Articles on Design

Are You Ready to Transition?

Metrowest Magazine, October 2007
by Susan Dearborn

"The times they are a-changin’," said Bob Dylan, and in New England change does not come easily. Our traditions are deep rooted here and traditional furnishings and décor have been the favored design style for decades. In the last two years, however, traditional "Yankees" have been replacing their Queen Anne legged chairs and tufted backed sofas for pieces with clean lines and straight legs.

The 20- and 30-year-old-generation has long embraced the clean homogeneous styling of Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn and now I find their parents in the Baby Boomer generation are purchasing pieces which their children can relate. The Boomer generation does not want the one formula design that these stores offer so successfully; they are selecting more custom pieces that are less formal and have this cleaner styling. I call the new design style "transitional" — midway between old world traditional and the world of chrome and glass contemporary.

Our fondness for traditional English and French styling has diminished, and the simple clean uncluttered look of the Far East has gained enormous appeal. Asian design and architecture has always favored right angles, straight lines and darker woods with minimum grain, like Wengie. These pieces sit quietly in a room. One view is that this architecture offers a degree of calmness that people find so appealing to look at and live with in this world of constant motion and stress.

In transitional design wooden pieces are more consistent in tone within a room — usually having a dark or light hue. Darker tones give a room more drama than the lighter woods and both hues often have a gloss finish — where more traditional pieces were hand rubbed to a low luster finish. Traditional popular woods like cherry and mahogany with their reddish tones seem out of place, although the dark brown of walnut is still popular. Color range is wide open but fabrics definitely have less pattern and color interaction. Upholstered pieces have fewer curves, no tufting and often exposed legs. Florals, plaids and stripes are absent unless the stripes run with a horizontal pattern which offers a nice surprise in a room. Also absent are trims and fringes and decorative pillows. When pillows are used they are bigger and there are less of them. Carpeting is often plain in tone or has a geometric, not floral pattern. Broadloom or cut pile is being challenged by shorter tighter loops or natural weaves which have an almost commercial look. Window treatments and lighting have changed tremendously and are high visibility items that can alter a room’s appearance. Valences (soft top treatment) and cornices (upholstered wooden top treatment) are used less often with side panels only hanging from a stained or painted decorative pole. The panel itself might have a bib or attached valence in rooms that desire a more sophisticated look. Interlining and even lining are often absent so the fabric appears lighter as it hangs. Sheer fabrics that were previously used under another drapery for privacy are now being used by themselves unlined. Polished brass has become chrome or bronze, and marble or stone has become wood or glass. Wallpaper is experiencing a huge revival but patterns are very subtle, and tone on tone and textured papers now rule. Small groupings of pictures or collectibles are being replaced by a larger single piece of art that may be unframed.

Perhaps the most difficult area for some people to "transition" to is lighting. Lamps are now very tall and made of glass, ceramic or chrome, and shades look like barreled drums with no tapering or pleats, reminiscent of the fifties. These shades may even sit high on the lamp allowing the bulb to be visible. Traditional crystal and brass multi-arm chandeliers used in dining areas have almost disappeared. The new chandeliers are glass, chrome or stone and not tiered.

If you are worried about "transitioning" but know you are unhappy with your current décor, please relax. As with your wardrobe, older, more traditional pieces can work with newer more transitional pieces and some of your existing pieces can actually become more transitional. Like all well-designed rooms, a master plan is the first cardinal rule. Assess your pieces of furniture and decide which pieces you want to keep and which you feel can be replaced. A transitional room can be created using traditional and transitional pieces juxtapositioned. Each person has a different level of comfort with change so one can "transition" their home to the level they feel is comfortable. Some of your existing traditional pieces can be given a "transitional" look. Upholstered pieces can have new fabric a different cushion style, and exposed legs. In some cases new arm and back contours are possible when a piece is reupholstered. Older wooden pieces can be refinished or lacquered and to have a totally new personality. Existing lamps can be fitted with new shades: Imagine a Waterford lamp with a barrel shade. Your art work can be reframed or unframed. Double mats can be replaced with a single linen textured mat to give a piece less formality. "Transitioning" will make your home seem new and exciting and you will love the uncluttered serenity it affords.

Return to article index