Interior Design

Traditional Interior Design Trends

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4
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October 12, 2023
By
Kallista Design

In recent years, we're seeing a resurgence of traditional elements in modern interior designs, from printed wallpaper to warm colors and decorative details. And as nature and whimsy lead the way in modern interior design trends, monochromatic minimalism is taking a back seat in popularity.

Based on the transformative interiors we've played a role in this past year, we have expert insights into these traditional design trends that will be everywhere in the year to come, from fixture styles to textures and color palettes.  

Reimagining Traditional Interior Design  

The concept of “new traditional” is in the forefront, which blends modern interiors with charming and classic touches. According to interior designer Lauren Tolles, this style is “warm, livable, and versatile–much like an outfit that you can dress up or down. The essence of the style is layers of warmth and texture, within a context of clean, architectural lines.”

As the founder of the Maison Birmingham design studio, Tolles utilizes her experience as an architect to inform her innovative interiors, making each project one-of-a-kind.  

Layered Textures and Patterns

Now is the time to experiment with textured walls and layered textiles. Paneled walls with varying types of tile and molding result in a room that feels at once elegant and inviting. A bathroom is the perfect space to add layers of texture and unique decorative pieces, as this approach creates an element of surprise as you open the doors and enter the room.

traditional wallpaper design - floral
Credit: Maison Birmingham

Elaborate details, such as decadent chandeliers and ornate woodwork, are excellent choices for designing an interior with luxurious personality.

Comforting Colors

While all-white, minimalist interiors have been sought after in recent years, interiors are beginning to lean into warm tones and rich colors. With a new Maison Birmingham showroom open, we connected with Tolles to learn about the “new traditional” approach to the showroom’s interior.

traditional interior design with calming colors
Credit: Maison Birmingham

“While we had a relatively modern, eclectic space next door for the past six years, the new space granted us a blank canvas and we were craving more warmth, color, and details,” according to Tolles. “We found a lot of inspiration from southeastern designers and architects implementing light blues, layers of texture, patterns, and rich millwork.”

Whimsical Wallpaper

traditional interior design bathroom with floral wallpaper
Credit: Maison Birmingham Featured Product: Central Park West™ Sink Faucet, Tall Spout, Lever Handles

One way to engage with these colorful trends is with artful wallpaper. Wallpaper can change the entire atmosphere of a room, making it an exceptional way to introduce tasteful eccentricity to your interior.  

Balanced Form and Function

While aesthetics may influence most of your interior design decisions, this ultimately requires careful discernment. Even if a fixture, appliance, or piece of furniture appears to be more modern, this doesn’t negate its usefulness within the room. For example, you may choose a kitchen sink with a sleeker appearance due to its features and functionality.  

traditional minimalist kitchen sink and kitchen sink faucet
Credit: Maison Birmingham Featured Product: Quincy™ Deck-Mounted Bridge Faucet, Lever Handles

Remember, you can always balance out your approaches to style and practicality. With a modern-looking kitchen sink, you can choose a more decorative option for your bar or entertainment area.

traditional white minimalist kitchen
Credit: Maison Birmingham Featured Product: Quincy™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet

Tolles took this approach when designing the new Maison Birmingham showroom: “When it came to selecting sinks, we let function dictate form in the kitchen, but stuck to aesthetics in the bar.”  

Mixed Metals In the Bathroom

When considering finishes in the bathroom, warm nickel-toned fixtures are an ideal choice for a modern space with traditional flair. Polished Nickel is one of our favorite finishes to use for these applications. With similar reflective qualities to Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel features a soft, golden undertone.

floral blue bathroom wallpaper
Credit: Maison Birmingham Featured Product: Central Park West™ Sink Faucet, Tall Spout, Lever Handles

And, according to Tolles, there’s no reason to coordinate every single fixture in the same color: “We love to mix metals to keep things interesting and add an unexpected element to an otherwise polished space.”

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Architectural Plumbing Fixtures

When choosing faucets for your traditional interior design projects, look for those designed with architectural lines for a solid, timeless structure.

Unlacquered Brass Kitchen Finish

brass kitchen hardware
Credit: Maison Birmingham Featured Product: Quincy™ Deck-Mounted Bridge Faucet, Lever Handles

Look no further than the natural beauty of Unlacquered Brass to add glowing warmth to your kitchen. When polished, Unlacquered Brass emits a brilliant golden sheen. If left to gracefully age over time, Unlacquered Brass fixtures will develop a patina, offering a distinct sense of character to interior designs.

Bridge Kitchen Faucets

Our Quincy kitchen collection features modern designs with an innate familiarity, allowing them to translate beautifully in traditional settings.  

Here's why Tolles chose the bridge faucet: “The handsome, clean lines of the Quincy, paired with the traditional charm of a bridge faucet, were a perfect fit for our new showroom kitchen, which also marries clean lines with timeless, traditional elements including raised panel cabinetry and an antique mirror. The additional sidespray adds a practical element to the nostalgic bridge faucet.”

Decorative Details

KALLISTA partnered with architecture and design firm, Robert A.M. Stern Architects on Central Park West, a brassware bathroom collection that captures the legendary sophistication of early 20th-century design. Artisan touches include gently rounded, lever handles that evoke an illusionary effect by appearing to pass through the supports, bonnets engraved in “H” and “C” in Old World serif font, and fluted details.

traditional wallpaper interior designs
Credit: Maison Birmingham Featured Product: Central Park West™ Sink Faucet, Tall Spout, Lever Handles

According to Tolles, here’s what inspired her to use fixtures from KALLISTA’s Central Park West bathroom collection: “The tailored, masculine lines of the Central Park West collection offer an interesting contrast to our otherwise whimsical and feminine bathroom space. The fluting featured on the faucet handles and spout are repeated in the reeded glass sconces and bathroom accessories, bringing additional texture and warm detail to the space.”

Find the Perfect Fixtures for Traditional Interior Design Trends

Add layers of color and decorative detail to your interior this year with KALLISTA. Discover a showroom near you to find the right KALLISTA collection for your space.

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