Transitional Design 101
by Haus of Blaylock
In today’s blog, I’ll be going over Transitional Interior Design and how I’ve used this particular design style in my previous work! But before we get started…
What is transitional interior design?
Transitional style is a modern mix between traditional style and contemporary style. Transitional is great for those that don’t want to be restricted by the rules of a singular design style by blending together various styles with the purpose of creating a cohesive image. It’s simple and sophisticated, lacking in ornamentation and decoration that you often see in French design. You should be able to pick different elements that stand on their own but are also carefully coordinated with the rest of your design.
Floor Plan
Transitional design works best with an open floor plan, allowing each room too easily be connected. It’s important to look at the sizing of the elements you choose to use, you don’t want anything to be too big or too small. I recommend keeping elements selections relatively the same size and then having the bigger pieces of the room used as the room’s focal point.
- The spacious great room
- The focal point of the great room is a beautiful floor to ceiling split-faced stone fireplace
Color Palette
Contrast with rich neutral colors to give depth to your design; Dark Browns against Taupes, Tans Grays, Vanillas, and Creams. You don’t want too many colors, but you also don’t want them to blend together too much. I’d recommend using a different range of hues. If you want a light color palette, use subtle hues; if you want a dramatic palette, use dark hues. Altogether your color palette should consist of 2-3 complementary hues.
- Warm-toned grays, mink and metallic platinum throughout the home
Textiles (Photo: Kitchen/Bedroom/Gameroom):
With transitional design, you can use a variety of textiles, depending on how you use them. You want the textiles used to be unexpected but also subtly coordinated with one another, brought together harmoniously to create balance within the home. Take a look at one of my favorite kitchens. At a glance, it’s a modern and sleek design. But let’s take a look at the various elements used throughout the room’s design and how each play a significant role:
Kitchen
- The cabinets are sandy white striated with a light grey wood-grain finish.
- The countertops are a cool grey polished quartz.
- Quartz is known to be durable against high heat, stains, and chipping, making it ideal for a kitchen used for entertaining.
- The backsplash is a blend of brushed and polished aluminum, giving it a sleek, reflective surface that ties in with the appliances.
- Above the island, I chose an oversized metallic silver linear pendant to tie it all together.
Bedroom
- Light Oak wood and German Silver furnishings
- White Oak and Woven Abaca canopy bed
- Paired with identical white oak bedside tables with tarnished nickel accents symmetrically placed on either side.
- Hair-on-Hide bench with polished stainless steel legs to add texture as well as a contemporary flair
- Carpeted with a sophisticated light beige woven fiber to bring a softness to the room which juxtaposes the hardwood flooring throughout the entire home.
- German Silver-plated metal, with a geometric pattern adding dimension and a source of light reflection, similar to a mirror while also acting as a place for storage.
Gameroom
- The countertops are made of a specialty laser cut Ceasarstone Motivo made to look similar to reptilian-like skin.
Thanks for reading! Come back next Sunday to read my next blog post!
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