What’s Your Style? Part 2
Last blog, we discussed contemporary, modern, glam and transitional design styles. Here are a few other design styles and a list of their key characteristics. Remember, you don’t have to stick to one design aesthetic when decorating your home, but knowing the ones you gravitate toward will help you make design decisions with more confidence and help to guide you in curating the look and feel you truly desire for your home.
Traditional Design
Seems predicable but this style is not boring or dated if done correctly. Traditional design is welcoming, comfortable, warm, and it is classic and timeless. The peak of traditional design was post-war in the 20th century, when people were searching for the same sense of comfort that this style invokes. In a true traditional home, you are likely to see crystal chandeliers and oriental rugs (I personally live for oriental rugs). - Traditional Characteristics:
o Detailed Millwork – furniture with curves, less straight lines
o Medium to dark wood tones
o Symmetry – matching sofas, two wingback chairs
o Metals are usually gold, brass and copper
o Antiques
o Classic drapery
To add a little twist, there is a “new traditional design,” which is slightly different from the old traditional.
- New Traditional Characteristics:
o Less detailed millwork
o Lighter color woods
o Not as symmetrical – less matchy-matchy
o Exchanging oriental rugs for natural rugs such as sisal and jute (gasp!)
(No offense on the natural fiber rugs. I do love layering a sisal with an oriental. Having an Oushak, Heriz, Serapi or Malayer rug truly makes a statement in a room. Keep in mind if you have pets, natural rugs tend to be one of the worst for accidents; you’re bringing the temptation of the outside in).
RUstic Design
Rustic design leans toward casual and cozy. It is all about texture, such as wood finishes showing their grain. Those who lean towards this style tend to have a love for distressed wood, linen slipcovers and animal hide rugs.
- Rustic Characteristics
o Earthy color palette
o Natural fabrics such as linen, cotton, canvas and leather
o Matte finishes almost avoiding shiny
o Heavy wooden furniture
o Elements of stone and brick
Rustic Design is an essential element of Industrial Design. Industrial design takes the reclaimed, distressed wood and exposed brick of rustic design and adds mixed metals.
Bohemian (Boho) Design is based on whimsy and cultures. You will see layering colors and patterns with this style and texture, low seating, plants and collectables are essentials to the boho-chic vibe.
So again, I will ask… after reading many of the different design elements and characteristics, were you able to identify your style? With the styles I presented last month (modern, contemporary, transitional and glam), I defined my own style as a combination of transitional, contemporary, slightly modern with not much glam. After presenting traditional and rustic with a few key points on new traditional, industrial and Bohemian, in this “part 2” blog, I will now share that I also embrace elements of old traditional and new traditional in my personal style. Old antiques, mid-century modern, and pine pieces are the foundation of my home, and I infuse my love for contemporary in specific furniture pieces and styling. You will definitely see an oriental rug in my home layered with a hide. My base colors are neutral, with art and fabrics pulling out my love of color.
Clearly, I love mixing styles; however, my design choices are deliberate. If you feel like you gravitate toward multiple aesthetics as well but still feel like your interior is a little all over the place, just keep in mind that it’s how you combine your pieces that will bring them to life in a visually pleasing way. All in all, if it brings you joy, stick with it! There is always a way to harmoniously marry a piece you love into your overall décor. I’m here for any interior-only marriage counseling that you need in order to pour joy into your home.
