Transitioning From Traditional to Modern Home Design

If you’re looking to transition areas of your home’s interior design from traditional styles into more modern styles, several natural stone materials can be a big help. Stones like marble and granite are perfect for modernizing a home without losing traditional elements that make it what it is, whether used in countertops or several other areas. At Sand and Swirl, we have a wide selection of Carrara marble, granite and other natural stone countertops if you’re looking to modernize. Here are a few additional themes our design pros can offer on fusing contemporary style with older, traditional homes – both in terms of aesthetics and functionality.

Transition and Balance

Now, unless you’re virtually tearing down a given space of the home and rebuilding it from scratch, it’s important to maintain some balance between the home’s traditional style and your new modern themes. A term designers use here is “transitional,” referring to blending elements of both styles in intelligent, practical ways. Luckily, many traditional homes were designed with practicality in mind. For instance, if your home has classic ceiling beams, these are both functional and aesthetically pleasing elements you can keep while upgrading to a granite or marble countertop, backsplash or even stainless steel appliances. Mix and match between modern and traditional furniture to continue to strike this balance.

Importance of Solids

While it’s tempting to go with patterns and specific designs in every new area, it’s also important to keep some solids involved – too many patterns overwhelm. If you’re looking to add texture, the best way to do it is though metal appliances and various finishing formats. When infusing marble or granite into the design, consider neutral solid colors. These are subtle looks that fit with both modern and traditional themes, allowing for that same transition factor we discussed above.

Accent Additions

Once you have a solid balance struck between your primary themes, it’s time to get creative and consider various accents and how they’ll complement things. If the home still leans a bit toward the traditional side, maybe you paint a bold cent wall or install a piece of modern furniture to mix it up. On the flip side, if you’ve already included several new modern additions and don’t want to take things too far, consider neutrals or limited accents that will tie the theme together without pushing too much further. Backsplashes, in particular, are perfect areas for accent. They involve just enough space to get creative, and you can choose between covering a single side or even as many as three backsplash sides for certain types. For more on transitioning your home’s design from traditional to modern, or to learn about any of our cultured marble or granite countertop materials, speak to the staff at Sand and Swirl today.