Timeless Charm, Fresh Appeal
H̷a̶v̷e̵ ̶y̶o̶u̵ ̴e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̵w̴a̷l̴k̴e̴d̷ ̴i̷n̷t̷o̴ ̴a̵ ̵h̶o̴m̶e̷ ̵a̵n̶d̴ ̶f̴e̶l̷t̵ ̴l̴i̶k̶e̷ ̶y̵o̶u̶’̴v̷e̸ ̸s̶t̴e̶p̶p̷e̵d̷ ̵b̷a̸c̵k̷ ̷i̷n̶t̷o̴ ̶t̸h̶e̷ ̴1̸9̵2̷0̶s̴?̴ ̵T̶h̷a̸t̸ ̵w̶a̶r̶m̶,̸ ̵i̸n̵v̶i̶t̸i̷n̴g̷ ̸g̸l̶o̶w̶ ̶o̶f̴ ̵r̵i̴c̷h̴ ̶w̶o̶o̴d̶w̴o̷r̴k̵,̵ ̶t̶h̷e̴ ̴s̶u̶b̷t̷l̵e̸ ̸p̷a̵t̵i̴n̷a̴ ̵o̴f̷ ̸a̸g̵e̴d̶ ̶b̸r̷a̶s̶s̸,̷ ̶t̵h̵e̸ ̸r̶i̵c̴h̷ ̷t̶e̸x̶t̸u̷r̸e̵s̵ ̸o̴f̴ ̴l̵e̶a̷t̶h̷e̵r̶ ̸a̸n̵d̴ ̶v̷e̷l̴v̸e̸t̵.̶.̴.̷ ̸i̶t̷’̴s̵ ̶l̵i̴k̴e̸ ̶s̴t̵e̵p̶p̸i̴n̷g̸ ̵i̷n̶t̴o̸ ̴a̷ ̸t̷i̶m̷e̶ ̴c̵a̸p̵s̷u̵l̴e̵!̷
B̶u̵t̵ ̸w̸a̴i̸t̸ ̶a̷ ̵m̸i̴n̶u̵t̴e̸.̷.̵.̶ ̵w̸h̵a̴t̷’̴s̴ ̵t̷h̸a̴t̷ ̷s̷l̸e̴e̴k̵,̵ ̸m̸o̸d̷e̷r̷n̸ ̷l̷i̶n̷e̸ ̷o̸f̷ ̵t̶h̶a̶t̸ ̵c̴o̴u̷n̶t̶e̵r̶t̸o̶p̸?̷ ̵A̶n̸d̶ ̷t̵h̸e̸ ̷p̷o̴p̴ ̸o̵f̷ ̵c̵o̴l̵o̷r̵ ̶i̷n̸ ̸t̵h̷o̵s̴e̶ ̸p̵i̴l̷l̶o̶w̷s̴?̶ ̵T̸h̶i̴s̴ ̸i̷s̷n̶’̴t̸ ̵y̷o̵u̸r̶ ̴g̶r̶a̷n̵d̵m̴a̷’̷s̶ ̷h̸o̵u̴s̵e̸,̸ ̴i̶s̷ ̸i̴t̸?̶ ̴T̷h̴i̵s̸ ̵i̶s̷ ̵T̶h̵e̵ ̶N̴e̸w̶ ̸T̶r̵a̷d̸i̷t̶i̸o̷n̶a̷l̶ ̷-̷ ̵a̶ ̸b̵l̷e̶n̵d̶ ̵o̵f̸ ̷c̷l̴a̶s̴s̸i̴c̶ ̵s̴t̶y̶l̷e̴s̶ ̸a̴n̴d̵ ̷m̴o̴d̷e̷r̷n̴ ̷f̷l̶a̴i̸r̴s̷ ̴t̶h̶a̴t̶ ̶c̶r̴e̶a̶t̷e̶s̸ ̴a̸ ̵l̷o̵o̷k̸ ̵t̶h̵a̵t̴’̸s̷ ̷b̸o̸t̷h̵ ̵t̵i̷m̸e̷l̵e̶s̶s̴ ̵a̸n̴d̵ ̵t̶o̸t̶a̴l̴l̸y̴ ̷o̶n̵-̵t̷r̶e̶n̶d̶.̸
W̵e̶l̷c̷o̴m̶e̶ ̸t̵o̷ ̷t̸h̴e̷ ̸w̴o̷r̷l̸d̷ ̴o̵f̷ ̷A̷t̸c̵h̴i̶s̶o̷n̶ ̴C̵o̵n̷s̴t̴r̴u̵c̵t̸i̵o̶n̴ ̸I̷n̵c̶.̴!̴ ̴[̴h̴t̷t̴p̵s̴:̸/̶/̷a̸t̸c̴h̵i̵s̶o̴n̸c̵o̸n̴s̵t̶r̴u̸c̸t̸i̶o̷n̷i̵n̸c̵.̷c̵o̷m̶/̴]̶ ̴W̷e̶’̶r̸e̸ ̷m̶a̷s̵t̶e̵r̸s̷ ̸a̵t̶ ̶c̷r̴e̶a̵t̸i̵n̷g̷ ̶l̴i̵v̷i̶n̸g̷ ̶s̸p̵a̸c̶e̷s̸ ̶t̵h̷a̶t̴ ̸b̶l̷e̶n̴d̸ ̶t̵h̵e̴ ̷b̸e̷s̵t̴ ̶o̷f̸ ̷b̷o̵t̷h̴ ̴w̵o̸r̷l̸d̸s̶ ̵-̵ ̶t̸h̴e̸ ̸c̴o̴z̶y̷ ̵c̴h̸a̷r̷m̸ ̵o̶f̷ ̶t̷r̶a̶d̵i̶t̶i̷o̸n̵a̵l̴ ̵d̷e̴s̵i̶g̴n̴s̴ ̴w̷i̴t̶h̷ ̵t̷h̶e̷ ̶c̷l̵e̷a̷n̴,̷ ̷s̸t̴r̶e̴a̸m̸l̶i̸n̸e̸d̴ ̵f̶e̵e̷l̵ ̴o̶f̷ ̷c̷o̴n̸t̵e̶m̷p̷o̸r̷a̴r̸y̸ ̸s̶t̸y̸l̶e̵s̷.̵ ̴S̴o̸ ̴g̴r̸a̸b̵ ̴a̴ ̵c̶u̵p̵ ̸o̸f̴ ̴t̶e̶a̴ ̶(̵o̷r̴ ̴a̸ ̸g̶l̷a̷s̸s̸ ̴o̶f̵ ̶w̷i̸n̷e̸ ̶-̶ ̵I̵ ̴w̷o̸n̸’̶t̶ ̸j̶u̴d̷g̴e̸!̷)̴,̵ ̵k̷i̵c̸k̴ ̴o̵f̷f̴ ̷y̴o̶u̴r̴ ̸s̷h̸o̷e̶s̵,̶ ̴a̶n̴d̶ ̸l̷e̸t̵’̵s̶ ̷e̸x̴p̴l̴o̵r̸e̵ ̴t̴h̵i̸s̴ ̶e̶x̷c̴i̸t̶i̶n̸g̷ ̸n̴e̴w̷ ̸d̴e̸s̸i̶g̶n̴ ̴t̷r̸e̶n̴d̵!̴
The Comforts of Tradition
Let’s start with the backbone of The New Traditional style – those cozy, comforting elements that make a house feel like an inviting home. After all, isn’t that what we all crave in our living spaces? A sense of warmth, history, and being surrounded by pleasing textures and rich materials?
The traditional pieces that often form the foundation include gorgeous hardwood floors (maybe with a vintage paint-washed finish), exposed brick or stone, and kitchen cabinets with a subtle antique patina. Plush area rugs, buttery leathers, and classic patterned fabrics are also musts for achieving that “old soul” ambiance.
But we’re not just slavishly recreating Grandma’s parlor room here. The New Traditional gives these beloved traditional elements a fresh, modern attitude through things like:
- Unique wood stains and specialty finishes that lend an updated vibe
- Combining rustic and sleek materials like barn wood with stainless steel
- Using traditionally-patterned fabrics in unexpected pops of bold color
