Autumn is the traditional time to begin redecorating projects. So, you may be thinking about doing just that. Times are uncertain, though. So, you may want to incorporate some of your existing furniture to keep the costs down.
Perhaps you may want to modernize your space, but some of your pieces may be traditional. Or you may have traditional-style furniture that has sentimental value. So, you want to incorporate it into your updated room design. If so, a transitional style may be for you. The great thing is this style is trending now and will probably become a trend in 2023. So, this style may appeal to you for this reason too.
The wonderful thing about this style is it allows you to keep your existing traditional style furniture but augment it with more contemporary furnishings. And if you like modern and classic furniture, then the transitional style may be worthwhile to explore.
If you’re looking to upgrade your living space, there are many ways to design a transitional-style home. This post shows one of these ways to do it. It features a transitional-style living room redecorated by Lynteriors. The Aurora, Ontario, homeowner wanted to retain most of her furniture.
The transitional style blends traditional and modern design. It combines classic and minimalist furniture, drapery, lighting and accessories in your space to create a timeless look. The transitional interior design style is a type of contemporary decor that combines straight lines with curves, masculine and feminine features, and an old-world classic look with chrome and glass to create a stylish and comfortable space. It is a great style to consider if you have both women and men living in the home. Transitional decor pulls from the best of both aesthetics to form a cohesive concept that is equal parts old and new.
These design styles don’t share many characteristics, so they might not seem compatible and cohesive. However, the transitional design unites these two disparate forms in innovative ways. To inspire you and give you ideas, I’ve compiled a guide to creating the transitional style to help you understand this versatile interior design. Whether you want to change the furniture, colour scheme, decorative pieces, or lighting fixtures in your room, I’ll show you how to combine traditional, modern and contemporary designs for a refined yet casual and comfortable interior.
What is Traditional Style Furniture?
Since the transitional style includes classic characteristics, I will discuss the traditional interior design style. The classic design style draws inspiration from furniture and decorative items that were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. The furniture was made from natural materials such as wood. This living room has traditional-style wooden tables. For example, the side tables and coffee table in the living room pictured below are wooden.
Furthermore, classic-style furniture often featured intricate details and carved motifs. Some examples of traditional furniture include furniture with fluting on table legs. Fluting is carvings that involve carved thin vertical grooves close together. An example of fluting is seen on the table on the right side of the sofa below.
Also, the coffee table has two framed rectangular panel embellishments on its side, giving it a classic vibe. The overall effect is richness because of the wood detailing and warmth because of the wood furniture. There are also more curved lines making up the classical furniture. For example, the spider leg-style legs on one of the nesting tables to the left of the sofa have curvaceous legs. It gives the table a feminine feel. While traditional furniture can be ornate and curvy, modern furniture is all about clean, straight lines.
Redecorated by Lynteriors
What is Modern Style Furniture?
The transitional style also includes elements of modern design. Modern design is a style of interior design that emerged in the early twentieth century and continues to evolve. It was a response to the ornate furnishings of the Victorian era. As a result, the movements and styles of the 20th century have a no-frills sensibility. Go to https://lynteriors.wordpress.com/2022/09/15/interior-design-styles-trending-in-2022-part-1/ to find out more about the modern style.
Many modern furniture designs have straight lines and simple forms. For example, the sofa above has straight lines making its shape rectangular. Even the arms have straight lines. This living room has a balance of modern and traditional style furniture. The form or shape of the sofa is a simple rectangle. This simple geometric form making up the sofa gives it a masculine feel.
It is juxtaposed with the traditional tables around it. The end tables have curves in their structure, giving them a feminine feel. So, the transitional style fuses masculine and feminine qualities. As a result, this style is perfect if you are married and have a family. Everyone in the family will feel comfortable in this room.
So, as you can see, there is a combination of modern and traditional furniture in this room above. This furniture melding gives it that warm but sophisticated transitional vibe.
Other Characteristics of the Style:
Neutral Colour Scheme
Typically, a neutral colour scheme is a foundation for the transitional style. It includes colours such as white, gray, beige, taupe and tan. Dark colours such as brown and black help add depth and subtle contrast to transitional spaces.
This living room has a neutral colour palette. There are grays on the sofa, throw pillows and wall art. And there is white on the lamp shades, wall art, candle, plate, accent pillows, coffee table book, orbs and picture frame. The gray and whites add a modern touch to the room.
The beige walls, coffee table book and bowl on the side table add the earthy classic colour and feel to the room. Even the colour palette helps to create the transitional vibe with a balance of modern white and classic earthy tones of brown and beige. You can incorporate whites, grays and earth tones in your room too.
Artwork
In transitional spaces, such as in this living room, the artwork is usually more modern to create contrast with the traditional furniture. So, incorporate minimalist art into your room to balance your traditional furniture.
