Why Antiques and Traditional Furniture Are Having a Moment

Entertainment Post Staff on July 22, 2025

After years of embracing minimalism and neutral palettes, homeowners are increasingly rediscovering the charm and character that come with traditional design elements. The pendulum seems to have swung back toward richer textures, and pieces with history and personality to offer. This shift reflects a deeper longing for authenticity and warmth in our living spaces.

The Return of Traditional Silhouettes

Walk into any furniture showroom today, and you may notice a change from the clean, angular lines that dominated the past decade. Upholstered pieces are once again featuring decorative skirts, rolled arms, and curved silhouettes that suggest classic craftsmanship. These traditional forms offer visual weight and presence that sleek, minimalist furniture often lacks.

Skirted sofas and chairs are gradually replacing the sleek, leg-baring designs that felt more like sculptural statements than comfortable seating. These pieces can anchor rooms with their commanding presence while offering the comfort and functionality that modern living often demands.

Embracing Layers Over Minimalism

The “less is more” philosophy that shaped interiors for years is slowly giving way to thoughtfully curated maximalism. Homeowners are reclaiming the joy of layering textures, patterns, and objects to create spaces that feel lived-in and personal. This approach celebrates abundance rather than restraint.

Coffee tables may display collections of books and decorative objects, while walls feature gallery arrangements of artwork instead of single statement pieces floating in empty space. This layered approach encourages rooms that feel warm and collected over time, rather than sterile and staged.

Celebrating Vintage and Antique Pieces

There’s a growing appreciation for items with provenance and history. Antique furniture, vintage artwork, and inherited family pieces are increasingly being integrated into modern homes with pride rather than being hidden away. This trend reflects a desire for authenticity in an increasingly digital world.

Vintage rugs are often paired with contemporary furniture to add character and warmth. Antique mirrors and artwork bring unique personality that mass-produced pieces cannot always replicate. Even reproduction pieces that reference traditional craftsmanship techniques are gaining popularity with homeowners who want the look of antiques without the investment or maintenance concerns.

These pieces can serve as conversation starters and connections to the past, offering a sense of permanence and continuity that feels especially valued in our fast-paced modern lives.

Pattern Play and Rich Color Palettes

The neutral color schemes that dominated recent years appear to be giving way to bold pattern mixing and deeper, more saturated hues. Jewel tones are making a noticeable return, and unique hues are appearing on walls, furniture, and accessories, creating spaces that feel more comfortable.

Traditional patterns and toile are being reinterpreted in fresh colorways and scales. Florals are reappearing on everything from wallpaper to upholstery, often mixed with contrasting patterns and stripes in the same room. This playful approach to pattern creates visual excitement and reflects confidence in personal style.

The shift toward color and patterns represents a departure from the safe, friendly neutrals that made every room look similar. Instead, homeowners are choosing palettes that reflect their personalities and create emotional connections to their spaces.

Looking Forward

This movement toward traditional elements appears to be more than just a design trend. After years of paring down and simplifying, people seem to be craving spaces that feel abundant, personal, and emotionally satisfying. The return to traditional furniture and antiques reflects a desire for quality, craftsmanship, and pieces that may grow more beautiful with age.

As an award-winning interior designer and President of the Houston Chapter of the Interior Design Society, Juliana Ewer at J Squared Home Designs has a deep understanding of how to blend these traditional elements with modern functionality. Her expertise in creating elevated, livable spaces means she can help clients navigate this shift toward more maximalist design while making sure their homes remain practical for daily life.

Whether incorporating a single antique piece or embracing a fuller traditional aesthetic, the key lies in thoughtful curation and understanding how these classic elements can support contemporary living. For more information on creating beautifully layered, traditional-inspired spaces, visit www.j2homedesigns.com.

Disclaimer: All information provided is for general informational purposes only and is based on the author’s perspective.Readers are encouraged to seek professional advice and conduct further research before making decisions related to home design or furniture purchases.

Forget Everything You Know About Mocktails. Then Meet Stursicrafted by a Seasoned Mixologist, Stursi Brings Real Flavor to the Zero-Proof Space

Entertainment Post Staff on July 22, 2025

Mocktails have long had a bad reputation. Either they’re cloyingly sweet, painfully flat, or they taste like carbonated vitamins trying too hard to be cool. That’s the problem Stursi is here to fix—and they’re doing it with zero apologies.

The Black woman-owned, sister-founded brand is turning heads with its debut line of zero-proof cocktails, expertly crafted to match the complexity of what you’d expect from a high-end bar. These are not the mocktails you sip out of politeness. Stursi tastes so good, you’ll forget there’s no alcohol.

The brand’s first three flavors—Reign (lush pineapple and warm autumn spices), Revvl (purple papaya-berry with ginger), and Debauchery (blood orange with cardamom and chili)—are now available during their public pre-sale running June 25 through July 25 at stursi.com. Each one is bold, sophisticated, and designed to hit like the real thing. And that’s no accident.

Co-founder Livv Mills, a Certified Specialist of Spirits with over a decade behind the bar, spent more than a year dialing in the formulations. “What’s in the can is exactly what I used to make at the bar,” she says. “Same balance, same depth, same satisfaction. Just without the alcohol.”

A lot of non-alc brands take different routes—some focus on functional ingredients that promise a calming buzz, while others lean on carbonation. Stursi leads with what matters most: flavor that can hold its own in any glass.

“Many people aren’t looking to replace the buzz of alcohol,” says CEO and co-founder Lexx Mills. “They want something that actually tastes good—something that feels elevated and intentional. That’s what we’re giving them.”

The sisters launched Stursi after Livv gave up alcohol for health reasons and couldn’t find any mocktails that hit the spot. Almost everything on the market felt like a watered-down compromise. The flavors were either overly botanical or stripped of personality. The two sisters knew they could fill the gap—and that their community deserved more.

So they built Stursi from the ground up: no outside investors, no contract formulators, no bland templates. Instead, they leaned on Livv’s flavor expertise and Lexx’s background in business strategy to create something that stands on its own.

The result is a brand that doesn’t try to mimic the experience of drinking—it redefines it. Every can is a celebration of craft, culture, and belonging. The design? Sleek, textured, made to feel like it belongs on a dinner table or at a rooftop party. The vibe? Joyful, bold, rooted in legacy and forward-thinking in taste.

Representation isn’t a side note—it’s the point. “We didn’t see ourselves in this space, so we created a lane,” Lexx says. “This brand is about cultural expression, about bringing people together, and about raising the bar on what zero-proof can be.”

That authenticity has struck a chord. Early taste testers say the drinks rival craft cocktails in flavor, with 94% saying the complexity matched or exceeded what they’d expect at a bar. The attention to detail—from ingredient sourcing to the proprietary in-house process—means Stursi doesn’t just talk about quality; it delivers it.

And because they formulate everything themselves, the brand has room to move. Limited drops. Seasonal flavors. Unexpected collaborations. “We’re not boxed in by someone else’s formula,” says Livv. “If we dream it, we can make it.”

But while flavor leads, the mission behind Stursi runs deeper. It’s about creating space—especially for those who have felt left out of traditional drinking culture. Whether it’s someone choosing not to drink for health, faith, or lifestyle, Stursi offers something that doesn’t feel like a sacrifice.

It feels like a statement.

So yeah—go ahead and forget what you thought mocktails were. These aren’t drinks for the kids’ table. They’re for people who love flavor, who live with intention, and who know that sometimes, the best part of the party is just feeling fully present.

Ready to try it? The public pre-sale is live now through July 25 at stursi.com, and quantities are limited.

Mocktails may have been an afterthought before. But with Stursi? They’re the main event.