I just Googled the definition, as I am sure you have too. To me transitional means traditional without fussy details. So shaker cabinets, not slabs for example. No ornate furniture detailing and carving; pilasters and fluting would be banished in transitional, replaced with straighter more modern lines in traditional finishes.

Pottery Barn is transitional style.

I kinda call my style transitional: neither fish nor fowl. Yes please, no thanks, well maybe.

the kitchen is all espresso like this with St. Cecilia Light granite. the cabinets are Shaker and the actual island looks like the picture below. I feel like I need to paint the cabinets or change the granite. Which makes more sense? the kitchen is small one 10 foot wall of cabinets and the island seats 3 people. This seems so dated. I really want my space to be cool and stylish. Any ideas greatly appreciated.The outside looks very similar to this with large banks of windows in the kitchen/dining area and on the other side in the living room

It's really difficult to give advice without seeing the actual kitchen and the spaces that are open to the kitchen. For instance, your floor material and your trim color will have to be taken into consideration and we don't know about them. Your granite, St Cecilia varies in color. Is there an existing backsplash?

If you aren't posting actual photos because of privacy concerns I understand. If it makes you more comfortable, I will share that I have been participating in this board for over 15 years. 99% of the time it's just a nice group of people who want to help. Sometimes people are blunt but I don't know of any privacy problems that have crossed the line.

That kitchen looks pretty traditional to me, but I could be wrong! However yes I think transitional indicates a period when things were changing from traditional (turn of century) to contemporary (like mid century), and there was both a migration of style by manufacturers and there were homes with a mix of items.

there's a lot of confusion around these terms(add my own to that lol)

that's what I think: you have two big umbrellas for a lot of styles. one is traditonal. another is modern( starting in the beginning of 20 th century)

these umbrellas are really huge, covering lots of styles and variation within. and traditional is a bigger umbrella, obviously, since it includes many many traditions..:) Something might feel very exotic to you, or different, or very plain actually, yet still will be traditional, just with another place of origin or thought behind it.

contemporary is what's going on that very moment. people often interchange it with modern, which makes it confusing

what's transitional? frankly i don't have an idea. I think what people are trying to say with it whatever Linelle said?

I agree, in order to be more helpful, it'd be best to see your space..your furniture..other houses won't help us as much. For example I was going to suggest different paint color for the kitchen; then I realized it's not your kitchen at all, it's an example of stain in yours.

I know took me sometime to feel comfortable enough to post pictures of my rooms; everybody and their level of comfort. It is exposure..you post something, you share-you expose yourself. some are very cool with it, some are more wary, some are in between-need their time.

But it will be helpful, in order to get more informed, more thoughtful advice on your unique space. Stains are not unique, granites aren't, etc..but houses, the whole of the elements, are. As are their owners.

there is also a term "neo-traditional"..to complicate/simplify things further..:)

Since you are interested in changing some elements of your kitchen, you might want to look at the Downsview Kitchens website. Under the Gallery tab you can click on three different styles of kitchens to see: Traditional, Transitional and Contemporary.

These are the actual pictures from the unfinished kitchen I decided to go with unique Calcutta counter top and run it up the back splash as well I the kitchen but need to figure out the pendant lights. I would like two the counter top is 8'L x 4"W

the kitchen above is my inspiration but not the lights. This is a builder spec home so I have little to no options and have to create a "non spec" look on my own.

From what I am seeing you have excellent taste and your kitchen must be beautiful if it is like the one above. I like the dark colors, HOUZZ recently did a wonderful story on dark kitchens.

Your choice of counter and backsplash are definitely more stylish than the counter and backsplash in your first photo. Your flooring is also more contemporary so I don't think there is any worry that you'll end up with a similar looking kitchen.

I'm not good with light fixtures so hopefully others will chime in.