KBB - April 2014 - 48

industry viewpoint

In New Jersey, Dutch Colonial, Salt Box, Tudor and Cape Cod houses
are found in every town. In my hometown, the grandest streets showcase large Victorian houses with turrets and porches. Raleigh is an old
city with lots of charm. There you might see old Victorian, Bungalow, Four
Square, Williamsburg and Georgian houses in many of the older established areas of town.

A Marriage of Traditional and Contemporary Styles
Traditional and modern styles are both attractive, but homeowners
usually find that one style resonates with them more than the other. It is
not uncommon for married couples to fall on opposite sides of the fence
where home style is concerned. When my husband and I first began
house hunting as newlyweds, it was immediately obvious that he liked
modern, contemporary houses, and I favored the warmth of traditional
design. Our realtor was having a hard time finding houses we both liked,
until he decided to show us a new style of home that was being built in
Raleigh. It was called transitional.

Making the Transition to Transitional
When clients express an interest in remodeling their home in the transitional style, designers can help make the changes easier. Whether the
client shows up with a folder full or pictures or empty handed, you can
steer them in the right direction. Shaker, Mission and other simple styles of
cabinets work well in transitional kitchens and bathrooms. Some cabinet
and plumbing supply manufacturers have product lines devoted to transitional style. Moldings, hardware and fabrics can be easily changed to
work well with the new, harmonious style.

A Beautiful Example of Transitional Style

The traditional door style of the cabinetry was done in a full-overlay
application to blend new with old and give a cleaner, sharper look
that defines transitional design.

I'm a native of New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the
nation. While it may be fun for Northerners and Southerners to trade jabs,
I've lived about the same number of years in both regions, and guess
what? Y'all have a lot more in common than you realize - especially in
your fondness for traditional style.
Traditional style is so broad, and it is really interesting to see hints of
regional origins or vernacular architecture in the styles of the homes.

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Style is a personal choice, and as designers, we may not always like
or agree with the style choices our clients make. In the end it is their decision, and transitional style gives people an opportunity to blend styles.
Amy Britton, CKD, owner and principal designer at Artisan Kitchens
in Osterville, Mass., recently completed a stunning kitchen remodel in
a condominium community by the sea. All the units are sandwiched
together, and the kitchen is deep inside the unit.
"It was one of the challenges of the redesign," said Britton. Overall, the
project went well, and she appreciated the client's help with the accessories.
Comparing the before and after photos, the original, traditional kitchen
was not unpleasant, but it lacked pizzazz, and it needed to reflect a more
open floor plan. Britton repositioned the island and added striking lighting
to the island and table areas. The existing recessed lighting in the original
kitchen provided light, but with very little personality. The new cabinetry is
sleek and simple, but not too casual to work well with the crown moldings.
The glass uppers, according to Britton, are a nod to old-style pantries, but
for a fresh take, they are used for display and not practical purposes. She
demonstrated how adding modern, contemporary touches to a traditional kitchen results in eye-popping transitional style. n
- Anne-Marie Harvey is a kitchen and bath design consultant based in
Raleigh, N.C.

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KBB - April 2014

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