Lighting with Metallic and Glass Accents
Moving on to lighting, the transitional style relies on modern table lamps like the ones in this living room. Chrome and glass lamps or light fixtures scream modern. They add glamour to the space too. And when you place them on traditional furniture pieces such as side tables, they help create that transitional vibe.
Sheers designed by Lynteriors
Neutral Coloured Drapery
For the drapery, neutral-coloured fabrics are best for a transitional look, such as warm white. You can add warm white sheer curtains as we did in the living room pictured above. The white sheers designed by us replaced the old ones. It supports the neutral colour scheme of the room too.
Is the Transitional Style the One for You?
Transitional style thoughtfully mixes two design styles to create contemporary spaces with timeless design. For example, the transitional living room featured in this post melded traditional-style wooden tables with ornate detailing and curves with a minimalist straight-lined sofa. So, one way you can achieve this style is by including traditional and modern furniture in your space.
Other transitional style characteristics to incorporate into your transitional space include choosing a neutral colour scheme and adding modern art and contemporary lighting with metallic accents. They help create that transitional vibe too. So, if you love traditional and modern furniture and decor, this decorating style might be for you. You may be feeling you may need some help creating this look. If you want to find out how I can help you, click the link below to discover the services I offer. Click on: https://lynteriors.wordpress.com/work-with-me/
I, Lynn Asbury, am the owner of Lynteriors, an interior design firm based in Aurora, Ontario.
Fall is here. So you may be planning your autumn interior design project. One of the steps in the decorating process is determining the interior design style you wish to incorporate into your space. But you may not know which decorating style to choose for your home. One way to find your personal interior design style is to learn about furniture from different eras. So with that in mind, I will discuss the modern glam farmhouse style in this post.
What is the Modern Farmhouse Style?
Before I talk about the modern glam farmhouse style, I will discuss the farmhouse style. The modern farmhouse style has been around for years. It has utilized different names such as English country, rustic, colonial or primitive. Today’s renditions are rustic but refined and modern. It is traditional with a contemporary twist. The result is a room that feels warm and inviting but also light, airy and sophisticated.
The farmhouse style continues to be popular. And there are many ways to approach farmhouse decorating to create a unique look in every setting. One way is to blend the modern style modern with the farmhouse style while keeping a traditional touch on board.
Rustic style can happen in the city, suburbs or the country. You can create it regardless of location. If you find the farmhouse style or the traditional style too cluttered, ornate and stuffy and modern too cold, but like elements of each, then the modern farmhouse is an excellent style to explore.
Transitional Style and Modern Farmhouse
The modern farmhouse style belongs to the interior design category known as the transitional style. So before I go any further, I will define transitional style. The transitional style is the mix of traditional style warmth with modern style sophistication. It is about embracing classic style: but with a modern twist that reflects the times. The modern farmhouse style is a sub-category of the transitional style.
The modern farmhouse style is a response to the style trends of the early 2000s, which were modern and minimalist styles. Many people find these styles too cold. So some people have been embracing tradition because it is a warm and comforting style. Different sub-categories of this sub-category of transitional style keep popping up too. And modern farmhouse glam is one of these substyles of the farmhouse style.
What is the Difference Between Country Style and Modern Farmhouse Style
What are the differences between the country style of the 1980s and the modern farmhouse? The country style of the 1980s relied heavily on accessories and collections, while the contemporary farmhouse style of today keeps them to a minimum. This country style, which immediately preceded the modern farmhouse style, included brighter colours too. The modern farmhouse is similar to this country style. But it uses white or neutral colours with a cleaner, more contemporary, uncluttered sophisticated look. It is akin to the country style without the kitschy clutter and dark colours.
What is the difference between the modern farmhouse style and the country-style house of the distant past? The farmhouse style is a rustic home design inspired by colonial farms and country homes. The colonial farmhouse style evokes images of homesteads on the farm with primitive stark furniture. Some designers and homeowners prefer incorporating furniture from the colonial farmhouse style, while others prefer incorporating furniture from the country house style.
Country-style homes have some furniture with a bit of ornamentation. It gives the pieces a formal, more lavish feel. Consequently, some country or farmhouse style substyles have a touch of detailing on the furniture. For example, the English farmhouse and French country style have more detail on the furnishings. The dining room showcased in this blog has elements of a modern farmhouse style. And the style leans toward the English country house style with a bit of glam. So this substyle of farmhouse style would be modern farmhouse glam style.
Characteristics of Modern Farmhouse Style
Talking about the characteristics of an interior design style helps to define the decorating style further. It allows you to see if the style is your preferred style too. As distinct as this style is, the modern farmhouse style is not one style. The modern farmhouse style has several types of substyles.
While most of the core farmhouse elements remain the same, the characteristics of each substyle are slightly different. Below are some of the principles of modern farmhouse design.
