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KMBLOG    IDEAS, TRENDS, AND TIPS FROM THE HEART & MIND OF KRISTE MICHELINI
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Timeless Design

Bridging Classic and Contemporary

15 September 2024

As summer turns to fall, we start to think of gathering together at home, and celebrating the traditions that we’ve built over the years. Yet our traditions are not static; they continue to evolve as new seasons bring new friends and family members. Our homes are filled with collections, artwork and details that tell the stories of our lives and, at their best, they should be designed to evolve with us. Timeless design comes from the ability to bridge classic and contemporary, blending traditional forms with an open spirit that welcomes the new. — Kriste


Modern Classic

A tailored interior, like a good suit, never goes out of style. Indeed, we often look to classic looks in fashion for inspiration. This kitchen, from a home we call Modern Classic, is imbued with dressmaker details and a European sensibility, combining light wood and leather with cabinets painted a contrasting blue. Simplicity and a light touch leave room for details that continue to tell this family’s story.

The clean lines of a blackened steel balustrade come together with the classic outlines of wingback chairs in a way that is calm and peaceful – an invitation to take some time out of the day to slow down and appreciate the space.

In the office, we paired cabinets painted a classic Hunter green with contemporary leather pulls and a rug woven in a modern plaid. A bentwood chair introduces curves, but is not overly curvaceous.

Sometimes timeless design means veering away from the expected, and taking the long-term view. In the children’s rooms, we took a more sophisticated approach, which will extend the life of the design as the children grow and mature.

Repeated year after year, the rhythms of nature stand outside of time. In the living room, transparent transitions and the sofa’s subtle mossy green tone draw nature deep inside.

Transitional Elegance

Our project we call Transitional Elegance perfectly describes our approach to the redesign of an existing home. The home’s classic architectural style provided a perfect background for a warm, neutral palette. Inside, we paired crisp, white walls with more traditional dark wood floors, used classic silhouettes rendered in contemporary form, and lighting that adds texture without competing for attention.

An all-white kitchen and classic Cherner bentwood stools are absolutely timeless. We kept the shapes simple, with graceful curves that stand outside of time and trend.

Contemporary Classic

Our clients for this home were looking for a design that infused their traditional aesthetic with a contemporary flair, a Contemporary Classic. We combined furnishings with traditional outlines with a vibrant color palette and eye-catching artwork to create a bridge and gently push them toward a more contemporary aesthetic.

Pillows in a bold graphic print add a playful, modern twist to the living room’s traditional armchairs, and the artwork is a great conversation starter. The overall effect is playfully sophisticated, both timeless and very much of-the-moment.


Some of Kriste’s favorite timeless pieces:

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