Interior design is always something that I’ve been passionate about, and is a creative outlet that I’ve been turning to more and more as I’ve realized that creating content about fashion and beauty often leads to me critically thinking about my body and face in ways that can begin to be unhealthy. It’s a beauty outside of myself, a beauty around me, and in that way it’s freeing to design and decorate a space. I’ve been having fun creating interior decorating content on Instagram lately, with a warm response, so the future trajectory of this blog and my other platforms *wink* will begin to focus more heavily on interior design.
I love anything that can be labeled “timeless” or “classic”, whether it’s in fashion or in design, and after falling in love with the work of a few Transitional designers, I’ve settled into the Gen-Z sweet comfort of a categorized aesthetic; a framework or set of rules that I can play within and make my own, while still mimicking these designers as best I can.
What is Transitional Style?
I’ve heard Transitional style being described as if the “transition” is happening through time, historically, categorized by a mix of antique and modern elements in every way. Finishes, shapes, materials, decor, all going back and forth through time to create spaces that feel like they’ve been there forever, without all the parts of past eras’ design we could live without. That is where the “timeless” feeling comes from, almost as if the space could exist in any era without being so obviously 2023.
There are small “trends” within this anti-trend. After all, these designers who have brick-and-mortar shops or collections with big retailers are still trying to sell product. I say “anti-trend” because if elements like arches or hardwood flooring have been used for hundreds of years and have stood the test of time aesthetically until this point, I can guarantee they will still look beautiful for hundreds of years to come.
The Elements of Transitional Design
Deducing which furniture pieces, materials, silhouettes, and colors to use from looking at an image of a space in its entirety is the hardest part of identifying a style or aesthetic. So allow me to break it down.
Color Palette
No more “millennial grey”
Neutral neutrals, with an undertone leaning neither warm nor cool; whites, creams, “greige”, browns, warm charcoal, and black are your base palette colors. “Greige”, a mixture between grey and beige, is my personal favorite color lately, mostly used for wall, tile, and kitchen cabinets. If there is a distinguishable undertone in these shades, they will typically lean more warm, as the pendulum of style swings back from the cool whites and greys that have been popular in recent years. The most impactful way these colors show up is in white oak floors. Wide plank, stained to a warm, ashy light brown color, these floors have been one of the hallmarks of transitional design. There are also muted colors in shades of olive, sage, rust, cerulean, rose, burgundy, and goldenrod that when mixed properly, still appear neutral to the eye when the space is observed in its entirety.
Architectural Elements
Arches
They’re ancient, Art Deco, and modern. Doors, cabinets, windows, transitions, ceilings, mirrors, – you name it: it’s arched. Soft angles and slopes are also included in a sculptural way with soft curves showing up in plaster range hoods and fireplaces.
Built-Ins
Common in homes built specifically in the late 1800s to early 1900s, built-ins give a custom feel to a space that is also a subconscious nod to the Arts and Crafts Movement of that time period.
Exposed Beams
Originally needed for sound construction in timber-based projects for hundreds of years, now they are fashioned from distressed, reclaimed wood as a decorative touch to make a space feel more cozy, “lived-in”, or rustic, giving the effect that the space has existed like this for many years.
Death of the Open Floor Plan
Over the past 10 years, whenever anyone bought a fixer-upper, the first thing they’d do is start knocking down walls to create the coveted “open floor plan”. Having open sight lines in a home can make the space look bigger and can also have some practical benefits, like being able to keep and eye on children or pets from across the ground floor. However, large, floating, open spaces are being traded for designated separation. Being able to close off undesirable mess with the help of French or pocket doors and walls is now on the “nice to have” list for homebuyers. This compartmentalization also helps boost the cozy vibe.
Materials and Textures
Wood
Put it everywhere; wide plank floors, ceiling beams, doors, cabinets, furniture, and moulding. Wood brings nature indoors in a warm way. The color of your woods can vary, as long as you steer clear from honey, cherry, and mahogany stain colors. White oak is the most commonly used wood for flooring, doors, and cabinets in this style.
Stone, Brick, & Clay
These are the materials I would splurge on if I were designing a kitchen, bathroom, pantry, or fireplace. Natural stone materials feel luxurious and modern as well as being some of the oldest materials you could possibly use, thus making them the poster child for Transitional style. Marble, quartz, soapstone, porcelain, Zellige clay, travertine, brick, limestone, and over-grouted field stone are most popular.
Limewash
One of the oldest paints known to man, limewash gives an instant Mediterranean vibe, but was originally used as a protective and cleansing coating on walls for its anti-bacterial/antiseptic properties as well as its fire-proofing abilities. Adding to its bright white aesthetic, limewashed surfaces also glow due to the countless tiny lime crystals throughout.
Brass
Both lacquered and un-lacquered or “living finish” brass are the most popular choice for hardware and fixtures in transitional style. The warm, dark tones in brass finishes bring out the warmth in the neutral tiles, countertops, and paint colors used around them. Un-lacquered brass will patina over time, looking more and more antiquated with water exposure and daily use.
