Creating this look isn’t as simple as hanging an ornate chandelier over a modern table; the wrong combination can backfire and make your space look misplaced and kitschy. To create the perfect trad-modern room, I have a few simple rules for you to follow:

Era on the side of caution
It’s easy to throw pieces from different eras together, but knowing which periods and styles go well together is the hard part. There are timeless design elements from some decades, while others are best left in the past. You don’t want your place to start looking like a museum of the progression of interior design. For example, pieces from the ’80s are still a big no-no. They might be selling off-the-shoulder tops at the mall, but flashing back 25 years via your furniture is another story. Instead of using pieces from specific decades, focus on pieces from style eras. Mix ornate, carved elements with mid-century furniture, or ultra-modern sofas and tables with baroque-styled lighting.  I am particularly fond of combining retro, ’70s-inspired pieces with highly-textured traditional pieces. This will give you a space with some depth and inspiration and still allow you to achieve a cohesive look.

Pace yourself with old & new
As much as I advocate the inclusion of numerous styles in a room, I recommend that a trad-modern room be developed over time. It’s best to buy one or two pieces at a time, take them home and determine if they work or not. Once you know the mix you want to create in your space, pick certain pieces that you want to incorporate and work with the ones you already have. Getting carried away on your trad-modern shopping trip will leave your space looking tired and dated. Mix the old with the new to keep the look fresh and nicely edited.  Be sure your purchase can be returned if you’re going to spend any large amount of money on it and exercise your retail rights if they don’t fit.

Show your true colours
With any interior space, splashes of colour are a must-have—but the shades you choose can make or break the mix. It’s like the glue that can bind traditional and modern into perfect harmony. Sometimes I use a bright, white backdrop punched up with bold colours and beautifully mixed furniture. Colourful and retro accessories used against neutral palettes create a confident space. Be bold with colour, mix with organic elements and don’t be afraid to use over-the-top accessories.

Think outside the box
Trad-modern means much more than simply mixing and matching old and new, it can also mean making the old look new (or vice versa). Revamp the pieces you already have and give them a traditional or modern edge. This can be achieved through the use of fabrics, wallpaper, or paint. For example, a mid-century modern chair from the ’70s upholstered in a handsome pinstripe can achieve a trad-modern look in one piece. Larger wood pieces, like armoires and desks, can be brought to life with graffiti art or silver paint. I’ve also sprayed chandeliers a striking hot pink or black, breathing new life into traditional pieces.

The trad-modern look is perfect for those who don’t like to limit themselves in their designs. There are no strict rules and there are inexpensive ways to create the look utilizing what you already have or can find at a garage sale or second-hand shop. Design now has become less about rules and more about personal expression and I think this look will let you do just that! Follow these simple rules and you’ll have an interior that screams personality and vibrancy. One last thing, always remember that design should be fun. When it starts to get overwhelming and stressful, take a step back and re-evaluate the situation.
Happy Decorating!