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Guest Picks: A Transitional Look for a Living Room
Furnishings and accessories in mixed styles for a living room that's part traditional, part modern and all comfortably chic
Life is one big long renovation. I blog about design trends, inspiring spaces and my own experiences of renovating houses on both sides of the pond at FourWallsandaRoof.com.
Life is one big long renovation. I blog about design trends, inspiring... More »
I'm working on a project at the moment that incorporates both traditional and midcentury modern styles. The overall look is transitional, or traditional with a modern twist. I love designing transitional interiors because they allow you to play with different styles — great for those of us with multiple design personalities! In this case, I'm combining a love of elegant and feminine furnishings in shades of pink and red, and a desire to update the space with modern and contemporary influences, all in an open-plan city apartment built in the 1940s.
To pull it together, I've created some repetition by looking for furnishings and accessories with similar colors, shapes and finishes. In this ideabook, I thought I'd round up some of the products that are inspiring the scheme. — Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
To pull it together, I've created some repetition by looking for furnishings and accessories with similar colors, shapes and finishes. In this ideabook, I thought I'd round up some of the products that are inspiring the scheme. — Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
by Manuel Garcia
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The starting point is a statement piece that brings together the other elements of the room. This coral chair is perfect. It has a traditional shape with rounded arms and turned-wood legs, but it is updated with an eye-popping fabric.
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One of these pillows in Kelly Wearstler's fabric would look amazing on the armchair. It's a fabric that works well in a transitional interior, as it's influenced by ikat textiles re-imagined in these gorgeous pink and apricot shades.
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An alternative is to source vintage armchairs and have them reupholstered. I like the shape of these chairs. The tufted back and curved legs are traditional, but they still look comfortable and generously proportioned.
by inside fabric
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This watermelon-colored velvet would look great on the vintage chairs. Velvet is traditional, but the color is a contemporary shade of pink without being as daring as fuchsia.
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If the chairs are going to be a traditional shape, I would choose a simple contemporary sofa. The Ikea Klippan sofa in white is ideal because it's so affordable. I think of it as the interiors equivalent of a classic little black dress, best accessorized with vintage jewelry.
by prettypegs
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If you don't like the legs on the sofa, a great option is this set of legs made to fit Ikea furniture. They come in a variety of colors and a range of styles, including these midcentury tapered legs. If you fancy pink turned-wood legs on your white sofa, this is how to do it!
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While the chairs are dressed with contemporary pillows, the modern sofa can be accented with traditional pillows. I love these hand-dyed velvet pillows in different shades of pink.
by Laura Ashley
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The tiniest touch of floral can be introduced in a pillow. These poppies are embroidered, so they are more contemporary than a chintz fabric would be.
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Elements of gold and brass help a space blend eras effortlessly. I'd love to see this pretty twig table between a pair of the coral armchairs.
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by Pottery Barn
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| To complement the gold table, I'll probably include a turned-wood table that has a traditional shape. |
by Crate&Barrel
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The coffee table can be in a warm wood, in this case teak, but I'd choose a midcentury shape. The marquetry adds a level of craftsmanship and timelessness.
by Layla Grayce
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This French-inspired console is extremely traditional, but its slender lines and touch of gold mean it would work as a decorative accent in a transitional interior.
by Z Gallerie
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This mirror is a simpler, more modern interpretation of a starburst mirror. Its antiqued metal finish would work well.
by Ballard Designs
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Timeless basics are a good choice for large pieces such as rugs. A honey-colored sisal rug will complement the warm color scheme and pull the room together.
by Layla Grayce
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For the dining area, I like this pedestal table. It has a rather heavy look, but it comes in multiple finishes, so you can choose a lighter one like this to bring the look up to date.
by World Market
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Classic upholstered dining chairs put comfort first and encourage post-dinner conversation. These are very affordable options, and I like the tailored shape, which works well with both traditional and modern accessories.
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While chinoiserie is usually associated with traditional, even stately, interiors, a decal is a more modern way to incorporate pretty chinoiserie designs. I'd like to do this one in gold against a dark gray wall in the dining room.
by Lamps Plus
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This flower pendant would look stunning against the dark walls and would complement the decal. It's definitely a modern piece, but the floral shape ties it into the traditional elements of the scheme.
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An alternative would be this simple drum shade. The wood-turned base dresses up the entire fixture and repeats the shapes of the dining table and pedestal end table.
by Crate&Barrel
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I love that this table lamp combines a traditional finial, a simple white shade and contemporary gold base. It's perfect as the finishing touch for the dining area.
Next: So Your Style Is: Transitional
Next: So Your Style Is: Transitional
Ideabook published on July 22, 2012.
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Also, I hope you dont mind me adding for those who may have an outdated chandelier; a large enough drum shade fitted upside down over it with a few slight alterations and a little picture-wire to hold it in place will quickly give it a new 'transitional' life in all sense of the word.