1. Neutral Colour Scheme
Just like modern style, modern farmhouse style incorporates a neutral colour scheme. So if you’re planning to decorate your house with a modern farmhouse touch, use light colours, layer in some natural wood tones, and keep your rooms and spaces light and airy.
This dining room incorporates the modern style colour scheme such; as warm whites and grays, which add the modern freshness and cleanness the style requires. But the style adds earthy tones also. And if there was an appropriate time to play up the earth tones, it is if you choose the farmhouse style.
This dining room above is loaded with earth tones in materials from wood to beige-gray walls-and the result is nothing short of a country escape. To build up this look in your home, layer warm whites, grays, beiges, creams and wood tones. By sticking with a neutral palette, you are adding that modern freshness and calm the style requires.
Modern farmhouse often mixes two-tone furniture pieces, such as mixing wood stain with paint. The Newmarket, Ontario couple who owned this home chose furniture partially painted a warm white. Their pedestal table body and the chairs are in a warm white. The painted wood and stained furniture give the dining room an iconic modern farmhouse feel.
The light wood stain on their farmhouse table and the light stain on their wood flooring give it a warm farmhouse look too.
Farmhouses are filled with natural light and fresh air. To create that same ambiance, you can keep things light and airy by using light-coloured wood detail, white-coloured wood, and light-coloured art like in the dining room pictured above. The gray and white in the room create an airy feel too. Light colours keep it light and airy but so do the windows. So you can create that light and airy feel by ensuring the windows have no dark, heavy drapery, like in the dining room pictured below. Or keep it bright and airy by using no curtains at all!
2. Add Texture
A critical element of this style is texture. Since the modern farmhouse style is made up of neutral colours, you’ll need a mix of textures to keep the space from looking flat.
For example, the white linen-like textile on the chair and table runner adds texture. So does the raised rectangular pieces on the modern wall art. The wood texture on the farmhouse table and the wood flooring add visual texture too. And the geometric etched metal detailing on the ceiling fixture adds more texture to the room design.
3. Cleaner Lines and Sleek Touch
The neutral colour scheme, textures, smoother, cleaner lines and sleek touches encompass the modern characteristics of this style. The farmhouse furniture and traditional furniture in the room have cleaner lines with less ornamentation than the farmhouse and traditional furniture of the past. The geometric straight-lined abstract art screams modern also.
Furthermore, the shiny metallic parts of the minimalist wall art add a sleek touch. And the glossy, streamlined chrome art deco style drum shade on the ceiling fixture gives it that modern vibe. The modern farmhouse style mixes in the characteristics of the modern style and incorporates them with the farmhouse characteristics of the farmhouse style to create this warmer but sophisticated style. The contemporary elements give it that sophistication, and the farmhouse characteristics give the modern farmhouse a warm and inviting feel.
Farmhouse Style Characteristics
4. Incorporate Organic Materials
Early farmhouse furniture was built with easily attainable material, which included wood. Since this style embraces all that is a farmhouse, wood is a staple of this look. Wood conveys a warm and natural feeling to your space too. Also, linen, a natural textile, creates a warm, comfortable farmhouse look. These materials produce that warm and inviting space that is part of this style.
For example, the dining room’s lightly stained wood table and wood flooring give off a warm wood vibe. Also, the warm white linen-like upholstery on the dining chair fronts helps create a warm and inviting space.
5. Modern Farmhouse Style Furniture
When the farmhouse style originated, furniture forms such as turned furniture were what was built. This style originated in the 1600s. The farmhouse furniture tended to be simple, with little or no flourishes, with more focus on functionality than decoration. As a result, turned furniture is still considered farmhouse-style furniture.
Some people interpret the style by incorporating wood furniture with no ornamentation; or wood furniture with straight clean lines. Others interpret the style by adding furniture with pared-down detailing. French country style and English country style fall into this category.
Farmhouse style and farmhouse dining rooms never go out of style. They’re very inviting, unfussy, and easy to personalize to fit your desired aesthetic — rustic, modern, traditional, or all three. The homeowners of this dining room loved the pared-down-turned pedestal table that screams farmhouse.
Modern Farmhouse with a Touch of Traditional Style
The modern farmhouse style often combines rustic and traditional elements with modern sophistication. Since classic style elements are thrown into some of the subsets of contemporary farmhouse styles, I will touch upon this style now.
The traditional style came before the modern movement. It has a formal, regal elegance, and it is opulent. The original 18th and 19th-century European furniture feature heavy ornate detailing. It was the over-the-top detailing that the modern style rejected.
But there are less sumptuous ornaments and less elaborate carving in the contemporary versions. And they are not as pretentious. The new classic style is easy on the eyes, and nothing is overdone or excessive. Instead, the furniture pieces have a touch of ornate detailing. Modern traditional add lighter carvings such as fluting. Fluting is carvings that involve carved thin vertical grooves close together.
