Interior Styles
Transitional Style – 7 steps to achieve this look
Do you get stressed about following the latest home decorating trends? Do you find it hard to keep up with them and to decide which one you really like? Are you worried that the expensive choices that you make today will date? If this applies to you then you will love transitional style. This is a look that is refreshingly modern, but has its roots in classic design. As you blend modern looks with traditional style, it is a trend that will not easily date.
If you are a fan of Studio McGee, then you will have seen this style and there is no doubt that this design company has put this look on the map. Many of my clients love it, but have not given it a name. It can however be tricky to pin down exactly what it is as many designers, quite rightly, interpret it in different ways. As it is a foundation look that can be built upon, this gives it immense appeal, however it does also mean that it can be interpreted in many ways and can therefore be difficult to copy and get right.
I have some steps in this post to help you to get the foundation right and to understand how to build upon this to get the final result.
Transitional Style – 7 steps to achieve this look
1) The Foundation
Transitional style is best described as the best of both worlds. This looks gives you a classic style which has been with us for centuries, but in a pared back way with modern elements and clean lines. This is a look that certainly isn't fussy, but it does have some embellishments which give a nod to a very traditional look.
This certainly isn't grandma's house with lots of fussy clutter, but there is certainly a place for cosyness and individuality which comes with being surrounded by items of beauty that are personal to you.
The style also isn't a minimalistic modern mid-century look that relies on form following function. Although it is a modern style, there is a softness about it and elements that are purely for decoration.
To get the foundation right, you need to understand these elements. If you make it too crisp and modern with lots of hard surfaces and sharp lines, you will have failed to achieve the transitional look. On the other hand, if you make the look too fussy and over-decorated, this won't be right either.
The foundation for this style must be a melding of modern design with traditional style. It can be more of one that the other, but must include both. Remember this as you are putting the scheme together so that you don't stray from the right look.
2) Flooring
What you must remember with transitional style is that it is CLASSIC. You need to select flooring that won't date and the only way to do this is to select a timber floor. Forget about anything that is a particular trend, for example, grey timber floors, light limewashed timbers or painted timber floors. Think about homes that were built a hundred years ago that had solid hardwood timber floors in a natural tone. This is what you need.
Always opt for either a brown or a light oak/blackbutt floor. These two neutral tones will give you the perfect flooring for a transitional look.
You can choose to lay the boards in a standard format, or use a herringbone pattern.
3) Joinery
Joinery relies heavily on natural timber in classic tones or painted cabinetry in muted colours. Clean, crisp whites are not generally used in a transitional style as colours tend to be soft and muted. Cabinetry can be plain and this works well for joinery in natural timber, however painted cabinetry tends to have some simple embellishment, often in a simple Shaker style.
One rule to follow is that you shouldn't use either all timber throughout the house or all painted joinery. For transitional style, you need to employ a mix of textures and finishes so the two should be used together. You can use just one finish for a kitchen, but bear in mind that living or dining room joinery should ideally be in a different colour.
A transitional style kitchen will often have some accent timber cabinetry, perhaps for an island bench or some individual wall cabinetry. Three neutral tones have been used in the above kitchen, off white, timber and black.
These two kitchens, above and below have used just two colours; timber and black and timber and white. Note that the handles are the same throughout the kitchen and an arch of some description is never out of place.
When considering the style of joinery for a transitional style, always revert back to the consideration of what is a classic style. This means that you need some embellishment without forsaking clean lines. Island benches will often have corner legs with moulding, accent cabinetry may be in an arch shape and cabinetry will always have a classic style of handle.
Dining room joinery follows the same rules. There should be some embellishment and all cabinetry will have handles. Glass display cabinets are integral to this look.
4) Furniture
The word for transitional style furniture is eclectic. This isn't a style where everything matches. Remember that this is a classic style with a modern twist, so pieces should work together rather than matching. This can make life difficult as you can't just go into a shop and order everything together. This is what makes it a classic style as antiques and collectibles that you have amassed over the years will sit nicely together with new, more contemporary pieces.
