Home Styles: New Traditional Design
5 beautiful homes show traditional interiors merging with simpler lines and colorful updates
Becky Harris
October 24, 2011
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Those who like traditional design and those who like contemporary design sometimes seem like they're standing in opposite corners, never to connect. Unfortunately, in these confrontations it also seems like it's "traditional" that gets a bad rap as not fitting into today's lifestyles. However, there are plenty of people who want to settle somewhere in the middle, appreciating historic architecture, interiors and furnishings while also admiring clean lines, a lack of clutter, light walls and modern technology.
Today, this merging of styles has been dubbed "transitional," but I think that word is weak and nondescript. This powerful movement is better described as "New Traditional." Though the term may seem like an oxymoron, here are five homes we've featured in past Houzz Tours that prove just how well this style works.
Today, this merging of styles has been dubbed "transitional," but I think that word is weak and nondescript. This powerful movement is better described as "New Traditional." Though the term may seem like an oxymoron, here are five homes we've featured in past Houzz Tours that prove just how well this style works.
Home No. 1. Federal style in St. Paul. Architect Charlie Simmons and interior designer Sandy LeMendola honored the historic Federal Style of this beautiful brick home in St. Paul, Minnesota during a renovation.
Its "New Traditional" style combines historic forms with modern technology. Can you believe this armoire is a refrigerator?
Its "New Traditional" style combines historic forms with modern technology. Can you believe this armoire is a refrigerator?
Windsor chairs, a banquette and sconces adorned in crystals are nestled into a nook full of traditional trimwork. It's the upholstered camelback shape of the banquette that gives the space an unexpected twist.
See the rest of this Federal-style home's interior design.
Home No. 2. A confluence of worldwide traditional pieces. This beautiful home in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, combines Old World pieces and traditional detailing with pops of fresh updated color.
Wingback host and hostess chairs, a banquette covered in a geometric David Hicks fabric and carved dining chairs painted a deep red surround an antique dining table. Grasscloth wall covering, architectural remnants and traditional sconces and trim mix with Asian touches, breathing new life into traditional style.
A classic four-poster bed with canopy rails and dental molding are paired with exotic pieces from far-flung places to create a new kind of globally-influenced traditional style.
See the rest of this home
See the rest of this home
Home No. 3. A dream home with European flair. This Minnesota mansion is the owners' dream home. The great room has the feel of an Italian villa, with its beautifully proportioned arches, Italian plaster wall treatment and layers of textures and antique pieces.
One of the best rooms in a traditional home is a dark-paneled library, complete with beautiful books, comfortable leather furniture and brass accents. Traditionalists know the best way to cozy up the floor is to cover it in an antique Oriental rug; this is one aspect of traditional design I doubt will ever change.
Tradition meets technology in this enviable wine cellar and tasting room. While the space feels like it's beneath a European vineyard, it uses state-of-the-art technology to secure and preserve the wine collection.
See the rest of this home
See the rest of this home
Home No. 4. English country charm in Hollywood. Artist and blogger Lisa Borgnes-Giramonti has transformed this 1935 Los Feliz, California, home into a soulful creative space that was inspired by cozy English country houses.
The home's entryway makes a wowing first impression. Bedecking it in wallpaper with a bold, flowering quince pattern brought the traditional foyer up to date.
Old and new elements coexist in harmony all over the home. In this room, a well-worn oriental rug set atop a seagrass rug holds a Chinese Garden Stool, traditional in style but a modern idea for a coffee table. The sofa has a mid-century modern aesthetic, the desk is modern and the French doors add country flair. The pop of bold throw pillows lets us know which decade we're in.
See the rest of this home
See the rest of this home
Home No. 5. A Victorian gets a lift from light: This is an East Coast Victorian that had many of its original details still intact. Unfortunately, the home was so dark and closed in that it only felt family-friendly to the likes of Morticia Addams and Cousin Itt. Enter designer Abbey Koplovitz, who breathed life into it with light color, some reconfiguring and soft, stain-proof fabrics.
Working with an architect, Koplovitz redesigned the small galley kitchen into an open room that is now bathed in light and has plenty of room for cooking, gathering and eating plus wide passageways that allow easy access to the entire space.
The kitchen reconfiguration includes a bump-out which provides enough space for an eating nook, mini office and fantastic windows.
See the rest of this home
What does "traditional" mean to you? Please share in the comments section. Also, take a stab at renaming "transitional." To me, it's just not a descriptive enough word to define an entire style.
More:
Houzz Tour: Edith Wharton's The Mount
Houzz Tour: Comfort and Elegance for Five
Houzz Tour: Paula Coldiron's Affordable Elegance
Recommended reading:
The New Traditional by Darryl Carter
American Modern by Thomas O'Brien
At Home With Town & Country
See the rest of this home
What does "traditional" mean to you? Please share in the comments section. Also, take a stab at renaming "transitional." To me, it's just not a descriptive enough word to define an entire style.
More:
Houzz Tour: Edith Wharton's The Mount
Houzz Tour: Comfort and Elegance for Five
Houzz Tour: Paula Coldiron's Affordable Elegance
Recommended reading:
The New Traditional by Darryl Carter
American Modern by Thomas O'Brien
At Home With Town & Country
For more than 35 years, Re-Bath® of Pittsburgh has helped homeowners convert worn, outdated bathrooms into... Read More
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