Modern Farmhouse Table with a Touch of Traditional Design
The pared-down turned two-ringed pedestal table in this dining room ends with four classic fluted legs. Fluting is an embellishment that was popular in the 19th century. So it is a traditional style of ornamentation. And turned tables are a usual farmhouse-style table form that goes back to the 1600s. The shape is borrowed from the farmhouse style. The ornamentation is classic. As a result, this table is rustic with a traditional touch.
The traditional and farmhouse characteristics of the table have modern style characteristics added in too. For example, the body of the pedestal has one streamlined cylindrical turned ornamentation. This pared-down and more streamlined turned pedestal gives the table a cleaner-lined, modern silhouette. Furthermore, the furniture has a more neutral and lighter colour palette.
Also, fluting is the only classical embellishment added to the table. As a result, the table is less cluttered with detailing. It is not as ornate or elaborate as its traditional counterparts of the past. It is not over the top because no more embellishments are added. This take on the farmhouse style adds a bit of a refined, high-class detailing, which makes it perfect for the dining room. Meanwhile, the rustic turned elements on the table keep it approachable.
Cozy Comfortable Chairs
Comforting elements such as comfortable chairs are another of the farmhouse style characteristics. So these lush upholstered chairs fit well in this farmhouse-style dining room.
The modern farmhouse table works well with the formal-style dining chairs in this dining room pictured above. The chairs have the silhouette of a Victorian-style tub chair. The only ornament on it is the nail head trim. Nailhead trim was invented in the 1600s and used by English and French upholsterers in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
As you can see from the photo, there are no ornate carvings or embellishments on the wooden chair frame back or wood portion of the arms. The chair legs are all clean-lined too. So there is a balance between modern style and the warmth of the traditional style elements.
One of the owners loves flower gardens, so she wanted a floral pattern for their chairs. The English country house style characteristics include flowers recreated in prints. So the classic floral design on the chair upholstery adds a traditional formal touch to the chairs and room. Like the farmhouse table, the chairs are formal yet casual. So this dining room is a great space for formal holiday dinners. And it is relaxed enough to use as a breakfast room too. These chairs and table are perfect for a kitchen/dining room combo, such as the room featured.
Farmhouse Style for a Formal Dining Room and Casual Breakfast Room
The room is formal enough to be dressed up for supper. But its farmhouse characteristics, such as the farmhouse table, create a more casual vibe; This makes it a great room for enjoying an informal breakfast.
Dining rooms are often more formal and used at night and for celebratory occasions. And furniture with a touch of ornamentation, such as in this dining room, helps to create this vibe. The room has a touch of luxurious formality. Yet it is not as stuffy as the traditional English country style.
The juxtaposition of the rustic-turned embellishment on the table and the more refined classic fluting on the table legs are the secrets to why the table can be dressed up for a formal dinner party or dressed down for an informal breakfast. There is something else that gives it a luxurious feel. It is the glam touch.
Modern Farmhouse Glam Style
The farmhouse style is changing over time. There is an industrial modern farmhouse style, coastal farmhouse, modern glam farmhouse etc. There are multiple variations or sub-categories of it, and modern farmhouse glam is one of the variations. It is glam marries modern farmhouse.
This new category has formed because the glamorous trend has been gaining popularity, and it’s found another home in modern farmhouse design. Farmhouse and glam can look amazing when put together. Rustic and glam are at the opposite end of the design spectrum, so you would think they would not work, but it is a case of opposites attract.
So the modern glam farmhouse has a touch of rustic, a touch of traditional, and a touch of modern with a twist of glam. As a result, it evokes low-key luxury because farmhouse glam has a more refined aesthetic. So if you want to elevate your modern farmhouse design add glam touches to your room.
Characteristics of Modern Glam Farmhouse Style
Each subset of farmhouse style, including this one, has unique features and characteristics. This style has all the modern farmhouse style characteristics I mentioned already in this post. For example, modern farmhouse glam fuses warm whites, streamlined furniture, rustic wood furniture, and the addition of sparkle! So, if you’re thinking of giving your interior design a modern glam farmhouse makeover: be sure to keep these key characteristics in mind too: simplicity, natural materials, comfort, and sparkle. As you can see, it is the element of sparkle which adds glamour to the modern glam farmhouse style.
As discussed earlier, this dining room has modern farmhouse elements. This dining room has some examples of this glamorous element too. So here are four tips for how to capture this glamour.
How to Capture the Style of Modern Farmhouse Glam
Furniture procured by Lynteriors
Tip #1: Nail head Trim Adds a Glamorous Touch
In the dining room featured in this post, the farmhouse table stands out against the glamorous Victorian-style tub chairs studded with nail heads. The nail head trim creates an elegant look and adds a bit of bling. Nail heads create a shiny effect. It is this shiny effect which gives the chairs a touch of glamour. Nail heads up the glam. It is one of the reasons the room looks like a luxurious dining room. You can add trimming studs to your chairs to create this glamorous effect in your room too.
