Is there such a thing as a proper interior design style for your home?
There is no correct answer to that. When I see a home, I see many factors. I see the exterior and I see the interior of that home. I look for clues, such as architectural details on the outside as well as on the inside. What do the curves, angles, arches tell me? They set the tone. Lines are a magical tool. Simple lines, but they determine so much.
Straight lines throughout the interior of the space (window frames, door frames, straight ceiling) usually talk Modern, Contemporary, Transitional, Mid-Century, Mid-Century modern.
Curvy lines throughout the interior of a space (bay windows, arched hallways, arched doorways) tell a story of Traditional and Classic styles. There is a catch! The catch is that a professional eye with experience in design can stretch those lines into a design style you’re looking to achieve. For example, let’s take the vaulted ceiling as an architectural detail. Vaulted ceilings can be worked in Modern, Contemporary, Mid-Century Modern styles as well as Traditional, Transitional and Classic styles. A designer knows her/his how-to’s without creating the separation of different design elements. Of course, some of the architectural details need to be given respect and style they have earned.
The exterior of a home could possibly play a role in determining your interior style. Many clients of mine like the idea of bringing the outside in. And for continuum and design flow purposes it can be a good idea. Some clients of mine like the idea of keeping the outside out and inside in. Don’t judge the book by its cover, that is. You may see a house dressed in traditional architecture, but the interior of it is a very different style, or the architecture of the exterior of a home can be Modern/Contemporary, but the interior is done in Shabby Chic style.
As a designer, I’m in tune with both, the architecture of the exterior and interior. My job is to create a functional, beautiful, flawless space that makes sense for your home and your personal taste and style. More often than not, my clients seek my opinion on whether they should incorporate as many existing features into the design and my answer always is “that would be a good thing to do, unless that is, you would like the existing features to not be noticeable”.
The exterior of a home could possibly play a role in determining your interior style.
I have recently worked on a project which inspired this paragraph. A residential home that featured traditional elements throughout the interior of the home. The homeowners were not the number one fan of those features but were not in the position to demo and rebuild. The answer was the following: why don’t we dress those features up with a slightly different style, and make that style VISIBLE so one’s eye does not even notice the details you don’t want it to notice. We decided on Transitional with a touch or two….or three….of Modern. We added a mix of Transitional and Modern Furnishings. Dressed those furnishings in a mix of light colors and bold graphics. Added glass, smooth woods, and just a notch of metal as materials. Dressed the space up with light, bold-patterned window treatments. Added Transitional Style Lighting to the space. Accessorized it all with gentle florals, unique tabletop pieces, and playful decor. That did it! It did wonders for the space. The design created exactly what our plan aimed at. Was I happy? ABSOLUTELY! Were my clients happy? They were THRILLED!
No matter the dilemma you may have when it comes to designing your home; no matter the goals you set to achieve in designing or remodeling your home; no matter the obstacles you may meet along the way to get the results you desire, remember nothing is impossible. There is a world of possibilities out there to work with when it comes to designing the interior of your home. Knowledge, talent, experience, and love for design are what make it possible!