Iron
Both ancient and modern, iron is used in light fixtures, mirror frames, furniture, and decor pieces as a sleek matte black metal seen in Industrial style as well as Transitional. It adds some edge to a space whether it’s acting as a modern or antique element.
Linen and Cotton
Used for drapes, kitchen towels/napkins, sheets, and blankets, cotton and linen are both tough and organic fabrics that instantly elevate any space, while maintaining a humble earthiness. A solid color pair of heavy linen curtains are my favorite, just skimming the floor, or pooling slightly for a more dramatic, luxe look.
Wool Textiles and Rugs
Wool throw blankets and wool blend rugs are essential elements to this style. Jute/wool blend rugs are a close runner-up, with some designers even choosing to layer smaller patterned wool rugs over larger jute rugs for even more texture.
Venetian Plaster
Used in kitchen range hoods and fireplace surrounds/mantels, plaster gives the old Mediterranean feel of a Greek cave villa, while simultaneously looking bright white, super sleek, and modern, while still being matte, and not futuristic-glossy-white-plastic-y looking.
Old + New
Old Wall Treatments and Millwork
Picture frame moulding, wainscoting, shiplap, board and batten, crown moulding, ceiling breams, traditional stair railings and banisters are all making a modern comeback.
Old Patterns in Bricklaying and Flooring
Add visual interest with herringbone laid tile, brick, or hardwood as well as high-contrast square checkered marble flooring in small spaces.
Oversized Stove Alcoves
Historically, when transitioning from open hearth cooking to stovetop cooking, many people installed their stoves right into the large fireplace in their kitchens, creating this alcove-like nook around the stove which is now being recreated, in a more seamless fashion with the stove and the lower cabinets on either side being flush. Having a recessed niche over the stove, clad in tile, brick, or stone for adds a touch of earthy coziness.
Old World Textiles
“Old World” or global-looking printed rugs, with low-contrast muted colors and heavy distressing, often vintage Persian or Turkish Oushak rugs are key players in what makes a space really look transitional, especially in juxtaposition with modern furniture. Kilim, Chiang Mai, Victorian botanical, and neutral striped throw pillows as well as Indian wood block print coverlets, quilts, and cushion covers help the space look more “lived-in”, especially in bedrooms or living rooms.
Artwork
Three types of artwork often coexist in these spaces. The first are moody romantic oil paintings or watercolors, especially landscapes, with muted colors, all in antiqued brass frames or mid-tone brown wood frames with thick white matting. The style began in 1800-1850 as part of a movement called “Romanticism”. The modern versions of these paintings also utilize Impressionism (late 1800s) to give an even softer look. The second style is a minimalist line drawing or painting often depicting a human figure or face. The third style of art is a framed piece of a textile, again with muted colors or low contrast pattern, distressed to simulate age.
Modern Furniture & Lighting
Modern sofas, sectionals, bed frames, nightstands, buffets/sideboards, tv stands, ottomans, coffee tables, cabinets, accent chairs, bathroom vanities, freestanding tubs, and walk-in showers are some of the most popular elements that tend to stay modern and simple. Lamps and lighting, especially chandeliers and cascade lighting, will also typically lean modern, with the exception of picture lights and some sconces.
Antique Furniture and Decor
On the other hand, some popular furniture pieces that are rough hewn and often sourced second-hand are wooden benches, wooden stools, wooden dining tables, wooden console tables, and desks. Antique vessels, textured terracotta vases, candlestick holders, dough bowls, wooden pedestals, metal trays, fabric-bound books, bells, stone trinket dishes, throw pillows, and woven baskets are the omnipresent decor pieces that are arguably what makes this style so beautiful.
Honorable Mentions
- Black, multi-pane windows,
- Apron front/farm sinks
- Indoor potted trees
- Limewash brick exteriors
- Printed wallpaper in a small bathroom or butler’s pantry.
Designers to Follow:
Amber Lewis – Amber Interiors
Shea McGee – McGee & Co.
Joanna Gaines – Magnolia Home
Kristen Forgione – The Lifestyled Co.
Ashley Montgomery – Ashley Montgomery Design
Jean Stoffer – Stoffer Home
Final Thoughts
So far, most of the images that I’ve ogled over of this style tend to be very obviously new builds or gut renovations that designers are injecting faux character into, convincingly, I must say, but it seems to be much more involved than just working with the natural character of your pre-war apartment. I have to give Joanna Gaines her credit though, as she very often restores original floors, moldings, and fireplaces, and repurposes materials like stained glass and other elements to help a home maintain its historical integrity.
At the same time, I believe that’s what makes Transitional style more accessible; using the character that already exists in your unique space, and making it transition both forward and back in time. The historical span of influences mixed with modern pieces, especially with the second-hand/thrift/antique element of sourcing a lot of the decor/furniture makes the style more easily achievable than a hyper-focused style.
Also, please keep in mind that the photos I used in this post are of homes that are worth well over several million dollars each, for clients that have an extra million for gut renovations and absolute best materials and contractors.
To achieve the style on a smaller scale, be sure to keep up with my instagram posts on how I incorporate this design style in my 2-bedroom NYC apartment. Feel free to reach out in the comments if you have any questions or want to chat anything design!
As always,
Good Luck & Much Love
