Book Club
The New Classic Home - Modern Meets Traditional Style
Paloma Contreras
At my core, I am a Mid-Century Modern kinda girl. The svelte lines, the textures, the design visionaries that embodied its provenance…I could go on!! But as I’ve said before, I am also a certified Design Nerd which means that I never shy away from any form of inspiration. Afterall, variety is the spice of life, right?
All kidding aside, I truly believe that being exposed to and familiar with a variety of design styles allows me the flexibility and depth to create bespoke spaces that speak to the nuances of my clients’ needs and personalities. Which is specifically why this book caught my eye. This is an overly simplistic characterization of the styles, but I wondered if heavy and ornate could really blend cohesively with minimalistic and neutral.
Right out of the gates, the Foreword written by India Hicks does a great job of convincing readers that such a blend of styles is not only possible, but that it may be the best way to live. India Hicks is, in her own right, design royalty - both figuratively and literally, since she has lineage to the British royal family. Once the face of Ralph Lauren and J.Crew, she is firmly entrenched in preppy Americana and tends to add a dash of Modern to her Bahamas properties, which makes her a perfect spokesperson for this book.
The first picture you see as you read the Introduction gives a sneak peek into what I think is the most successful example of Paloma’s penchant for mixing the Traditional and Modern. About a third of the way into the book, we get to see the full bloom of this dining room.
Oh, let me count the ways in which I love this room! Number 1: Super fresh use of the 5th wall, without making it too precious. #LoveTheTuxedoLine. Number 2: Zingy color choice of drapery in a material that could otherwise be considered fussy. Number 3: Modern table that simultaneously grounds and highlights the details of the chairs. Number 4: Clean artwork that manages to cut through and cleanse the visual palate of the megawatt wallpaper. Chef’s Kiss…Mic Drop…She’s done folks!!
Paloma’s use of layered lighting is also to be commended. Wall sconces are found everywhere and I can just imagine how these spaces glow in the evening light! Indeed, I think there is a need to bring back nighttime design photography, but I digress. Of course, she isn’t the only designer to have mastered this trick but I also appreciate how she used two relatively generous sconces on the flanking walls of a tiny powder room. Using slim sconces on either side of the mirror of the far wall would have looked cramped and we all know that using overhead lighting in a bathroom is a cardinal sin to be avoided at all costs, so Bravo!
Past the halfway mark of the book there is also a good example of how to do a white kitchen. Full disclaimer: I don’t know the Design Brief nor the clients, but I likely would have added some form of monochromatic pattern on the drapery and chair seats. That being said, the creamy movement in that stone and mix of metal finishes brings real depth to the space and creates a space that will endure the test of time.
So, the answer to my premise of whether those characteristics of Traditional design could be seamlessly mixed amongst those of Modern design seems to be – “yes”…sort of…
This book is filled with gorgeous spaces with tactful injects of Modern, yet I would have to say that the overall looks remain firmly planted in the Traditional spectrum. Although I expected to find equilibrium between the two styles, I was pleasantly indoctrinated into the possibilities of enlivening the stereotypical Traditional style with dashes of cohesive Modern pieces.
As my feet remain firmly planted in the world of Mid-Century Modern, this book would feel out of sorts in my home but is a true gem for any designer working in the Traditional realm.
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About the Author
Founder of TouchStone Interiors
After a successful and rewarding career in military healthcare, Nathalie followed her lifelong passion for design into the next chapter of her life. Beyond her formal education in decor and design, Nathalie continuously seeks out new and exciting materials and finishes to best serve her clients. An active member of the design community, she volunteers with the Decorators and Designers Association of Canada (DDA) and is a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Her experience in healthcare and corporate management enables her to simultaneously design a space that caters to her client's physical and mental wellness while delivering a seamless project management solution.