How To Decorate With Modern And Traditional Furniture

A real Dear Laurel letter about mixing Modern and Traditional Article of furniture

Dear Laurel,

I hope you can offer some analysis of how and why some designers/artists mix elements from different periods so successfully and how we can do and then in our ain homes.

By modern, I specifically accept in mind contemporary furniture from B&B Italia, which I dearest, or fifty-fifty some of this year's Westward Elm pieces, but mixing whatever furniture from the "mod period" y'all mention below with traditionally styled furniture would exist helpful as no doubt the tips about proportion, shape, or color would be like.

For traditional, I am thinking of chairs and tables with turned legs, Lawson and English roll arm sofas, French bergeres and settees, Gustavian antiques or reproductions and even a few Victorian "brownish" pieces, all of which are very pretty too.

I remember this sort of effects mix is probably what a lot of united states of america terminate up with, over time. I am moving into a pocket-size federal flow historic townhouse, and I not just appreciate the clean blueprint of good contemporary piece of furniture, simply the proportions are ameliorate than many of the giant "traditional" pieces that I know you have discussed. Hence, my suggestion to my favorite design blogger!

Christine

Christine had written me before and I asked her to exist more than specific nigh what she meant by "mod" and "traditional."

And that is because I lot of folks mistakenly refer to contemporary as modernistic. They are two unlike things. Modern refers to a catamenia of time– usually in the 1940s +/-. There is the "modernistic period" which encompasses bauhaus…

Oh damn it! Wake up! Never mind. I'm tired too and this is helluva boring. Merely you know the rest, mid-century modern, Mies van der Rohe mod, Danish Modern, Italian modern, shrimp modern…

… shrimp cocktail, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, kokosnoot shrimp…

But the mixing of styles is a VAST bailiwick. I mean, we're talking x volumes of java tabular array books.

However, I'one thousand going to brand a little cheat canvas of some classic modern and traditional article of furniture pieces that are Universal donors. (no fair looking alee) :]

Gimmicky is largely the bloated stuff they make today.

Okay, not all of it is. But as well much is.

And transitional is a meaningless term, IMO. It's really contemporary. Or, if it's well-done, classic contemporary.

If it'south not traditional or modernistic and information technology'south made today, information technology'due south contemporary. If a piece of furniture is not fabricated in the time period that it looks like it is, then we call it "whateveritis-fashion" ie: Chippendale-mode because Thomas Chippendale piece of furniture was produced well over 200 years ago.

But very few practise that and I'm not going to separate hairs equally I've been just as guilty for calling something gimmicky, "modernistic."

A room we did in 2005

As for traditional. Over the years I've shown clients this archetype gimmicky sofa (in a higher place); some see modern and some run across traditional. It's from TCS Designs,(no website) but they discontinued this frame a while back.

A lot of what makes a room experience more than traditional or more modern is how the piece of furniture is treated.

For instance this room from the One King'southward Lane Studio, with its English language Roll Arm sofas and wing chairs has traditional furnishings (save the contemporary java table)

Merely because of the unproblematic monochromatic color scheme and minimal decor, the over-all effect is gimmicky in feel. Added to that is just the right of contemporary and modernistic emphasis pieces.

First rule of thumb when mixing modern and traditional furniture

No matter what, y'all can always do a modern-style coffee/cocktail tabular array. Ever. Always. Always.

Like this beauty done by Mark D. Sikes

Tin we practise it the other manner effectually?

Normally not.

For example, here nosotros have a classic Italian-style-modern sectional ala B&B Italia.

Only this is the Andes sectional from Due west Elm for virtually 1/eighth price. I'm non exaggerating.

It's is not going to look good with this lovely Chippendale manner tabular array found at Chairish

But, the coffee table would expect great with this beautiful gimmicky Sutton sofa

What'due south the difference?

The get-go sofa is more than stylized and to my eye doesn't piece of work also with a traditional style. The second one does have some more traditional elements with the tapered forest legs and classic shape.

But that doesn't mean that you can't have traditional elements with the West Elm sofa.

But this modernistic Oscarine lucite and brass coffee table from Anthropologie is a wonderful universal donor. You lot could mix this with anything.

In addition to coffee tables are there other Universal elements for mixing modernistic and traditional furniture?

Yes, indeed!

I call back it'due south skillful to know the elements that can work in any decor, be it modern or traditional.

Hither they are:

Ornate architecure
Modern architecture
Abstract art
Traditional art can go in modern rooms, but more sparingly
Modern Side/End tables
Oriental Rugs
Natural rugs
Chinoiserie
Ornate Mirrors
Modern lighting
But traditional lighting can too exist cool in a modern room.

But hither'southward the most of import rule to know when mixing modern and traditional article of furniture.

There are no hard and fast rules.

There is an art to it and when ane starts putting formulas together, I think is when we go into trouble.

And then the other consideration is if the room is formal or casual? Meet, there are thousands of possibilities.

A rustic coffee table with turned legs and peeling paint is going to wait dizzy with Italian modern article of furniture.

Remember when I said at that place are no rules. Well, I lied. This i beneath is pretty solid.

Architecture Aside. The room is either going to be predominantly mod or predominantly traditional– with only accents of the other style.

