COVER 84 Trends: Modern Heritage

When it comes to interiors and the products that go in them, the desire to combine antique and contemporary styles is nothing new. Recent trends that have encompassed this idea have been Cottagecore (a.k.a. ‘Grandmothercore’), Grandmillennial and Rococo Revival; but for 2026 it seems that Modern Heritage is the new name for blending the past with the present in our homes.

Modern Heritage is a term coined by Barry and Jordan of The Brownstone Boys, a renovator/designer duo based in Brooklyn. 

When describing what Modern Heritage looks like, they say: ‘Think restored woodwork paired with a contemporary sofa, or antique lighting alongside playful wallpaper. People want spaces that feel rooted in history but lived for today-designs that feel both personal and enduring.’

The combining of found vintage, beloved heirlooms, modern statement pieces and cool contemporary minimalism has been a look for decades, but it is really finding its place today. And no wonder. Here is a trend where people can express their individual taste, show off their treasure, opt for crafted beauty and yet maintain a level of modern style. Handmade rugs have mirrored this decades-long admiration for ‘new meets old’. 

While it is hard to think of an interior item more aesthetically antique than an old rug, it is over twenty years ago that the transitional rug changed the landscape of rug design. The idea of taking heritage carpet designs and ‘adding a twist’ is an inherent element in many of the rugs being produced today.

In handmade rug making, we are always offering a nod to the past. Modern Heritage is all about enhancing the original architectural features of a house, then adding antique and vintage pieces alongside well-crafted contemporary items in natural materials that will in turn last long enough to become antiques themselves.

The colours of the room should be neutral, with pared back greens and blues, earthy tones and charcoal. It is a timeless look that is refined but not formal, rich but not too busy and overly styled.

The signature style of English interior designer Rachel Chudley has been described as “contemporary-baroque” As winner of House and Garden’s Interior Designer of the Year 2025, she is proving that we are all a little in love with the way she can expertly balance a tapestry on a wall and a modern rug on the floor.

‘Our clients appreciate a mix of classic and modern design and are willing to dream just a little bit, or a lot!’ she says. ‘Inhabiting rooms that are completely for themselves, they experience a sense of grounding and fantasy, all at once.’

Interior designer Maryline Damour of Damour Drake comments: ‘I think this is more than a trend; it’s a style of design that connects people to their surroundings and reflects who they are at home.’

While The Brownstone Boys say, ‘It’s all about honouring the past while designing for how people actually live today. It’s a balance of preservation and play, keeping the architectural soul of a space intact but layering it with contemporary comfort, expressive colour, and personality.’

In terms of rugs, the trend could not be better. You want heritage design, you want texture and you want natural materials? Rugs can deliver.

Jennifer Manners’s recent hand-knotted Heritage collection draws on the elegance of historic interiors, reinterpreting traditional motifs through softened patterns and gently faded palettes.

RH’s new RH Estates rug collection is all about premium craftsmanship, neutral shades and elegant transitional designs.

Two collections featuring Persian rug motifs are Feizy’s hand-tufted Springfield-coming in a colourway of ivory, muted blue and rust-and the hand-knotted Heritage Vine by Nourison Home, which boasts short fringes, and natural vegetable dyes.

Loloi’s Reign collection is a 100% wool pile power-loomed rug that has the feel of a fine hand-knotted rug. These are all great Modern Heritage options.

In following this trend, what we are adding to our rooms is both style and personality. As interior designer Sarah Broughton of Rowland+Broughton explains: Modern heritage reflects the ongoing appreciation for spaces that feel handcrafted and deeply personal.

People want to feel connected to their homes in a way that celebrates character, texture, and a quieter kind of luxury rooted in memory and place.’