Tip #2: Incorporate Glass Table Top Accessories
Modern farmhouse dining room centrepieces include using candles which add a warm feeling to the room. Glass also brings a sheen and a sense of glamour. The glass hurricane lamp and turned vase-shaped candle sticks echo the turning on the pedestal in this kitchen and dining room combo. Glam glass candlesticks give the space more sparkle and dress up the farmhouse table. You also can add shiny accessories such as glass candlesticks to your room to up the glam.
Tip #3 Add Metallic Shiny Elements
Anything with a reflective surface can elevate the glamour in the room, particularly metallic finishes. Some abstract wall art incorporates shiny metals. For example, the wall art in this dining room has an actual square-shaped glossy metallic multimedia element incorporated into it. So this metal provides a reflective surface. Some of the other rectangular shapes on the canvas have shiny gel embellishments too. As a result, they create that modern but glamorous look too.
Also, shiny metal light fixtures bring a sheen and a sense of glamour to your room. The dining room’s modern chrome drum-shaped ceiling fixture adds a sleek, glamorous touch. This drum shade has an intricately pierced art deco geometric design. The metal drum shade gives it a modern feel, and the crystal chandelier portion provides a traditional touch to the ceiling fixture. So this ceiling fixture is transitional. It has a contemporary metallic drum shade and a traditional-style crystal chandelier component.
Tip #4: Add a Crystal Chandelier
Fourthly, if you want to elevate your modern farmhouse design add glam touches to your room with a crystal chandelier. You can make your room sparkle with crystal chandeliers too.
This ceiling fixture provides a double dose of glamour. Its polished chrome drum shade exudes glamour because it has a metallic reflective surface. The shimmering glass crystals that create the traditional crystal chandelier portion also reflect light adding even more glamour! As a result, this sparkling crystal chandelier with a sleek drum shade brings modern, understated glamour to this farmhouse dining room.
So this crystal chandelier with a modern chrome drum shade adds formality, modernity, impact and glamour. Also, the crystal chandelier component supports that formal dressed-up look. And it dresses up the room, making it perfect for a holiday dinner.
This drum shade chandelier combines both modern and traditional together. As a result, it creates a more everyday luxury feel instead of a full-on crystal chandelier. It is the drum shade that makes it feel casual enough to use as a breakfast room too.
This dining room feels very luxurious and glamorous because of the shiny nail head trim on the chairs, the sparkling glass candlesticks, the glossy wall art, and the sleek drum shade which makes up the shimmering crystal chandelier. These all add a glam vibe to the room.
Summary:
When you redecorate or renovate your room/rooms, one of the interior design steps is to decide upon the interior decorating style for your space. I hope this article has helped you understand the modern farmhouse style more clearly. Also, I hope it helped you understand what modern glam interior design is. Furthermore, I hope this has helped you decide if these styles are for your next interior design project or not.
The modern glam farmhouse style is a subcategory of the farmhouse style. And it is relatively new. As the article revealed, the difference between these two styles is the glam version incorporates glamorous elements or characteristics in the design.
So to summarize, the modern glam farmhouse style incorporates the modern style, the 1600s farmhouse style, perhaps a bit of 18th or 19th traditional style and a dash of glam style.
This style includes the characteristics of the farmhouse style, such as lots of natural materials, natural textures, and perhaps a farmhouse table. Then this style adds modern style elements to the design. The critical characteristics you can incorporate into your interior design include a light and airy neutral colour scheme, cleaner lined furnishings, sleek surfaces and perhaps abstract art.
Add to your room luxurious traditional touches such as a floral-patterned chair fabric and fluting or other embellishments. Use ornamentation such as fluting conservatively. Conservative ornamentation has some intricate detail but doe not scream extravagance in your face. Finally, add glam touches such as shiny nail head trimmed chairs, wall art with metallic elements, glass candles, and a shimmering crystal chandelier. The dining room used as an example of this style in this blog incorporated these characteristics. The result is a comfortable, sophisticated and low-key luxurious look. If you find this style too ornate and busy, then the modern interior design style may be the one you prefer. Go to https://lynteriors.wordpress.com/2022/09/15/interior-design-styles-trending-in-2022-part-1/ to explore if the modern style is the ideal interior design style for your home.
Fall is here, so now is a great time to plan for your autumn interior design projects. You may be thinking about giving your space a facelift. Or perhaps you may want to do a renovation. Whether you intend to decorate your home on your own or want to get a designer to help you, one of the steps in the design process is determining your ideal interior design style.
But you may not know how to figure out what style to choose for your space. You are not alone. So many homeowners I have talked to cannot understand the difference between the styles. There are many interior design styles and plenty of sub-categories within those styles, so it is hard to narrow down one that is your preferred style and that suits your space.