This is one instance where being equitable is most probable going to result in a sucktastic room.

So, how does that work?

Well, beginning, we need to look at the architecture of the room. Say we are fortunate to accept a 19th century brownstone with fourteen foot ceilings and x foot high windows. sigh…

Quite frankly, you tin can get to your local Conservancy Regular army, load up a U-haul, throw it all in and it'll exist on the embrace of next March's Elle Decor.

Right?

If you accept a 1960s ranch home, the same home will probably look pretty tacky unless your Salvation Ground forces is in the middle of Greenwich, Connecticut or some identify like that.

Leaving the architecture of the room off the table, permit'south talk over what making the room predominantly 1 style or the other would look.

Going back to the brownstone. It is decided that nosotros are going generally modern. If I were a consumer and didn't have $150,000 to drop, I would head over to Anthropologie, West Elm, One King'southward Lane and Jonathan Adler. If you don't have one near y'all, yous can shop online following the links.

And really, Anthro might terminate up being one-stop shopping. And that is considering they have already curated their collection with an eclectic combo of mod, gimmicky and traditional styles. And they've thrown in some exotic elements too.

Yes, it's true. They started out well over a decade ago with a tiny collection of decidedly BoHo furnishings. And yep, you tin notwithstanding definitely get the Boho look.

If y'all don't know what Boho means information technology'southward brusk for Maverick.

But Bohemian with a hefty trust fund and a Maserati parked out front. Ya know?

Nonetheless, that was then and now, they have toned information technology downwardly a nicely priced and HUGE line of eclectic effects.

You want neutral? They take it. You desire color? Oh homo, they are the boss of color!

And some very pretty, classic pieces.
>

You can replenish the entire place with Anthro. And every bit a reminder in a higher place with the Timorous Beastieswallpaper, they have a fabled collection of wallpapers and wall murals.

West Elm

West Elm has broadened their line to a really lovely and well-designed mid-century modern collection. It is pricier than previous collections, but it is still relatively affordable compared to the likes of the aforementioned B&B Italia.

One King's Lane as most of us know was bought out by Bed, Bathroom and Across. And information technology'due south a little similar saying that Ruth's Chris was bought out by White Castle.

Buttttttt… I take always loved the 1 King's Lane brand. LOVED It! And since they were bought out, I honey them even more! BBB needs to change they proper name to Bed, Bath and Across The Beyond. :]

I take purchased many things from OKL for my own dwelling house and occasionally for clients. And like Anthro, their drove is already curated to include every fashion–even moreso. And they have tons of beautiful inspiration photos as well as great manufactures. Oh, and also a wonderful collection of vintage and antique furnishings and art.

Last is Jonathan Adler. I have also loved this line, merely I debated including it in the list. And that is because they took abroad one of my favorite coffee tables and didn't replace it with annihilation nearly as cool.

True, the faux alligator is a bit much sometimes, but the lines and scale of this piece are perfect.

Still, they practice have this way cool cocktail table which fulfills a necessary requirement of having some black in a room. For some rooms, it might be too much black, however. Information technology also comes in white, orangish, peacock blue and navy.

Peking Cocktail Table

Very versatile and at that place's some storage in information technology likewise.
Many of us desire rooms that are both fresh and timeless. Now, that might seem similar an oxymoron. Simply every bit I run across information technology, a timeless room past definition, is e'er fresh. And I think that a room can be timeless whether it is by and large traditional or mostly modern.

I think that the about successful rooms commonly accept some elements of both.

Here are some beautiful rooms that I think got the mix of modern and traditional piece of furniture just correct.

Above and beneath past Nate Berkus

Jessica Helgerson via Lonny

1 King's Lane – mixing modern and traditional

(lots of terrific ideas hither too)

A Nashville home via Domino –

Cool mix of mod and traditional article of furniture and accents.

Studio McGee – always a nifty blend!

and I admire their shop!

mixing modern and traditional furniture via Mark D. Sikes

Marking D. Sikes – Love everything he touches.

Not bad modern Charlton Floor Lamp from Visual Comfort amongst beautiful traditional furnishings.

And below is the promised gathering of universal furnishings– and some iconic classics. I found equally I did this practice, that it's mostly modern and contemporary effects which are universal.

While a crystal chandelier can look fabled in a modern setting, it takes fourth dimension to discover merely the correct ane sometimes. Merely I did add in a bizarre mirror. I beloved to have a chip of fancy in a modern/contemporary room.

I think information technology'south of import to have at least one unexpected thing.

Phew! That was a lot and I could've written about 50 more than posts similar this. I know that I didn't even come up close to roofing everything, but hopefully, y'all gleaned some new information. I certainly did. And that comes from really thinking about how things are done; I recollect information technology's mostly something that I've done instinctively.

Below is a graphic to pin for reference if you lot like.

classic-home-furnishing-pieces-for-modern-or-traditional-rooms - mixing modern and traditional furniture
style="text-align: left;">
fashion="text-align: left;">

xo,

PS: If y'all're looking for Father's Mean solar day Gift Ideas please check out the curated collection I put together. Since there are so many sales on this weekend, this is an first-class time to go gifts, if y'all enjoy shopping online.

The Trick To Mixing Modern and Traditional Furniture