A recent article in the Telegraph explaining the benefits of using antique brown furniture in your home, and the advantages compared to mass produced things. Look for good quality woods, and quirky features that add personality. It is surprising how well old furniture can complement the contemporary when you mix them up.
And a quote from an interview with Terence Conran in “The English Home":
"I have always believed a mixture of old furnishings - either inherited, or bought in antique shops or flea markets - and modern furniture is the way forward. I think it helps to make my home more interesting and, at times, surprising. I've never been afraid of putting modern objects in traditional environments, or vice versa. It creates a wonderfully fresh atmosphere and works as well in a centuries-old country home as it does in a modern, urban apartment."