Sofas should be deep and comfortable. Remember that this style doesn't have hard edges so comfort is the key here. It is also likely that if you have two sofas, they will be different.
Occasional chairs will be different again, both in style and possibly colour, and it is usual to also have one or two stools as more casual seating.
A deep and comfortable, sectional sofa also suits this look, but ensure that you employ throws and cushions to introduce some added texture and colour.
It is usual to mix leather, fabric and rattan for upholstery. Eclectic is the word to remember.
You can mix light and dark timbers together. An antique sideboard in a dark timber will work with a light oak coffee table. Always consider a link when you are putting together a scheme. This could be a hint of black in artworks, mirrors or a coffee table, or tan leather with caramel coloured cushions and terracotta pots.
Dining nooks work really well for a transitional style as you have a mix of different seating. Tables should be solid and often made of oak, while dining chairs must be comfortable and could be rattan, leather or fully upholstered.
Always remember the eclectic look for a bedroom too. Bedside tables don't need to match each other and certainly shouldn't match the bed. Canopy beds can be used in this style as their formality suits the classic look.
One off pieces like this freestanding wardrobe suit the look too as it is a unique antique piece of furniture. Sofas, or at least a footstool at the end of the bed, are a prerequisite too if space allows.
5) Lighting
Lighting should be very classic for a transitional style. Think elegant pendants, classic style wall lights and lots of eclectic style table lamps.
Directional floor lamps for reading are integral to a transitional style. This look is all about comfort and relaxation, so a decent light to read by is essential.
Table lamps should be classic, but avoid the blue and white look, which is more for a definite Hamptons style home.
6) Accessories and Artwork
As with furniture, the accessories used should be unique too. Individual pieces collected on your travels sit nicely in a transitional style.
Cushions shouldn't match each other. These are a good opportunity to tie the scheme together. Remember that you will possibly have two different coloured sofas, accent stools and occasional chairs. The cushions and throws are an opportunity to tie this colour palette together, so they should relate to the colours in artworks and furniture.
7) Window dressings
Beautiful windows are often the feature point in a transitional style home and therefore it is unusual to see shutters used for this style. Sheers and roller blinds are also rarely suitable for this look.
Transitional style window dressings of choice are elegant simple curtains hung from high above the window. These should be plain and of good quality. Remember that this is still a classic look rather than a laid back coastal or cosy country look. The look should be elegant.
Use a simple pinch or box pleat for the heading and keep S wave curtains for a modern coastal look.
For smaller windows, Roman blinds are a good solution. These should be simple and elegant in plain good quality fabric. Linen is a good choice, either translucent or sheer.
A combination of a sheer Roman blind with box pleat off white linen curtains is perfect for this look.
Transitional Style re-cap
- The foundation for this style must be a melding of traditional and modern design.
- Flooring should be in timber, either mid toned or brown oak style. Think of a timber floor in a house over a century ago, and you are on the right track.
- Joinery should be a mix of natural timber, soft off white, black or muted colours. It is quite standard in a transitional style kitchen to have finishes in three different colours.
- Furniture should be eclectic with a mix of one off antique pieces and contemporary styles sitting together. Sofas do not need to match each other, but should be comfortable and in a classic style. Occasional chairs should be different again. Dining tables should be solid with seating that is eclectic. Essentially, you need to mix things up!
- Lighting should be a mix of table lamps, pendants, wall lights and directional floor lamps for reading. Remember this look is about comfort, so lighting shouldn't be harsh which is why you must have layers and options available.
- Accessories, particularly cushions and throws, will tie the look together. Look at a successful transitional living room and it will be the muted colours of the cushions that will pick up and tie together the other elements in the space.
- Windows should be dressed with elegant curtains with either a simple box or pinch pleat hung from rods high above the window. For smaller windows, you should consider Roman blinds.
I hope you have enjoyed my post on transitional style – 7 steps to achieve this look. I would love to hear whether you like this look in the comments section below.
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