Homeowners today have found ways to take traditional home design to the next level.
The rise of home improvement television, especially shows like HGTV’s Fixer Upper, have made farmhouse-style homes popular again. But in order to achieve a modern look (and still retain the charm of more traditional designs), many homeowners have turned to transitional home design.
Our latest featured floor plan uses transitional design concepts to update a classic two-story, farmhouse home. Limitless interior style and reliable home protection help this home shine by using modern appliances, clean color palettes and the right exterior materials.
And don’t worry if your floor plan has walls between rooms, which is common in older homes. You can still get a transitional design, without having to tear down walls.
“Transitional homes are classic with a contemporary twist,” explains Christina Buff for Sandy Spring Builders. According to experts, the essential word to remember is balance, if you’re going for a transitional style in your design.
Using both modern and traditional takes on style, transitional design gives homeowners a chance to be edgy and still maintain the home’s original character. “Transitional home design allows you break the rules and add your own twist,” explains Buff.
There are a few key features you can incorporate to achieve a transitional home design: “Neutral colors with textured elements, clean lines with minimal accents, and a ton of natural light,” says Buff.
The crisp white canvas in this home’s kitchen leaves plenty of opportunity for personal touches and richly-colored accents.
Classic details like a farmhouse sink and open shelving add a bit of old-world character to this kitchen’s modern, sleek style. The back porch is accessible from the kitchen and dining spaces, making it ideal for entertaining guests in the warmer months.
Transitional design incorporates elements of traditional style, generally found in older homes like farmhouses, because classic design elements, such as chandeliers or built-in cabinetry, are reliably elegant.
“Transitional design marries curved furnishings with straight-lined, lacquered finishes, resulting in a room that is equally masculine and feminine in nature,” says Shelley Little for Freshome. This look is successful because it’s inviting to everyone, combining clean design with cozy comfort, perfect for warm family nights or dinner dates.
Despite the polarity of these two ideas — traditional versus modern or classic versus contemporary — the resulting look is surprisingly successful. “It is not a scattered, eclectic mess,” explains Little. “Rather, it is only lightly adorned with accessories, a clean room with added texture and a neutral color palette.”
To get this look, try marrying natural wood floors and a farmhouse table with more elegant pieces, such as a chandelier and long, gossamer curtains as in the room pictured above.
The living space in this home’s floor plan also makes successful use of transitional design, such as neutral colors and texture elements. The warm gray furniture and the texture of the natural wood flooring, along with the classic molding details around the fireplace, give this space a cozy and traditional warmth. Add in the clean lines throughout the room, minimal accents to avoid clutter and the natural light from the windows and this room is a transitional design win.
Unique personal touches and houseplants help give the room a friendly feel, one of the reasons transitional design is especially popular with younger homeowners. “You can think of [transitional design] as simply a new take on an old classic, or a younger, more punchy version of traditional design,” says Little for Freshome. “It’s especially popular among the millennial generation, as they want to venture out and create their own stamp.”
This traditional, farmhouse-style home features three bedrooms on the second floor, including the master suite and bath. It’s an ideal floor plan for growing families or couples looking to stay in one place while establishing a career.
But modern life is hectic, so this floor plan prioritizes comfort, especially in the master suite. If you’re fixing up your own home, bathroom design details can add the kind of comfort that goes a long way.
Homeowners can make their master bathroom more of a luxury experience by installing updated hardware and bathroom fixtures. The classic porcelain tub features elegant, but functional, bath fixtures for a bit of modern luxury.
This family home boasts plenty of traditional farmhouse design features on its exterior, including an expansive front porch and classic white columns. The homeowner added deep green window shutters to add to its beautiful, antique appeal. Wooden rocking chairs give this farmhouse-style home the perfect amount of countryside charm.
Using high-performing siding for exterior protection will help homeowners enhance their design further. And by installing siding or soffit from Rollex, homeowners can expect that protection to last for decades. Rollex offers both steel and vinyl siding panels to help bring any exterior design to life, without the maintenance hassle that comes with other siding materials. And with a limited lifetime warranty, homeowners know they’ll get the design they want for decades.
Transitional design has seen success in the last few years, especially with the rise of remodeling projects and home construction. It’s popular because it’s easily adaptable, and offers options for homeowners who like a balance of classic and edgy.
If you’re looking for home design with modern appeal and time-tested reliability, you might give some of these transitional design ideas a try.
You can also check out a few of our other favorite home design ideas here.