- Mixing antique and new furnishings for an eclectic, collected-over-time feel
The key is letting traditional pieces provide that wonderful sense of history and character, while judiciously editing and layering in more current touches. It’s a symbiotic dance between two opposing styles that totally works!
Clean, Simple, Sculptural
On the flip side of the traditional warmth, you’ve got to balance things out with some modern coooooolness (whew, am I pulling off “current” lingo or what?). This comes through in the form of simple, clean-lined furniture, striking sculptural elements like branchy light fixtures or abstract art, and pops of lively contemporary color.
Sleek kitchen countertops, minimalist open shelving, and flat-panel cabinetry are all great examples of modern’s profound sense of simplicity. But used judiciously and combined with Old World touches, they provide a calming, counterbalance to keep things from feeling fussy or overdone.
You’ll also often see elements with an almost artistic, sculptural presence like waterfall-edge counters and islands, unique geometric tiling, and linear bare-bulb lighting. These pieces are like functional art installations that add graphic impact and a bit of edge.
In terms of materials, The New Traditional lets concrete, steel, and glass play starring roles alongside the expected warm woods and plush fabrics. The idea is to let these opposing materials bounce off each other through expert editing and selection of just the right pieces.
| Traditional Warmth | Modern Simplicity |
|---|---|
| Weathered wood beams | Concrete countertops |
| Plush velvet sofas | Sleek metal chairs |
| Patterned wallpaper | Shiplap paneling |
| Antique brass accents | Brushed nickel hardware |
| Floral draperies | Minimalist roller shades |
By blending these contrasting tones and textures, you create a livable, multi-dimensional space that keeps things interesting and fresh. Just be sure to strike that magic balance – too much “cold” minimalism or fussy traditional going unchecked can quickly turn things stale.
Color Play: From Neutral to Knockout
Color is where The New Traditional style really shines and allows for tons of personal expression. You can keeping things subtle and calming by sticking to a restrained palette of creams, grays, and taupes, perhaps livened up with hits of deep blue or emerald green. Very “Nantucket beach house” vibes!
Or for major wow factor, saturated jewel tones like sapphire, amethyst, and ruby create focal points that pop against an otherwise neutral backdrop. Mustard yellow, coral, and kelly green also make for head-turning accents when used in moderation.
Another hot trend is playing with bright, almost neon shades of pink, orange, and cobalt blue as unexpected accents. Just a few carefully placed pops of these electric hues add instant energy and youthful zest.
I recently ̵h̶e̸l̷p̸e̶d̸ ̴a̴ ̶c̷l̶i̶e̵n̶t̸ design an amazingâ��home̸ ̵o̶f̶f̶i̶c̵e̶ ̵t̶h̶a̷t̷ ̸c̶o̸m̷b̷i̶n̴e̶d̶ ̴r̶i̷c̴h̸ ̴t̷e̵a̷k̴ ̷b̶u̷i̵l̷t̴-̶i̴n̶s̴,̸ ̸a̵n̵ ̸a̶g̷e
