How to Make Vintage Decor Look Fresh and Modern

When it comes to creating immersive environments that style-conscious vacationers love, Julija Stoliarova — Eastwind Hotels’ creative director and co-founder — is a natural. Her contemporary and hygge-forward, Scandinavian-vintage-meets-midcentury-modern design has made Eastwind Hotel & Bar (and cabins like this one, above) a must-stay (and photograph) destination for outdoorsy aesthetes in the Catskill Mountain town of Windham, New York. This August, Eastwind’s new Lake Placid destination opened its doors to instant acclaim; her thoughtful take on a classic motor lodge is elevated sylvan style at its coziest. Think of her as a guide through the wilderness of flea-market finds and antique decor — and follow her sure-footed steps here.

Having an idea of how the treasures you unearth on antique-acquisition forays will fit into your space gets you halfway to success. Measure those nooks! “Know the size of your rooms before going antiques hunting,” Julija says. “You never know what you’ll find and you have to always be ready by knowing if it fits inside your space. Don’t forget a measuring tape; it will very helpful during your trip.”

For this cabin in Windham, Julija let the natural look of the honey-toned pine walls take center stage. The furniture is a mix of vintage and new pieces: “We chose to have a new couch for this space as it’s a sleeper sofa,” she explains. “I definitely prefer simple shapes of furniture but with a little twist. I chose this couch because of its rounded shape, as I wanted to complement a wooden cabin but not to overwhelm or overtake the space.” That purchased-new, practical piece balances out much older objects like the mounted badminton rackets and the vintage books hanging on the opposite wall.

This Catskills property was built in the 1920s to serve as a bunkhouse for hunters, fly fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts, and Julija knew she wanted to pay homage to its past. In the hotel and bar, “you can find vintage badminton racquets, wooden canoe paddles, prints of local wildlife and even classic cameras throughout the central lounge and accommodations. Including photographs and decor that depict native landscapes, flora and fauna provides a sense of place indoors and allows the flow of natural splendor to continue within the interiors,” she says.

The bar area also features a strategic bit of Nathalie Lete’s Mushroom Forest Wallpaper. The picture-perfect arrangement to its left was quite the process: “It was pretty challenging to use different objects on the wall,” Julija confesses. “But I learned it by always laying out the frames and objects on the floor first, then taking a picture of it. Most of the time I change my layout many times before I actually hit the first nail in the wall.”

This “writer’s nook” is a lovely example of how Julija has leaned into her natural avian affinity. The duck table lamp and bookend weren’t purchased together — they flocked together, if you will. “I am in love with ducks and owls, to the point that now I feel like any object that has a duck or an owl always follows me,” she says.

Botanical prints, in turn, are tried-and-true building blocks of her designs. “You can find them in antique markets — or, if you use so many of the prints like me, you can find them in vintage books,” she adds.