Balancing Tradition and Modernity: Blending Styles

Cameron Jones
5 days ago
3 min read

Creating a harmonious living space can be a fun challenge, especially when two distinct styles come into play. But for me, that's what makes design really interesting and is one of my favorite challenges! For so many of my clients, merging individual tastes into cohesive decor style can be difficult and can sometimes cause disagreements or for one person to feel like their style has to be compromised. In my client's living room, the black mid-century Eames chair was a non-negotiable for the husband but the wife wanted a lightened up, more preppy vibe with blues and greens being her favorite colors.

Understanding the Styles

Before diving into the blending process, it’s essential to grasp the characteristics of each style.

Traditional style embodies a classic, polished look. It often features tailored furniture, rich colors, and patterns like stripes and plaids. This style exudes comfort and nostalgia, commonly incorporating elements like wooden furniture, elegant fabrics, and timeless accessories.

In contrast, mid-century modern design focuses on simplicity and functionality. It showcases clean lines, organic shapes, and minimalism. Iconic pieces, like the Eames chair, are celebrated for their innovative design and comfort. This style typically uses a mix of materials, including wood, metal, and plastic, giving an open and airy feel. Imagine large windows flooding the room with natural light, accentuating a sleek coffee table and a minimalist shelving unit.

Understanding these two styles will helped find a common ground and create a space that reflects both partners' tastes.

Incorporating Art

Artwork plays a vital role in blending styles and we were lucky that my client's already owned the perfect piece to incorporate and for us to use as a jumping off point for the color palette. Their friend and talented artist, Eleanor Scott Davis painted a picture of the sculptures at the NC Art Museum. Choose framed prints of traditional themes, such as landscapes or botanical sketches, and hang them alongside modern art pieces. Research shows that mixed artwork can boost creative thinking by 25%, adding to the dynamic visual interest of your blended decor.

Textiles and Patterns

Textiles significantly define a space and can seamlessly blend styles. In a more traditional/transitional home, you might find fabrics like florals, checks, or stripes. We introduced these patterns through throw pillows and window treatments. An oushak rug also adds color and pattern.

To balance traditional patterns with mid-century design, opt for simpler, geometric patterns that echo clean lines. For example, a bold geometric rug can ground the space while allowing preppy elements to shine through. We mixed in a geometric ottoman to add a masculine, mid-century balance to the floral and a geometric tape on solid lumbar pillows in the chairs.

Mixing textures is also effective. A herringbone sofa mixes with soft velvet chairs and contrasts against the black leather. Instead of using the floral pattern on all the windows, we opted for a textural woven shade on the larger windows. We also used a tassel fringe on the skirt of the chairs for another hit of texture.

Accessorizing Thoughtfully

Accessories are the finishing touches that can truly bring a room together. When blending styles, choose accessories that reflect both aesthetics.

We picked side tables that incorporated a mix of elements - a burlwood side table, a grasscloth console and a metal side table by the Eames chair.

Lovely brass and glass lamps flank the console and a swing arm chandelier hangs from the ceiling - both a nod to the simplicity of mid-century design. Simple x benches that we recovered in the same fabric on the chairs line up neatly behind the sofa but are easy to pull up to use as ottomans with the chairs or a perfect spot to perch if they need extra seating when company is over.