering: why the backslide into such a hyper-traditional aesthetic? I have two words for you: Modern Farmhouse. In 2018, HGTV shoved shiplap shelving and open floor plans so far down our throats, that by 2020, Joanna Gaines was basically the messiah of home design. Now, however, Boomers and Gen Xers are leaning into self-expression by rejecting the “mass-produced” designs we saw pre-pandemic, and instead, celebrating the past with timeworn antiques and re-imagined vintage pieces.

Long story short? It’s an “Aspen ski lodge” upgrade to the Cali Coastal farmhouse trend we’ve been seeing for years. Case in point: designer Jake Arnold’s new collaboration with Lulu and Georgia. The collection pulls from contemporary, American Heritage influences (like J.Crew and Ralph Lauren) and elevates it with rustic European elements. Picture: a handcrafted, dark oak wood accent chest in lieu of a white lacquer console. A woodsy color palette (chocolate browns) instead of earthy neutrals (beige and light blue). Decor/artwork that’s been passed down from generation to generation (as opposed to the infamous “gather” signs). It marries old with new, where everything carries an air of countryside sophistication. 

So below, find five ways designers are bringing Hipstoric Heritage into 2023 (including all the furniture, decor and paint swatches you need to recreate the look at home). 

Jordan Caryle, an NYC-based designer I’ve had the pleasure of working with, is at the forefront of this trend. His recently revamped East Hampton farmhouse embodies the thought behind mixing antique and contemporary furniture, where each piece strikes a balance between history and nature. Take it from the kitchen (shown above), which is anchored by a clay bespoke farmhouse table and a custom X-shaped chandelier. Carlyle ties in the “historic” element with Scandinavian leather chairs from the 1940s and Bar Gris limestone flooring from a 400-year-old French farmhouse (click here for the full house tour). By adding soft, rounded furniture with handcrafted surfaces (like clay and wood) and antique mementos (like the Leonard Woodruff oil painting hanging in the background), Carlyle keeps the look updated yet traditional with just a hint of farmhouse. 

Shop the Look: Studio Loho Clay Dining Table (pricing upon request); Fenton Woven Leather Dining Chair (from $399); Austin Tumbled Metal Serving Bowls (from $19)

According to an Architectural Digest profile, designer Ashley Montgomery wanted the living room above to “feel like the structural personification of a hug”—which is exactly how I’d describe the textiles behind Hipstoric heritage. For Montgomery, this translated to “thick velvets, woods with whorls and divots, and furniture that makes you feel embraced.” But in non-designer speak, that means cozy classic fabrics like velvet or brushed linen (remember, bouclé is on its way out) and natural accents (like a wooden coffee table and jute area rug). 

Shop the Look: Soho Home Mossley Corner Sofa ($8,795); Ralph Lauren Rubin Sheer Curtain Panel (from $50; $45); Bettie Tapenade Yellow Throw Pillow With Insert ($60); Revival Hart Jute Rug (from $99); Noir Weathered Graff Coffee Table ($2,232); Marla Block Print Pillow Cover ($88)

Montgomery strikes again in this project, where she used 35 different paint colors to create an “ironically traditional” vibe. While the home centers around shades of cinnamon, ochre, raspberry, chocolate brown and smoky blue, the look culminated in the powder room above. “All of the colors are rich without being cheesy [and] yellow felt like the one color that would make this space pop,” she tells Architectural Digest. Basically, you want to mimic the colors of a chilly day in November—everything should be woodsy and deep with a few natural pops—like blue or red—to draw visual interest. (And see below for a full breakdown of the paint and wallpaper she used to bring the look together.)

Shop the Look: House of Hackney Zeus Wallpaper ($312); Farrow & Ball Red Earth (ceiling paint); Farrow & Ball India Yellow (trim, baseboards and door)

If there’s one trend designers are ditching this year, it’s the contemporary all-white interior look. Hipstoric heritage illustrates this best, where all of the design details feature patina brass (a tarnish that forms on the surface of bronze through oxidation) for a “lived-in” look. Take it from this beautiful bar designed by Jake Arnold above. The brass patina countertop is offset by tubular steel-legged stools, where it keeps the space relaxed yet refined. What’s more, the material can be incorporated virtually anywhere throughout your design details—from knobs and pulls to furniture legs, vanity mirrors, picture frames and beyond. 

Shop the Look: Jean Royere 'Yo-Yo' Style Stools ($2,700; $795); Portrait of Władysława Bucewińska Artwork ($75); Rainbow Glass Company 9848 Twisted Flame Amber Crackle Glass Decanter ($295)

Finally, the artwork. While 2020 was the year of post-modern prints and Memphis design (think: Henri Matisse gallery walls), this look takes things back to the Renaissance era with a renewed interest in oil paintings (influenced by artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Jan van Eyck). Take it from the mastery of designer Sean Anderson, who carefully curated the gallery wall above with equestrian landscapes (like this Scottish painting by John Faedand) and vintage portraits (like this one by Hans Holbein). Everything has an eclectic yet homespun vibe, and you want to make sure you’re mixing and matching the sizes/frames of each print to draw visual interest (read more about that here).

Shop the Look: 13-Piece Vintage Wood Photo Frame Set ($298); 'Brown Horse' Framed Oil Painting Reproduction ($1,199); Albert Lynch ‘Fresh From The Garden’ Oil Painting Reproduction ($325); Vintage Wall Art Set of 11 Prints ($9)

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