It is hard to figure out your favourite interior design style if you do not know their differences. So I will break down 1 of these decorating styles and explain its different characteristics. When redecorating or renovating, understanding what sets one decorating style apart from the others is paramount. As I talk about these styles, I hope it will help you find your favourite style. And the one you would like to incorporate into your home.
If you decide to work with a designer, having a basic understanding of the interior design vocabulary so you can describe and define your ideas and visions for your desired interior design look is necessary. Knowing your unique style means you can explain it. If you know your preferred style and can communicate that to your decorator, she can help you create your dream room or space. So with this in mind, I thought I would discuss one trending interior design style. Modern style is the style I will discuss in this post.
Modern Interior Design Style
Designed by Lynteriors
History of Modern Interior Design
Each style is a result of different influences and originated during different periods. So one way to find your personal interior design style is to study furniture from different eras, historical periods or movements. For example, modern design is a style of interior design that emerged in the early twentieth century and continues to evolve. It was a response to the ornate furnishings of the Victorian era. As a result, the movements and styles of the 20th century have a no-frills sensibility.
The furniture in your space can affect the overall aesthetics of your home. If you want it to have a modern style, modern furniture design will help you achieve that.
Desire for Simplicity
Modern style was born from a desire for simplicity. It was a new stylistic ideal that removed all ornament from the furniture. For every ornate piece of furniture or ornate fixture and rich patterned fabric, modernity presented a streamlined alternative—a pared-down approach to furniture and decor. The shift away from ornamentation changed the overall aesthetics. For example, nail heads and ornate floral patterns were removed from tub chairs like the one above. So the designer could design a more streamlined version like the modern tub chair below.
If you dislike embellishments on your furniture, modern style may be for you. By the way, tub chairs are dining or lounge chairs with rounded arms and backs. They resemble a tub in shape, hence the name.
Reading nook with modern tub chair designed by Lynteriors
Purpose or Function of Furniture
It was a tremendous change from traditional furniture styles, which were loud and showy. Modern furniture designs, however, focus on the purpose of the furniture other than ornate designs that will make the house busy and visually heavy. They were now designed based on their function.
For example, the chair above is based on a traditional tub chair, but with all the embellishments removed. In this case, it was about the comfortable chair, not its ornate details. It still has a graceful curved back and arms. But the swooped arms have a more subtle angle. Also, the chair becomes even more comfortable to lounge in without embellishments. Without the nail heads and wood frame, it is also easier and cheaper to make in a factory.
Hand-Made Methods Replaced by Industrial Production Methods
As alluded to above, furniture was beginning to be mass-produced in factories at the end of the 19th century. The furniture designers focused on affordable, simple products that would be easier to mass-produce. As a result, the hand-made manufacturing methods of the earlier era were overtaken by industrial production methods, which integrated modern materials into the designs. For example, these factories used new materials to make furniture, such as plastic and steel, instead of wood. Before this period, tables were made of wood. Below is a photo of an Aurora, Ontario, living room. The modern style coffee table and side table have straight lines. Glass and chrome were the material used to manufacture them. As a result, they are simple to mass produced in a factory.
Characteristics of Modern Furniture
Each style, including the modern style, comprises distinctive furniture, lighting and accents that give it its signature look. As discussed earlier, this style is a mix of all the substyles of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The modern style includes the substyles of Bauhaus, art deco, the mid-century modern style etc. Despite all these substyles, the super category style has general defining characteristics.
Basic Forms and Shapes
One of the characteristics of modern furniture is its simple forms and shapes. The designs have simple geometric shapes and angles. If there are curves, they are simple and streamlined. Chairs are a great example. They typify the forms seen in this style.
The shapes are often square-shaped chairs or rounded-shaped chairs such as tub chairs. The boxy-shaped club chair in the above photo is similar to Borge Mogenson’s 1963 pared-down version of the traditional club chair.
The top of the back of the traditional club chair had a wooden crest and an exposed wooden frame. It was invented 250 years ago in France. Borge took the club chair to its bare bones and created a simple square design with swooped arms. He removed the ornate wooden top, and the wooden chair frame was not exposed anymore.
The chair above has the same form and is a recent copy of Borge’s 1963 chair. It has soft cushioning just like Borge’s chair. So it is still a comfortable chair which was its intended function.
Straight Lines and Clean Lines
Many modern furniture designs have straight lines. For example, the club chair above has straight lines making its shape boxy. Even the ends of the arms have straight lines. It also has subtle swooping arms that create a streamlined, elegant look. He used straight lines and streamlines because Borge believed in the simplicity of lines. The coffee table and side tables have straight-lined silhouettes too.
Furthermore, modern furniture has clean lines. It means all the ornamentation and embellishments are removed. For example, the chair above has a square-shaped tapered leg that is clean-lined with no ornately carved detailing. And the tub chair below has tapered legs with no added detailing.
