The Classic Style Guide

The Refined Residence Style Guide

If historic detail and classic grandeur define your tastes, a traditional look could be your home’s perfect fit. Whether you’re outfitting a townhouse in the city, decorating a stately Colonial or Tudor, or simply looking to add a sense of elegance to an updated apartment, traditional furniture and decor bring warmth and polish to any home. Follow these tips for pulling together a timeless look.

Classic Style 101: The components of traditionally elegant decor

1. Timeless Details:  For a look that will never go out of style, incorporate Oriental rugs, furniture with classic elements like turned legs and carving, and antiques-inspired accents like ceramic lamps and gilded mirrors.
2. Grand Proportions:  Complement a larger room’s proportions with oversized pieces that command attention: a dining table fit to entertain a crowd, a four-poster or sleigh bed, or a generously sized Chesterfield sofa.
3. A Sense of History:  Incorporate antiques as well as traditional silhouettes such as Louis-style dining chairs, secretary desks, wingback chairs, and trestle tables. To freshen the aesthetic, look for classic shapes in updated materials such as neutral linen or jewel-toned velvet.
4. Timeless Materials:  When choosing traditional furniture, lighting, and accents, you can’t go wrong with proven, durable materials such as linen, polished wood, brass, leather, and marble. Incorporate shine with crystal chandeliers, silver and gold accents, and lacquered furniture.

Tufted armchairs are a good choice for the traditional style room.

Leather upholstery is a timeless look that will always be in style.

Elements of Traditional Style: How to put together a classically refined look

The Palette:  A traditional interior is all about understatement—designs that catch your eye but don’t feel trendy or overdone. Consider decorating within one of the following palettes, which add depth to a space while retaining a sense of elegant restraint.

• Polished Neutrals:  Cream, taupe, and espresso are versatile tones that blend well with nearly any accent colors and decor. Stick to neutral shades on your foundations, such as walls and upholstered furniture, and incorporate texture via plush pillows, rugs, abstract wall art, decorative lighting, and accents with a hint of shine.
• Classic Drama:  A neutral palette with one or two deep color pops, such as navy, deep claret, olive, or rich gold, walks just the right line between conservative and fashion-forward. Vibrant window treatments, accent chairs, pillows, and throws are perfect ways to incorporate bolder shades while maintaining Traditional style.
• Gorgeous Grayscale:  The combination of black, white and gray feels both sleek and traditional. Mix furniture and accent pieces in black and white, and incorporate grayscale patterns to provide visual interest. For added drama, layer in glossy lacquer, shimmering mercury glass, and touches of brass, chrome, and pewter.

Choosing Traditional Furniture

For traditional spaces that still feel fresh, aim for a balance between old and new, antique and contemporary. Opt for a more contemporary china cabinet or etagere, while picking traditional couches and loveseats matched with an antique estate sale coffee table. Nailheads, tufted fabrics, and linen upholstery are great ways to help your home achieve the traditional style look. These guidelines below can help you select just the right blend:

Selena Upholstered Bench

Showcasing a diamond trellis motif and rolled arms, this charming traditional bench makes the perfect addition to your master suite or entryway.

• Choose classic silhouettes:  Wing chairs, spool chairs, trestle tables, and chaises are beloved for a reason and essential traditional furniture choices. Features like cabriole legs, and claw feet make tables and chairs feel regal, and interesting details keep the eye moving from piece to piece.
• Look for tailored upholstery:  The traditional look is very finished. Hand-applied details such as button-tufting, nailheads, and welting convey refinement and speak to classic aesthetics.
• Mix your finishes:  For a collected look, combine wood furniture in ebony, cherry, and chestnut shades. Don’t be afraid to break up a living room or bedroom set. Mixing in glass and stone-topped tables can add to a room’s layered effect.

Traditional Accents & Decor

A hand-selected assortment of decorative touches sets a thoughtful, dignified tone. Consider these ideas when choosing accents for your traditional space.

