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Learn with Marc Allum

Antiques for Interior Design

Learn how art & antiques are an invaluable source book for decorarting with style

Course overview

This unique lesson from Marc Allum is very personal insight to his years of experience, and how he’s become one of the best antiques ‘buyers’ in the business for interior design. Marc tells you all about his philosophy, and shares his secrets of how he sources and esoteric collections of antiques from around the world for top designers and high end clients. Marc also focuses on the practicalities of sourcing antiques for interior design. Once you’ve watched this exclusive video, choose the Expert option and Marc is all yours for a week - to ask as many questions you need to and get feedback on your assignment. You might be sourcing for your own project and pleasure, getting started collecting antiques, or many of our students are interior designers wanting to understand more about antiques. Marc's articulate and friendly approach is becoming known as a valuable asset online for enthusiasts and aspirational designers worldwide. A unique opportunity to get access to an expert you’d not normally be able to reach. Please submit your assignments for Marc to mark (no pun intended..)

Meet Marc Allum

Marc Allum is an expert, writer and broadcaster. As a child he just loved collecting ‘stuff’, digging up bottles or buying old postcards. Fast-forward a few decades and he has now written and contributed to over sixteen books on antiques, art and collectables and regularly writes for numerous mainstream magazines. Marc has been a specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow since 1998 as well as many other television and radio programmes. Having spent over 16 years as a director of a major London auction house, he is an expert valuer, auctioneer and consultant with a passion and reputation for divining the unusual. Profile picture from James Bignell Photography.

Course description

Expert in antiques and regular presenter on the Antiques Roadshow on BBC, Marc Allum teaches you how to choose antiques for interior design.

Marc will teach you how to combine art, antiques and collectables in your home and interior designs, where to find antiques (from markets to auction houses) and what's good taste.

As you learn you'll be working on your own antiques interior project, and thinking about how you can combine antiques and art from different periods and styles for your taste.

Choose the Expert option above to receive personal feedback from Marc on your assignment.

You'll learn:
  • how to source art and antiques from shops and auctions
  • How to get ‘the eye’
  • What constitutes ‘good taste’ (and whether or not that’s important)
  • Art history and historic interior design and their re-interpretation for domestic use
  • Using your own design initiatives
  • How to choose, buy and combine colour, textiles and soft furnishings
  • Restoration tricks of the trade and the purposes of restoration
  • How to enjoy living with antiques and collectables
  • Collecting antiques tips
  • Basis of the skills and knowledge you need to understand the antiques business

Marc has worked on a number of antique interior design projects (from the historic to the post-modern), which illustrate the dramatic value of well-chosen art, antiques and design elements to produce classic or challenging home and work interiors.

You'll learn how to develop your taste in antiques and design using Marc's insight into designing and decorating with originality.

Marc’s eclectic precept that ‘anything goes’, his sense of style and his innate passion for objects allows him to advise on design in an approachable way.

You'll receive tips on mixing ordinary objects with valuable antiques from different periods, along with practical advice on how and where to buy antique pieces around the world, including markets and auction house tips and tricks.

Time to complete this antiques for interiors course:

Every student is different but in general we think the whole course will take around 2 hours 50 mins to complete including:

  • Video lesson: 20 minutes
  • Assignment: at least 2 hours
  • Interactive classroom time: 15 minutes
  • Tutor feedback review (Expert level): 15 minutes
You'll need:

You don't need any special equipment, but you will be making a list of designers and thinking about your own interiors and antique tastes.

The course is suitable for all levels - beginner collectors to antiques professionals who want to learn from an expert antiques specialist.

The course includes:
  • 1 on-demand video lesson - presented by Marc Allum
  • lifetime access to the video, notes and interactive class
  • flexible classes - join and learn when and where you like
  • downloadable lesson notes
  • practical (optional) antiques project (no antiques purchasing required!)
  • access on your mobile, PC, Mac or laptop
  • small interactive online classroom chat online to students from around the world
Ready to get started?

Just add the course to your basket above - choose the 'Expert' option for personal feedback from Marc on antiques and questions.

Any questions? Contact us by clicking on the orange speech symbol - we'd love to hear from you.