Patterns Removed
Modern style furniture has no ornate, heavy floral patterns like traditional upholstery often had. The tub chair pictured above and the club chair below have no designs on their fabric. They have solid white coloured textiles instead.
Neutral Colour Schemes
Modern style steers clear of dark or bright colours found in traditional interior design styles. Instead, it favours a neutral colour palette. A neutral colour scheme includes white, grey, black, brown, and beige.
Borge Mogenson’s 1960s club chairs had pea-green fabric or brown leather. The updated modern style club chair below has a white polyester linen-look fabric. It does not have the dark or bright classic colours or the pea-green colour found on 1960s upholstered furniture. Some modern-style homes have a pop of colour: such as the navy blue and white reading nook tub chair above.
Sleek surfaces
Shiny, smooth and glossy surfaces are the hallmark of modern furniture designs. Removing carvings and other embellishments from the furniture surface creates this smooth surface and that sleek look. Tables made of polished chrome and glass create that shiny look too. The coffee table and side table in the living room below are examples. If you like this type of furniture, the modern style may be for you.
The reason your sofa is expensive is the quality of the materials. The tailor-made components you choose give you the luxury, support, and style you want. For example, the fabric you pick affects the price. Silk fabric is more expensive than a man-made fabric such as polyester. This post will focus on textiles and detailing, which add style to the look of your upholstered furniture but affect the price.
The suspension material affects the price point too. Eight-way, hand-tied seats are comfortable and responsive, while furniture with sinuous springs is slightly softer. Webbing suspension keeps the cost of seats low and gives chairs less support. But webbing suspensions will sag sooner. So buyers beware.
The frame and construction affect the price too. For sofas and chairs that can hold up to years of daily use, focus on pieces that feature kiln-dried hardwood frames. Ones with reinforced corner blocked joints will be the absolute sturdiest. The cost of the sofa due to frame construction, frame materials and suspension materials is discussed in more detail in another post. Go to https://lynteriors.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/why-does-your-sofas-construction-matter to find out more.
Contemporary style love seat procured by Lynteriors
Good, Better, Best Upholstered Furniture Categories
As alluded to earlier, the quality or rarity of the textile also affects the price. Fabric is available at $2 per yard or $200 per yard. Fine leathers can cost even more. And a good sofa with a quality frame and springs can start at around $4000 retail.
Man-made materials are less expensive, so if the fabric is polyester, it will cost less. A better sofa with higher quality fabric can start around $4500 or more.
Furthermore, the best sofas will have high-quality leather or 100% natural fabrics such as wool or silk. They will also have extra detailing added, like nail heads. The best sofa will cost $6000 or more. The good news is that Lynteriors provides discounts of up to 30%. So you do not pay the retail price.
Example of Good Upholstered Furniture
Contemporary Love Seat
A contemporary love seat has simple, clean lines like the one above.Smooth, clean, and unadorned furniture materials in solid hues always work best in contemporary-style homes. Solid neutral colours such as white or off-white are examples. The love seat upholstery in this family room above is in an off-white polyester.
Since the loveseat is clean-lined without detailing and upholstered in polyester fabric, it is more reasonably priced. It is an example of a good loveseat with a high-quality solid wood engineered frame but a lower-grade upholstery. It looks beautiful like linen but is not as costly.
Better and Best Upholstered Furniture
Farmhouse Style Dining chairs procured by Lynteriors, a decorating company in Aurora, Ontario
Refined Styling
The added details on your upholstered furniture affect the price too. For example, the dining chair above has nailhead detailing. The extra detailing gives it refined styling but means this chair costs extra. So this was one of the manufacturer’s most expensive dining chairs.
The fabric was polyester. So the lower grade fabric kept the cost down. This dining chair is considered a better-upholstered furniture piece. If the chair had a 100% linen fabric and the nail heads, it would fall into the category of the best-upholstered furniture. The dining chair is by Canadel, a Quebec manufacturer. Canadel uses high-quality frames and springs too. To find out more about high quality frames and springs go to https://lynteriors.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/why-does-your-sofas-construction-matter.
I, Lynn Asbury, am the owner of Lynteriors, an interior design firm based in Aurora, Ontario.
You may be wondering what biophilic interior design is. Well, it may be just what the doctor ordered! That is because you and I have just come out of the COVID pandemic- or the worst of it. And there is inflation to contend with now. So you may feel stressed because of inflation, excessive use of technology and work etc. Evidence suggests that nature helps alleviate this stress. A home where you can experience a piece of the outdoors is, therefore, more popular than ever.
A room incorporating biophilic design ideas is a great way to escape from the summer heat waves too!
As some of you know, I was a nurse. And I practiced as a psychiatric nurse for over four years. So anything that helps alleviate stress in your life and everyone else’s life is near and dear to me. So I am very interested in interior design styles that involve mental health. The trend discussed in this post is about that. This trend is known as biophilic interior design.
