Something Old

By Lisa Arnett
Appears in the August 2025 issue.

Even for her most modern-leaning clients, interior designer Madeline Giatras loves to incorporate vintage items into her designs. “For this room, the little brown books are vintage Shakespeare, and the homeowner loves to write, so that was pretty cool,” she says.

Giatras is always on the hunt for eye-catching finds in the western suburbs or while traveling. “My family spends a lot of time in the New Buffalo area of Michigan and there are a lot of vintage stores around there…And my husband is Greek, so we go to Greece often, and I’ll pick up items when I’m there.”

From there, accessories remain in her collection until just the right project comes around. “A lot of my clients haven’t collected things from their travels, so they are very open to little decor elements that give the space character and have a story behind it, whether that be a cool pot or vase or sometimes artwork—just things I can layer in to make the space feel lived in,” she says.

Photo: Jimm Tiongco Photography