February 21, 2014

Tips For Relaxing a "Traditional" Home

A reader recently asked me if I had any suggestions for relaxing traditional homes…  She’s moved to the Northern Virginia area from California and prefers a relaxed, casual feeling but knows that her home and neighborhood have a more refined, traditional style and wants to find that perfect balance of refinement and comfort.  It’s something I’m called on to do frequently in this area…  DC can be a bit more buttoned-up architecturally than other areas of the country, but it’s still got its share of casual people who are looking for their homes to feel appropriate to the area but feel relaxed.  


{Our clients’ family room…  They’ve since moved across country!! 🙁   }

 

So today I thought I’d share some tips for trying to achieve that refined-casual balance.

1. Natural Elements:  It probably won’t surprise you that I’m saying this, but, bringing in natural element instantly relaxes a home.  Nature is extremely pure and unassuming, there so bringing it into a home lightens the mood and makes it feel fresh. 

I love bringing in natural materials like linen, warm and raw woods, natural fiber rugs (seagrass, jute and sisal are my usual favorites) natural woven shades (I love matchstick shades & bamboo shades, both lined & unlined)and grasscloth wallpaper.  I especially love to layer wool or cotton rugs on top of natural fiber rugs for a casual, layered look.


{A Maryland Living Room We Finished Last Year}

Actual things from nature work too: plants, flowers,driftwood, roots, bark, fossils, coral, seashells, stones, branches are just a few of the things you can outside (or buy if you can’t find!!!  I’m not above that 😉  My family and I do love going on walks to find things to display in our home.  


{My dad found the teak root on the wall while fishing.. it’s one of my favorite things!!}

 

2.  Keep windows simple:  To create a breezier, more causal-feeling in a home, I often forgo lining on curtains.  In my own home, not a single curtain panel has any lining and I love seeing my curtains blowing when the windows are open.  I stay away from swags and valences of any kind and prefer simple metal rods and rings vs. more ornate wooden rods.


{Unlined linen curtains and simple roman shades in our last home}

 

3.  Gallery Walls: Salon-style gallery walls feel more relaxed than formal grid arrangements.  Using a mix of different frames is even more casual-feeling.  

 


{The room I designed for the DC Design House a couple of years ago}

 

When things look a bit more effortless, less-planned and more imperfect, a home sort of exhales.  

4. Relaxed Patterns & Fabrics: When selecting fabrics & patterns for large pieces, steer away from overly traditional patterns like damasks in serious tones or fussier florals.  Don’t be afraid, however, to include them in small doses as a little nod to tradition.  


{In our clients’ family room, there is one formal pillow fabric but the large pieces- like the curtains- are in a fresh trellis pattern by Windsor Smith}

 

5. Juxtaposition:  Interest in rooms comes from juxtapositions, and so when the materials in a space play off of each other, it creates a sort of beautiful tension.  This applies to both formal and informal homes, but is extremely important in relaxed-feeling homes because it adds to that not-so-planned feeling I mentioned.  When things match too perfectly, a room feels less inviting, less warm


{My Old Living room}

6.  General Furniture Style Choices: To keep things relaxed, steer towards pieces with clean lines.  Even a spare Louis XVI piece can feel casual in the right setting as opposed to a curly, scrolly piece Louis XV.  Slipcovers over pieces with lots of dressmaker details hep in relaxing.


{Our clients’ family room}

6.  Chill:  Just have fun with your house. I find that most people aren’t that serious, yet they decorate seriously.  It’s like we feel we have to create these (often boring!!) grown-up houses.  I did it in my first house, for sure.  The more personality and fun you can bring into your home, the less “stuffy” it feels.  A painting by your child, for example, can be both beautiful and surprising in a formal living room, and make it feel more relaxed and livable.  


{Our clients’ dining Room}

 

I’m off for the day but hope you enjoyed the tips!!  Be back tomorrow for a pretty little Friday post of an INSANE flatbread you’ve got to try!!

*photos by my good friend, Helen Norman 🙂

 

Subscribe
Notify of

459 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Guest
4 years ago

immediately guy [url=https://bvsinfotech.com/#]prednisone 10 mg[/url] wild passenger
cheap working generic for deltasone 20mg specifically brush prednisone
10 mg since video https://bvsinfotech.com/

Guest
3 years ago
Guest

cialis tadalafil http://sjcialis.com/ tadalafil dosage

Guest
3 years ago

thesis assistance best thesis phd degree

Guest
3 years ago

how to take viagra п»їviagra over the counter viagra substitute walgreens

Guest
3 years ago

viagra overdose buy cheap viagra online real viagra for sale

Guest
3 years ago

new viagra what is viagra discount viagra

Guest
3 years ago

non prescription cialis cheapest cialis tadalafil cialis

Guest

Hi I am so delighted I found your website, I really found you by
error, while I was researching on Aol for something else, Anyways I
am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a fantastic post and a all round exciting blog (I also
love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it
and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be
back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the excellent b. https://azhydroxychloroquine.com/

Guest
3 years ago

gallup looking for to the fullest extent wasnР Р†t a hip. tadalafil best price may of these Viagra next date enunciation entertain ungual pustules.

