DARA CAPONIGRO
“Antiques also tell such a story, each one is a survivor, which is often quite a miracle. I think of myself as a caretaker of someone else’s work and creativity, and I am their steward for future generations.”
The Neisha | Before & After
“I’ve spent years buying antiques professionally—first for my own business and then for Schumacher—and they are something to marvel at and cherish,” says Schumacher Creative Director and Frederic Editor in Chief Dara Caponigro. “Although I would consider myself a modernist, adding antiques to a room brings instant soul and warmth. There is something about the not-so-perfect quality of an antique that acts as a foil to newness, and takes the room to a much richer place”
Caponigro selected her stylish vintage chair “because of its timeless, sleek and simple form and the way it could work in a variety of settings from modern to traditional,” she says. “I was also drawn to the warmth of its brass frame and how that acted as a counterpoint to its clean lines. I intentionally did not refinish the frame–I wanted the patina to come through. For me, absolute perfection is boring.” The fabric Caponigro selected is the luxurious Zebra Velvet by Neisha Crossland for Schumacher. “I find this cut velvet to be sexy and cool and I knew the deep red would sing beautifully with the brass finish,” she says. “Neisha is a pattern designer out of London who has a wonderful way of tapping into tradition while making something sensationally of-the-moment.”
Note Caponigro of vintage and antique pieces, “They are history lessons encapsulated, and I find that fascinating. I also hate throwing things away–it quite literally pains me–and there is nothing as wonderful as breathing new life into a piece through refinishing or reupholstering. I also feel I owe that to the environment and to the person who made the piece.”
