In my post Define Your Style, I identify an early step in initiating any design project is to determine a style that speaks to you. Here I focus on describing a few interior design styles and their easily identifiable characteristics as an aide to guide you in choosing a project direction. My Define Your Style list and definitions will help sharpen your design eye.

DESIGN STYLES

• Transitional — A combination of traditional and softer interpretations of cleaner, contemporary lines and features. For instance, a wing chair is almost always considered a traditional style. An updated version, however, may have transitional lines giving it a fresh look and producing a whole new lease on life. Transitional color palates are calmingly neutral and graciously inviting. Window treatments and fabrics are usually more simple and understated.

• Traditional — Depending on your hometown, traditional style is probably the design you grew up with, at least in most parts of the US. Traditional design I define as actually a combination of styles borrowed from historical European traditions. Some ornateness and fussiness may be present — dark wood furniture and case goods, oil paintings — landscapes and still life images, wood or gilt frames, heavy draperies and valences with trims and tassels. Fabrics may be solids, stripes, damasks, toile prints, duponi silk and their looks, etc. Traditional interiors can be quite expensive, although more budget conscious choices prevail as it has been such a common style.

• Old World — I’m combining Old World with European, because styles like French country, Tuscan, Provincial, and Mediterranean are all components of old world design. Each has it’s own unique characteristics, and could be written on separately of course. But they all borrow heavily from history. In essence, aspects and excerpts from old world style form the basis for traditional styling.

• Asian — Japanese and Chinese influence are common to what we know as Asian style. There are of course others styles with eastern characteristics such as tropical — South Seas or Hawaiian. A more transitional or even contemporary interpretation of Asian style includes meditative and eastern religious symbols, the buddha, zen style statuary, etc. Of course, our version of these styles is an interpretation based on own unique cultural experiences and exposure.

UPCOMING:

• Bohemian
• Romantic
• Eclectic
• Art Deco
• Arts & Craft
• Western
• Modern Farmhouse
• Contemporary
• Midcentury
• HGTV — wait, that’s not a style!

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Define Your Style!