Style Defined: What's New Traditional?

A peek into a serene New Traditional Master Bath in Dedham.

What defines traditional style? Traditional design evolved from 18th and 19th century Europe and the American Colonial and Gilded Age eras. Recalling your great-grandmother’s traditional style, known for heavy, dark, elaborate and embellished spaces? Think of the carved woodwork on staircases and paneling in older homes. Think of skirted sofas and pillows with fringe and tassels galore!

We’ve coined the term “new traditional” because it more closely reflects the work clients have wanted. Some of our most traditional kitchens and baths are white, but there is sophisticated detail and layered millwork. Certainly hardware and décor can be more ornate. Our new traditional spaces are timeless and classic. 

New Traditional Kitchens and Baths

Materials used in new traditional kitchens and baths include wood, stone, brass and other burnished metals, and leaded or etched glass. Traditional designers use crown moldings, coffered ceilings and ogee edges on countertops to establish traditional décor themes. Layers of fluted edges and intricate carvings are another clue that the space has traditional tones. 

As with modern and transitional design, a gamut of colors can be used in traditional interiors. However, traditional hues tend to be on the warmer side. Florals, stripes, checks, and toiles are common patterns for fabric and wall coverings. Rich Oriental rugs and Aubusson carpets are often seen in traditional spaces. Persian rugs can now be found in kitchens, too. New traditional décor includes sisal, grass cloth, bead board, wainscoting, and shiplap. Oil rubbed bronze hardware and patterned tile are often seen in new traditional kitchens and baths.

A New Traditional mudroom in Needham features Beadboard and layered moldings.

Traditional Lighting Fixtures and Furniture Style Cabinetry

A hallmark of traditional design is the use of distinctive pendant lighting like school house fixtures, wrought iron chandeliers, or typical billiard room pendants. Another feature of new traditional spaces is furniture-style kitchen islands and cabinet bases with free-standing, turned legs. Converting antique pieces into sink vanities and bars is a way to apply traditional style in a kitchen or bath. 

If you’re unsure of your style preference, the KitchenVisions team will guide you. Our goal is to create the best solution for your design aesthetic!

A New Traditional kitchen featuring an island with furniture-style details, intricate elements, and a school house light fixture.