People who enjoy traditional design and people who prefer contemporary design sometimes seem as though they’re standing in opposite corners, never to connect. Unfortunately, in these confrontations additionally, it seems like it is”traditional” that gets a bad rap rather than fitting into the lifestyles. But, there are plenty of people that wish to settle somewhere in the middle, enjoying historical architecture, interiors and furnishings while also admiring clean lines, a lack of clutter, light walls and contemporary technology.

Now, this mixing of styles was dubbed”transitional,” but I think that word is feeble and nondescript. This effective movement is better called”New Traditional” Though the term may seem like an oxymoron, here are five homes we have featured previously Tours that prove exactly how well this style works.

Charlie & Co.. Design, Ltd

Home No. 1. Federal style in St. Paul. Architect Charlie Simmons and interior designer Sandy LeMendola honored the historical Federal Design of this beautiful brick home in St. Paul, Minnesota during a renovation.

Its”New Traditional” style combines historical forms with contemporary technology. Can you believe this armoire is a refrigerator?

Charlie & Co.. Design, Ltd

Windsor chairs, a banquette and sconces adorned in crystals have been nestled into a nook full of traditional trimwork. It is the upholstered camelback shape of the banquette that offers the space an unexpected twist.

Charlie & Co.. Design, Ltd

See the remainder of this Federal-style house’s interior design.

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

Home No. 2. A confluence of worldwide traditional bits. This beautiful house in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, combines Old World bits and traditional detailing with pops of fresh updated color.

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

Wingback host and hostess chairs, a banquette covered at a geometric David Hicks fabric and carved dining chairs painted a deep red surround an antique dining table. Grasscloth wall coveringarchitectural remnants and traditional sconces and trim blend with Asian touches, breathing fresh life into traditional style.

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

A traditional four-poster bed with canopy rails and dental molding are paired with exotic bits from far-flung places to make a new kind of globally-influenced traditional style.

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Stonewood, LLC

Home No. 3. A dream house with European flair. This Minnesota mansion is the owners’ dream house. The great room has the feel of an Italian villa, with its beautifully proportioned arches, Italian plaster wall treatment and layers of textures and classic pieces.

Stonewood, LLC

One of the best rooms at a traditional house is a dark-paneled library, complete with beautiful books, comfortable leather upholstery and brass accents. Traditionalists know the very best way to cozy up the floor is to pay it in an antique Oriental rug; this is 1 facet of standard design I doubt will ever alter.

Stonewood, LLC

Tradition meets technology in this enviable wine cellar and tasting room. While the distance feels like it is beneath a European vineyard, it uses state-of-the-art technology to secure and preserve the wine collection.

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Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

Home No. 4. English country charm in Hollywood. Artist and blogger Lisa Borgnes-Giramonti has changed this 1935 Los Feliz, California, home into a soulful creative space that was motivated by cozy English country homes.

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

The house’s entryway makes a wowing first impression. Bedecking it in wallpaper with a bold, flowering quince design brought the traditional foyer up to date.

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

Old and new elements coexist in harmony all around the house. In this room, a well-worn oriental rug place beneath a seagrass rug retains a Chinese Garden Stool, traditional in design but a contemporary idea for a coffee table. The couch has a mid-century contemporary aesthetic, the dining table is contemporary and the French doors include country flair. The pop of bold throw pillows tells us which decade we’re in.

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AbbeyK, Inc..

Home No. 5. A Victorian gets a lift out of mild: This is an East Coast Victorian which had many of its initial details still intact. Unfortunately, the house was so dim and shut in that it just felt family-friendly to the likes of Morticia Addams and Cousin Itt. Enter designer Abbey Koplovitz, that breathed life into it using mild shade, a few reconfiguring and soft, stain-proof fabrics.

AbbeyK, Inc..

Working with an architect, Koplovitz redesigned the little galley kitchen into an open space that’s currently bathed in light and has plenty of space for cooking, collecting and eating plus spacious passageways that allow easy access to the entire space.

AbbeyK, Inc..

The kitchen reconfiguration includes a bump-out which offers sufficient space for a dining nook, miniature office and fantastic windows.

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What exactly does”traditional” mean to youpersonally? Please share in the comments section. Also, have a stab at renaming”transitional.” To me, it is simply not a descriptive sufficient term to specify an whole style.

More:
Edith Wharton’s The Mount
Comfort and Elegance for Five
Paula Coldiron’s Affordable Elegance

Recommended reading:
The New Traditional by Darryl Carter
American Modern by Thomas O’Brien
At Home With Town & Country

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