Guest Picks: A Transitional Look for a Living Room
Furnishings and accessories in mixed styles for a living room that's part traditional, part modern and all comfortably chic
I'm working on a project at the moment that incorporates both traditional and midcentury modern styles. The overall look is transitional, or traditional with a modern twist. I love designing transitional interiors because they allow you to play with different styles — great for those of us with multiple design personalities! In this case, I'm combining a love of elegant and feminine furnishings in shades of pink and red, and a desire to update the space with modern and contemporary influences, all in an open-plan city apartment built in the 1940s.
To pull it together, I've created some repetition by looking for furnishings and accessories with similar colors, shapes and finishes. In this ideabook, I thought I'd round up some of the products that are inspiring the scheme. — Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
To pull it together, I've created some repetition by looking for furnishings and accessories with similar colors, shapes and finishes. In this ideabook, I thought I'd round up some of the products that are inspiring the scheme. — Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
Snowdrop Armchair, Coral House Textured Cotton
The starting point is a statement piece that brings together the other elements of the room. This coral chair is perfect. It has a traditional shape with rounded arms and turned-wood legs, but it is updated with an eye-popping fabric.
Kelly Wearstler Bengal Bazaar Pillow Covers By Aurelia6311
One of these pillows in Kelly Wearstler's fabric would look amazing on the armchair. It's a fabric that works well in a transitional interior, as it's influenced by ikat textiles re-imagined in these gorgeous pink and apricot shades.
Vintage Barrel Back Chairs by Liven UP Design
An alternative is to source vintage armchairs and have them reupholstered. I like the shape of these chairs. The tufted back and curved legs are traditional, but they still look comfortable and generously proportioned.
Watermelon Fabric
This watermelon-colored velvet would look great on the vintage chairs. Velvet is traditional, but the color is a contemporary shade of pink without being as daring as fuchsia.
KLIPPAN Two-Seat Sofa, Alme White
If the chairs are going to be a traditional shape, I would choose a simple contemporary sofa. The Ikea Klippan sofa in white is ideal because it's so affordable. I think of it as the interiors equivalent of a classic little black dress, best accessorized with vintage jewelry.
Estelle Prettypegs, Teak Style
If you don't like the legs on the sofa, a great option is this set of legs made to fit Ikea furniture. They come in a variety of colors and a range of styles, including these midcentury tapered legs. If you fancy pink turned-wood legs on your white sofa, this is how to do it!
CORAL Cushion
While the chairs are dressed with contemporary pillows, the modern sofa can be accented with traditional pillows. I love these hand-dyed velvet pillows in different shades of pink.
Freshford Poppy Red Cushion
The tiniest touch of floral can be introduced in a pillow. These poppies are embroidered, so they are more contemporary than a chintz fabric would be.
Faux Bois Drinks Table
Elements of gold and brass help a space blend eras effortlessly. I'd love to see this pretty twig table between a pair of the coral armchairs.
Newberry Pedestal Table - Pottery Barn
To complement the gold table, I'll probably include a turned-wood table that has a traditional shape.
Zuri Coffee Table
The coffee table can be in a warm wood, in this case teak, but I'd choose a midcentury shape. The marquetry adds a level of craftsmanship and timelessness.
One of a Kind Vintage Coffee Table Blonde Gilt
This French-inspired console is extremely traditional, but its slender lines and touch of gold mean it would work as a decorative accent in a transitional interior.
Contemporary Wall Mirrors
This mirror is a simpler, more modern interpretation of a starburst mirror. Its antiqued metal finish would work well.
Herringbone Sisal Rug
Timeless basics are a good choice for large pieces such as rugs. A honey-colored sisal rug will complement the warm color scheme and pull the room together.
Tritter Feefer Home Collection Baluster Dining Table
For the dining area, I like this pedestal table. It has a rather heavy look, but it comes in multiple finishes, so you can choose a lighter one like this to bring the look up to date.
Linen Hayden Dining Chair
Classic upholstered dining chairs put comfort first and encourage post-dinner conversation. These are very affordable options, and I like the tailored shape, which works well with both traditional and modern accessories.
Vinyl Tree Wall Decal by Wall Decal Depot
While chinoiserie is usually associated with traditional, even stately, interiors, a decal is a more modern way to incorporate pretty chinoiserie designs. I'd like to do this one in gold against a dark gray wall in the dining room.
Possini Euro Design White Flower Pendant Chandelier
This flower pendant would look stunning against the dark walls and would complement the decal. It's definitely a modern piece, but the floral shape ties it into the traditional elements of the scheme.
Turning Pendant, White/Natural
An alternative would be this simple drum shade. The wood-turned base dresses up the entire fixture and repeats the shapes of the dining table and pedestal end table.
Cleo Table Lamp
I love that this table lamp combines a traditional finial, a simple white shade and contemporary gold base. It's perfect as the finishing touch for the dining area.
Next: So Your Style Is: Transitional
Next: So Your Style Is: Transitional