How to Make a New-Build Home Look Old—According to an Expert Who Did It

At first glance, Jess Daines‘ Norfolk cottage looks as though it has been standing in the English countryside for centuries. In reality, it was built in the early 2000s. “We’ve got the old house charm, but without all of the problems that come with an old house,” she says. If you, too, find yourself coveting that English country look but aren’t necessarily in the market for a centuries-old house outside London, you’ve come to the right place at the perfect time.

Ahead, Daines breaks down exactly how she imbued her space with paint, wallpaper, upholstery, and objects that give it a warm and layered look. “I really am drawn to colors that are found in nature, a lot of earthy tones, and pops of color that are easy to live with, and just a lot of natural texture as well,” she starts. “I think that’s really important to me. And just celebrating nature, I guess.” She has a point. Most homes in the English countryside are done in more muted, quiet colors than bright, attention-grabbing alternatives.

Keep reading to discover how she mastered the art of making new look old.

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Discover more gorgeous homes in the U.K. below:

• This Former Student Housing Structure in Bath Is Now an Incredibly Stylish Home
• We’re Taking You Inside the 9 Most Beautiful Homes in the English Countryside
• A 194-Year-Old Estate in the English Countryside Is a Masterclass in “Trendlessness”

See the whole home here!

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Make the Television Disappear

The family room is usually situated around the television so that, no matter where you’re sitting, you have a good view. However, we can likely all agree that a television screen is not the most stylish element in a room, so putting it off to the side and concealing it is not a bad idea for anyone who wants to prioritize the look over the tech. That was Daines’ thinking when she put a mirror, rather than a television, over the fireplace. The TV is not the focal point of the room because I really wanted the wood burner to be the focal point,” she says.

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Bring Antique Furniture Into the Kitchen

A kitchen can go contemporary very fast, so to avoid accidentally creating a cold and bland space, Daines decided to make the biggest pieces in the room—the larder and hutch—antiques. “The hutch was actually on Facebook Marketplace, and I think we paid 100 pounds for it. It was crazy,” she admits. “I love the fact that we’ve just left the natural wood because people are always really quick to paint things nowadays. The natural wood, she says, introduces so much warmth and personality into the otherwise neutral kitchen.

The dresser isn’t the only piece breaking up the fitted cabinetry. An old wood larder cupboard provides additional storage, allowing Daines to leave portions of the walls open for shelving. It’s a small distinction, but one that makes the kitchen feel as though it evolved over time rather than arriving all at once.

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Let Wallpaper Do More Than One Wall

Covering the walls and ceiling in the same wallpaper pattern is a bold choice, but Daines chose wisely. She opted for an easy-on-the-eyes botanical print of which she’ll never tire. “And then we added this lovely paneling in this beautiful shade called Tuscan Red, which I think brings such warmth, and it works so well with the wood from the windows.” Together, the wallpaper, paneling, exposed wood, and antique brass lighting give the relatively new room the sort of architectural layering that typically comes with age.

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Give a New Addition Some History

Even a brand-new addition can feel like it has always been there with the right mix of old and new. Daines layered her recently completed dining space with antique books, inherited art, and pieces passed down through her family. “I think that brings that element of old and new,” she says. Rather than filling the room with pieces from one period, she lets sentimental objects do some of the heavy lifting. “I think as long as you’ve got that kind of personal connection to it, you can have anything you like,” she adds. “I think it’s a really great way to bring in personality.”

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A Guest Bedroom With Salvaged Character

You don’t need original architectural details to give a newer room a sense of history. In the guest bedroom, Daines hung a pair of secondhand shutters she found on Facebook Marketplace, adding texture and age to an otherwise simple wall. “I feel like this adds really interesting texture to the wall and brings that structure as well, which I love,” she says.

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