Displaying posts labeled "Traditional"

There’s a movement stirring, a perception of the importance of what has come before, of architectural memory, a sense of place and space and the past, of how we can preserve it yet live our modern lives. It’s not a new idea but definitely an idea whose time has come.

“Workstead House | Charleston is the physical exploration of southern modernism—a design philosophy informed by the distinctive heritage of the American South. Originally built in 1853 on Charleston’s historic “Bee’s Row,” the grand, three-story home and accompanying carriage house were meticulously restored under the careful direction of Workstead, with every element curated in deference to, and reverence of, past and future, evoking a style—and lifestyle—both new and deeply remembered in South Carolina’s low country.

Workstead House | Charleston draws on the property’s unique, storied past, reincarnating heritage elements as modern luxury in a welcoming home. Materials are rich, honest, and meant to last. Original details such as stairs, floors, molding, windows and doors of the home were preserved and restored, with updated conveniences carefully incorporated. The result is an all-sensory experience of southern modernism.”

I am a sucker for all things vintage, so I had to share this home in Somerset, England I found via Period Living because the homeowner clearly shares my obsession. Built in 1750 and purchased a few years back by Hana Reynolds and her family, they had the home rewired, re-plastered, a new kitchen added and the bathroom renovated. Filled with mostly traditional style antiques, a bit of mid-century and all kinds of beautiful vintage floral artwork, it is a throw-back to its roots and is absolutely charming.

Photos: Colin Poole

I’m always a fan of style mixin’, and in this apartment in Gdańsk, Poland it starts with some some classic moldings, chevron hardwood floor, a clawfoot bathtub and some exposed brick. This is all modernized in bright white with added built-ins, mirrored walls (storage perhaps?), contemporary furnishings and lighting and some funky tile work. A very dynamic and stunning space designed by Anna Maria Sokołowska. (Photos: Fotomohito)

Atlanta designer Nancy Braithwaite‘s key elements of design are as follows:

Architecture – Design at its best is often a collaborative venture. On successful projects, the architect and designer learn from one another, support one another, and enhance each other’s work. Architecture for me is always the important beginning of each project. It is the sculptural skeleton.

Composition – Composition is one of the many techniques a designer can use to achieve the unpredictable — that unexpected choice that so often makes a room memorable. Repetition establishes an interior rhythm, directing the eye around and through a room in an orderly, measured way.

Proportion and Scale – With proportion and scale, as with composition, I work from the grandest strokes to the most minute details. Increasing the scale of a design element to the anticipated proportions — and then pushing it beyond — carries with it the thrill of risk taking.

Color – Nothing in design is more mysterious, compelling, or personal than color. Combined with pattern, texture, and finish, it changes qualities yet again. So complex at all times, so ambiguous always — the potency and possibility of color is like nothing else in design.

Pattern – To avoid visual noise, patterns need to be chosen carefully, mixed purposefully, and artfully applied. Under no circumstance should a pattern overwhelm a room or its architecture, nor should it disguise the object to which it is applied. To do so negates the point.

Texture – Every object, material, and work of art reveals an essential part of its character through its surface. Texture is the dimensional aspect of that surface. It intrigues and draws the eye as it simultaneously invites the touch. As such, texture is also a form of pattern, and that is how frequently I use it.

Craftsmanship – Artisans of the highest caliber carry on the great decorative arts traditions and forge new paths. They are the keepers of custom and the enhancers of craft. They bring beauty, educate the eye, and create heroic singularity.

OMG! I want, I need this kitchen. All the boring everyday stuff hidden behind sleek, minimalist doors and a stunning table as counter setup with espresso machine plumbed in. So simple, so chic, so impossible to fit into my small kitchen space but, hey, a girl can dream. Part of a beautiful renovation of a traditional home by New Zealand design studio Hare Interiors.