Buying New, Buying Old

Q My wife and I are looking to furnish our recently-built Arts & Crafts bungalow. I favor antiques; she likes the Arts & Crafts look, but is less concerned with the age of what we buy than with the design and color. So far we have compromised nicely on accessory pieces, including rugs (new), lighting (new), and some older vases and Roycroft metalware. Now it’s time to replace our non-Arts & Crafts living and dining-room furniture. Are there certain pieces we’d be better off buying as antiques, rather than new?

A You may have trouble finding a large, sturdy set of matching antique dining chairs, and may not want to serve food on an antique table with an original shellac finish. I would compromise by shopping for a new, matching set of table and chairs, then finish the room with an antique sideboard and server, or perhaps a china cabinet. In the living room, the classic Arts & Crafts form is the Morris chair. Again, if you are combining old and new pieces, I would watch for an authentic Morris chair, then opt for a comfortable new sofa. Smaller pieces, such as footstools, lamp tables and rocking chairs, are often more affordable in the antique version than they are new.