Over the years, we’ve found that four key styles define our aesthetic. To be sure, you can find plenty of items on our website that don’t fall into these categories, and we aren’t suggesting that these are the four “best” styles. But these are the styles that have resonated the most with us and with our customers. Take a look and see if any of them speaks to you—or if you prefer a combination of styles. (After all, we’ve long been all about the mix!) So long as the items in your home share one characteristic—that you love them—they’re sure to work beautifully together.
The abstract art, the minimalist chandelier, and the natural-fiber rug add the “new” to this traditional living room. Room by Katie Davis/Katie Davis Design; photo by Melissa Fitzgerald West.
A skirted table, a Chinese garden stool, a Roman-style bust: All are from different periods and provenances, but to the New Traditionalist that doesn’t matter. Photo by Joe Schmelzer; design by Mark D. Sikes.
The New Traditionalist
For the New Traditionalist, “classic” isn’t set in amber to remain unchanged forever. Instead it’s timeless style that is updated to work with ever-changing lifestyles. Embracing everything from Louis-style chairs upholstered in stain-resistant fabrics to abstract art interspersed among a gallery wall of antique portraits to streamlined dining chairs around an ornate 18th-century dining table, the look is refined, serene, and above all, elegant.
Standard-bearers: Alexa Hampton, Suzanne Kasler, Mark D. Sikes, Bunny Williams
Muses: Kate Middleton, Nancy Myers, Reese Witherspoon
Materials: burlwood, Carrara marble, cherrywood, mahogany, velvet
Patterns: Greek key, latticework, paisley, ticking stripes, toile de Jouy
Cornerstone pieces: button-tufted upholstery, four-poster beds, gilt-frame mirrors, ginger jars (and chinoiserie in general), majolica (particularly leafware), Persian rugs
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Stripes and dots and chevrons, oh my! Even the gallery wall, which includes a needlepoint sampler and a Damien Hirst print, is Eclectic. Those just dipping their toes into the style might want to stick to white walls, as seen here. Photo by Lesley Unruh.
The Eclectic
If the Eclectic had a motto, it would be “Why match when you can mix?” Eclectics invented the mash-up; there is no such thing as clashing colors or patterns. Hues can never be too bright, though quieter palettes are fine too. Kilims layered atop Beni Ourain rugs, suzani pillows atop a striped sofa, a Chippendale-style mirror hung against neon palm-frond-print wallpaper: Why not?
Standard-bearers: Dransfield & Ross, Ken Fulk, Madcap Cottage, Michelle Nussbaumer, John Robshaw
Muses: Wes Anderson, Iris Apfel, Drew Barrymore
Materials: bamboo, lacquered wood, Lucite, rattan, sheepskin
Patterns: animal prints, batik, chevrons, dots, ikat, palm fronds, suzani
Cornerstone pieces: Beni Ourain rugs, lacquered Chinese Chippendale chairs, peacock chairs, sheepskin rugs and throws—pretty much anything that catches your fancy
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Who says you can’t pair animal-print wallpaper with a tribal rug? Photo by Frank Francis Studio.
The Naturalist
As the name suggests, the Naturalist goes all in on natural materials and textures: richly figured wood with minimal finishes, sisal and jute rugs, rattan and rush baskets, grass-cloth wallpaper, plenty of plants. Artisanal craftsmanship from around the world, however, is also key to Naturalist style. Pillows made of mud cloth complement a linen-upholstered sofa; unglazed hand-thrown ceramics sit atop a live-edge table. The overall effect is earthy, laid-back, warm, and inviting.
Standard-bearers: Fragments Identity, Jersey Ice Cream Co., Lauren Liess, Kim Salmela
Muses: Ulla Johnson, Jenni Kayne, Carolyn Murphy
Materials: grass cloth, hemp, jute, linen, rattan, sea grass, sisal, wood
Patterns: basket weave, batik, ikat, shibori, wood-block florals
Cornerstone pieces: artisanal pottery, Kuba cloth and mud-cloth pillows and throws, natural-fiber rugs, woven baskets
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From the woven-rush headboard to the rough-hewn linen duvet cover, the emphasis on natural textures is beautifully apparent. Photo by Cheng Lin; design by T.R. Pescod.
A pampering velvet-upholstered bed, a sumptuous sheepskin rug, and gleaming gold accents: Nothing but the best will do for the Curator.
The Curator
For the Curator, quality trumps quantity every time. The clean, modern lines of the furnishings allow the luxurious materials—silk, shagreen, suede, marble—to command attention. Gold, brass, and sparkling glass lighting and accents heighten the element of sophistication.
Standard-bearers: Kelly Hoppen, Alyssa Kapito, Thomas O’Brien, Kelly Wearstler
Muses: Athena Calderone, Tom Ford, Solange Knowles, Julianne Moore
Materials: alpaca wool, cut or printed velvet, etched glass, faux fur, leather, marble, shagreen, silk, suede
Patterns: animal prints, geometrics, Greek key, medallions
Cornerstone pieces: Aalto vases, abstract art, arc lamps, metallic-frame accent tables, Sputnik light fixtures
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Sculptural shapes and the thoughtful juxtaposition of reflective and matte textures distinguish this vignette. Photo by Joe Schmelzer.
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