Everyday, clients and designers alike walk into our showroom looking for exquisite furnishings for their homes and projects. And everyday, when we inquire as to what styles they are looking for, the answer is often the same. “I’m looking for transitional furniture.” As they meander the showroom, looking at this, looking at that, letting us know what they like or dislike, we attempt to find a common language and decipher their personal style. Do they know what they are asking for? Transitional is the buzzword of the decade in our industry.
Well, what exactly is transitional furniture and transitional design. Some say that it is the marriage between contemporary and traditional, timeless, simple, yet sophisticated. Others say it embraces soft lines and subtle colour palettes without the fuss of traditional styling. And Wikipedia states that it combines curves with straight lines to create a design that balances masculine and feminine attributes. Every decorator, designer, architect, and stylist have their own take on it. So, what it is it?
Transitional furniture has a soul in the past and its heart in the present. We find classical structure without its embellishment and a simplification of details creating a much softer aesthetic. Pieces have been stripped of their intricacies leaving gentle curves in their place. My dear Barbara, we certainly hope you paid homage to the Court of Louis XVI for your beautiful oval back chair. Transitional design aims to create a comfortable and relaxing style. Subtle neutral tones, monochromatic colour schemes and minimal accessories keep the focus on the sophistication of the design allowing artwork to dominate.
Do we need to define this period, or is its definition simply in a state of transition?
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