Biophilic design involves bringing the outdoors in too. It has become popular because research supports the claim that images depicting nature, such as wall art, can alleviate stress. Other interior design accessories such as tropical indoor plants and even cut flowers in a vase can achieve the same results. As a result, we have come to appreciate the power of nature to uplift and revitalize us.
Cut flowers in a vase in my breakfast room add to the biophilic design
Scientific Proof that Nature Alleviates Stress
Research has also shown that images depicting nature produce a calming atmosphere. They also reduce stress, improve cognitive function, spur creativity, and improve overall well-being.
For example, one of these research papers published by the Oxford Academic journal on 22 December 2005 states, “This paper presents a summary of empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence drawn from a literature review of the human health benefits of contact with nature. Initial findings indicate that nature plays a vital role in human health and well-being.” (Health Promotion International) Click the following link to read the full abstract and paper. https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/21/1/45/646436?login=false.
No wonder you may desire to reconnect with the natural, outside world. A walk in the forest or a garden is an ideal way to connect with nature. But you can achieve this using interior design too. Houseplants, greenery and cut flowers help you receive these health benefits too. A window garden view connects you with nature too. The breakfast room photo above is an example of how to use cut flowers and a window garden view to achieving this. This type of interior design is known as biophilic design.
My family room with abstract forest wall art of a tree with gold leaves, a corn plant, an umbrella plant and faux ivy add to the biophilic design
Biophilic Design
Erich Fromm created the term “biophilia in 1964. He described it as the passionate love of all that is alive or a love of nature. Biophilic interior design, an extension of biophilia, incorporates natural materials, flowers, foliage plants, nature views and other experiences of the natural world into the interiors of your home. You may love nature because you sense it has health benefits. And you are right.
Stress is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders. You reduce it by spending time in a nature-oriented environment. Scientific evidence reveals that bringing the outdoors into your interior spaces has health benefits. These benefits include decreasing stress. What the scientists have found is now influencing the world of interior design. You and I love nature because it has physical and psychological health benefits. So we gravitate toward nature and want to bring it into our indoor spaces.
Idea #1: GO ALL IN ON GREENERY
Introducing live plants into your interior spaces is one way to incorporate biophilic interior design. Furthermore, nothing says summer like lush green leafy plants. Plants add a pop of green through their leaves. Given its connection with nature, the rise of green colours follows homeowners’ appetite for all things biophilic. So green foliage plants are popular right now. Plants help to liven up the room and will also purify the air. Foliage plants, such as tropical plants, are easy to move around. Besides, seeing your blooms and leaves grow brings a deep sense of fulfillment and joy.
I love indoor and outdoor plants for many reasons, including seeing them grow and thrive. I have a corn plant and an umbrella tree in my family room pictured above. And on the hearth sits a faux ivy plant which gets minimal light. So remember, there’s no shame in using artificial plants in spaces that get minimal light or if you have trouble keeping plants alive.
You can try decorating with tall, standing house plants, like a monstera or an umbrella plant. Many of them are easy to look after. For example, my umbrella plant is easy to look after. Also, these sturdy house plants are like living art, and they add a vibrant pop of colour to any room. If you don’t have a green thumb, try to use realistic-looking fake plants. That way, you can feel like you have a little piece of a garden in your home, yet never worry about forgetting to water the plants. Greenery is trending this summer and is an element of the biophilic design trend. So update your interior by incorporating real or faux plants in your rooms too.
Idea #2: Use Windows as Live Wall Art
Aurora, Ontario living room sheers designed by Lynteriors. Example of live wall art.
Your window, its view and the window treatments that frame the window also become live wall art during the summer season too. The above photo is an example of live wall art. You can see the lovely flowering tree from this homeowner’s window. If you have a lovely view of a garden from your window, open your curtains so you can see it. That is what my Aurora interior design customer loved to do with the sheer curtains I helped design for her. So bring the outdoors in thru a window with a lovely view. Open your sheers or curtains to create living wall art. Or, if the view out of your windows is obscured by curtains and drapery, consider removing and storing those extra layers for next winter. Bringing the outdoors in via the window as live wall art is another way to incorporate biophilic design.
Abstract wall art with a tree and gold leaves above the family room fireplace. Biophilic Interiors Design ideas and tips
Tips On How to Add Biophilic Interior Design Elements into Your Home:
Introduce more live plants and flowers in vases
Purchase artwork that immerses you in nature such as the abstract wall art of a tree with gold leaves that is in my family room pictured above
Open curtains to bring in garden and forest views
If you want help incorporating biophilic design into your rooms feel free to contact me at 416 721 6217.
I, Lynn Asbury, am the owner of Lynteriors, an interior design firm based in Aurora, Ontario.
Lynteriors 