• Mix in antiques:  A few key heirlooms lend seriousness to a room. Try hanging an antique mirror above a contemporary sofa, or dress a sleek bookcase with a set of vintage figurines or leather-bound books. The contrast will draw attention to the age and history of your finds, sparking conversation.
• Dress walls and windows:  Whether you opt for simple rod-pocket curtains or elegant pinch-pleat drapes, window treatments and hardware help to finish a traditional decor scheme. Similarly, hanging a collection of wall art can give a gallery-like sophistication to a space.
• Fill it with flowers:  Nothing says classic hospitality like an arrangement of greens greeting you (and your guests) at the door, or a vase of small blooms in the guest bath. Change out seasonal arrangements to reflect upcoming holidays and occasions, and guests will always look forward to dropping by and seeing what’s new. 

https://www.jossandmain.com/Traditional-C1860552.html

The Sleek Studio Modern Style Guide

The Sleek Studio Modern Style Guide

If the idea of a crisp, clean, clutter-free space appeals to you, a modern look might be just the right fit for your home. Follow these tips below and discover how minimalist furniture, high-polish accents, and a bold but well-edited color palette can give your home a fresh new look.

Contemporary Style 101: All of the essential moves for a modern home.

Simplify and Minimize:

Sleek, pared-down shapes are essential to modern design. Choose furniture and decor that are fairly compact and low-profile, such as sofas that sit closer to the floor, lamps with thin, slight bases, and accent tables with minimal hardware. Not only does this create a streamlined, airy look, it makes living in smaller spaces easier and more comfortable.

Find the Right Angle:

One of the most important characteristics of modern decor is clean lines and an emphasis on overall form rather than intricate detail. When choosing furnishings, select pieces that feature crisp angles and clean surfaces. Coffee tables, mirrors, and rugs for the modern home are often inspired by geometric forms—squares, rectangles, and triangles.

Add Curve Appeal:

While straight lines are important, a bit of curvature balances the look. Think bentwood chairs, tulip-style tables, and sculptural oval lamps.

Turn Up the Heat:

Modern design has an undeserved reputation for being stark and cold, but the right mix of pieces can create a truly inviting space. To keep more contemporary silhouettes from feeling sterile, choose accents in bold shades like red and orange, add a faux sheepskin area rug, or incorporate warm woods like polished teak, walnut, or maple.

Elements of Modern Style: The fundamental components of contemporary style.

The Palette:  Your home doesn’t have to be a vision in white to be modern—there are endless possibilities when it comes to your color palette. Any color scheme can work as long as it’s pared down enough. Stick with two or three colors for your anchor pieces, and play with accent colors to your heart’s content.

The Classic:

Juxtapose sophisticated neutrals like camel, navy, and black with shiny metallic finishes like brass, copper, polished nickel, and chrome.

Electric Style:

Choose a neutral like light grey or ivory and use different shades of it throughout your space. Then, throw in a pop of color using throw pillows, decorative bowls and vases, and artwork in neon hues.

Into the Dark:

Go deep by using mostly black and charcoal to decorate. Keep it from feeling closed off by incorporating lighter elements sporadically—for example, break up a sea of dark cabinetry with an ivory countertop. If you’re going with a black sofa, offset it with a white accent chair.

Modern Furniture

In our book, furniture needs to be both hardworking and beautiful. Create a home that’s modern and functional with these decorating ideas.

Add Elements of Surprise:

In a smaller space, increase functionality by trying a sleek settee in place of a traditional sofa, a set of lucite nesting tables instead of a standard coffee table, or a storage ottoman instead of an extra arm chair.

Leave it to the Legs:

When choosing your furniture, don’t overlook the legs. Tapered legs, hairpin legs, and legs in a dark wood or even a chrome finish are all safe bets for modern spaces.

Emphasize Wood Tones:

Choose coffee tables, sideboards, or bookshelves in polished walnut or burled wood to create a warm environment that still feels modern.

Modern Accents & Decor

Once you’ve taken care of the color palette and the larger items, you’re free to play with smaller accent pieces. Find the perfect modern details for every room of your home by following these tips.

Go Chrome:

Quintessential to the modern aesthetic is shiny chrome. A table lamp with a chrome base, a bookshelf with chrome shelves, or a gleaming light fixture is a sure way to command attention.

In the Abstract:

Since many modern furniture pieces are artful and sculptural in their own right, they pair well with quirky wall art and sculptures. Try a colorful abstract print on its own or in a gallery wall, or place a shapely statement object on your coffee table or mantel.

Float On:

Instead of a standard bookcase, consider using a series of floating shelves to display your collections. You can also lean framed pieces against the wall this way. Floating shelves are an easy way to change up your décor, and because they’re suspended off the ground, they can help create the illusion of more space.

https://www.jossandmain.com/Modern-C1860540.html