Q: I recently moved from my contemporary Philadelphia condo to a traditional Main Line stone house. How can I bring a modern aesthetic to my new, stately space? 

A: Moving into a traditional Main Line home opens the door to a host of design possibilities. If you love the traditional look, you’re ready to add your finishing touches. But if you want to make a more contemporary statement, you may want to lighten and brighten up your traditional surroundings. Adding a few contemporary accents around the house can do the trick. 

Barbara Gisel, ASID, principal of Barbara Gisel Design in Haverford, offers several tips on introducing contemporary design elements into every room of the house. “To add a contemporary look to any room or home, I try to go with the unexpected,” says Gisel, whose hands-on, team-oriented approach to design has transformed interiors since 1975. Gisel says she concentrates on playing with three main design elements to update an interior: lighting, art and furniture.

“Lighting is one way to give a traditional home an updated feel,” she says. A traditional, dark interior may require more illumination to counter the somber hues. Try adding lamps or installing tiny halogen lights that hang from the ceiling, she says. You don’t have to rely on recessed lighting. 

“Color is another option,” says Gisel. “Try playing with the traditional use of certain colors.” If you have a darker room, opt for neutral accents. Likewise, if you have a lighter room, add accents in deeper hues for contrast. Think about accessories, including lampshades, throws and curtains. “Pillows can also jazz up a room,” she says. Concentrate on adding splashes of color and incorporating contemporary fabrics with fun trimmings.

“It’s the little touches that add to the look of the room,” says Gisel. “I use subtle elements in a room, nothing glaringly dramatic.” For window treatments, curtains — especially in a long, sleek, grommet-top style — can add color and texture, accenting the shape of a room. Grommet-top curtains are similar to tab-top curtains, except that they are hung from eyelets sewn into the fabric. Threading the curtain rod through the grommets creates an instant contemporary update.

For an unexpected accent in a foyer, modernizing the look is as easy as adding a throw rug. “A throw rug with a strong geometric pattern can be added with the same colors as existing traditional Oriental carpets for a fun accent to a home’s entrance,” she says.

Artwork is another way to add contemporary edge and soften a traditional room. “Again, aim for the unexpected,” says Gisel. You can mix and match without making the collection look like a mess. “One way is to hang a contemporary-style painting in a traditional frame,” which helps bridges the disparity between traditional and modern decor.

For the bath, there’s no need to retile the entire room to update the look. “Go for the accessories,” says Gisel. Consider updating traditional fixtures with sleek faucets and decorative handles. “Think about changing the fixtures, adding new wallpaper or new shower doors — replace old, metal-framed doors with sleek, frameless glass doors.” 

Since bedrooms aren’t just for sleeping anymore, comfortable accessories are essential. “Add some artwork to the bedroom walls,” says Gisel, along with some art lighting for a subtle touch and desk lights next to the bed. Pick up accent colors in an updated bedding ensemble, with some pillows for texture and additional color. 

“The bedroom is one place where you can incorporate some furniture as design accents, such as a contemporary chaise,” she says. “Or try a more contemporary headboard instead on the traditional sleigh bed.” Keep your eye on the details to add an unexpected edge.

1. Need some good designs of main doors with this kind of interior

   Posted by Prithwish Mitra | September 2, 2010, 7:02 pm