Guest
3 years ago

https://waterfallmagazine.com
Very energetic post, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?

Guest
3 years ago

Really enjoyed this blog.Thanks Again. Want more.

Guest

average age men need viagra http://droga5.net/

Guest
Guest

what pharmaceutical company makes ivermectin http://ivermmectin.co/

Guest
3 years ago

purchase viagra no prescription doctor viagra asking viagra professional pfizer

Guest

directions for cialis 5mg https://tadalafili.com/

Guest

alprostadil suppository for sale https://alprostadildrugs.com/ cheap alprostadil

Guest
wheepsy
2 years ago
Guest
2 years ago

Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe this site needs much more
attention. I’ll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the information!

Guest
guexaro
2 years ago
Guest
2 years ago

Greate article. Keep writing such kind of info on your blog.
Im really impressed by your site.
Hey there, You’ve performed an incredible
job. I’ll certainly digg it and in my opinion suggest to my
friends. I am confident they will be benefited from
this web site.

Guest
Trearee
2 years ago
Guest
2 years ago

Guest

whoah this blog is fantastic i really like reading
your articles. Stay up the good work! You understand, many persons are
hunting around for this information, you could aid
them greatly.

Guest

Youtube abone satın al

Guest
2 years ago

Hurrah! In the end I got a blog from where I be capable of actually get useful information concerning my study and knowledge.

Guest
2 years ago

Excellent pieces. Keep posting such kind of info on your blog.
Im really impressed by it.
Hey there, You have performed a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and in my
opinion suggest to my friends. I am confident they
will be benefited from this site.

Guest

instagram takipçi satın al

Guest

güvenilir hizmet arayan kişiler sitemize giriş yaparak işlemlerini güveniir şekilde yapabilirler

Guest

youtube abone satın servilerimiz ile fenomen olma yoludna emin adımlar ile uçuşa geçebilirsiniz.

Guest

youtube abone satın servilerimiz ile fenomen olma yoludna emin adımlar ile uçuşa geçebilirsiniz.

Guest

instagram takipçi satın al

Guest
wetSleece
2 years ago
Guest
2 years ago

instagram takipçi satın al işlemlerinizi sitemiz üzerinden en uygun fiyatlar ile yapabilirsiniz.

Guest
2 years ago

takipçi satın al işlemlerinizi takipcipaketim sitemiz üzerinden yaparak sizlerde sosyal medya üzerinde fenomen olma yolunda emin adımlar atabilrsiniz.

Guest
2 years ago

takipçi satın al hizmetlerimiz ile kalitei bir şkeilde takipçi alarak arkadaşlarınızın arasında yükselebilirsiniz.

Guest
2 years ago

instagram takipçi satın işlemleri ile sosyal medyada sizlerde kendinizi bir adım ön sıraya çıkarabilirisniz.

Guest

Acheter Cialis Site Serieux

Guest
2 years ago

Tips For Relaxing a "Traditional" Home – Lauren Liess where to buy ivermecium pill for humans where can i find ivermectin for humans ivermectin 3 mg for humans generieke stromectol

Guest
2 years ago

Tips For Relaxing a "Traditional" Home – Lauren Liess z pak antibiotic dosage z pak azithromycin 500 mg tabs zithromax without a doctor prescription

Guest
ciskopese
2 years ago

http://buylasixshop.com/ – furosemide drug class

Guest

takipçi satın al işlemlerinizi sitemiz üzerinden güvenilir şekilde hemen ziyaret ederek yapabilirsiniz.

Guest
2 years ago

sosyal medya uygulamarlıdna fenomen olmak sizin için her kapıyı açabilicek güçte bir ünvandır.

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago

alanya sigorta şirketleri arıyorsanız firmamızı mutlaka ziyaret etmelisiniz.

Guest

alanya sigorta şirketleri arasında en iyisi ile tanışma vakti hemen ziyaret edin.

Guest
2 years ago

alanya sigorta ile ilgili bir firma arıyorsanız hemen bize ulaşın

Guest
2 years ago

en uygun fiyatlar ile ucuz takipçi satın al işlemini sitemiz üzerinden yapabilirsiniz.

Join Our Newsletter

Sign up to receive design inspo, exclusive content, shopping guides, and more.