A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace the traditional style and if we still consider our house a “modern colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely – I was just thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed or stayed the same over the years. (Note: You can see my initial post for my thoughts on the design this at home in this post!)
Faye’s Cottage Room Sources
It got me thinking, “How would I describe my style to someone new to Chris Loves Julia?”
After reflecting on the common themes of my design aesthetic, I feel like I’ve landed on my “signature style” that has carried me through most of my career: Moody Modern Traditional.
Although I feel like this has been my style for a while, giving it a name is new (and scary, because I’m constantly evolving). However, last week, as I walked through the Biltmore for the second time in several years, the visit unlocked a part of me and gave me more permission to fully embrace my style. That big home in Asheville embodies some really big aspects of what I love and how I want my home to look and feel.
Here’s how I break down my style:
Moody
Hallway Wallpaper
A common thread throughout my years of designing my homes and sharing them online is that I always want to convey a mood. Moody to me means rich, deep colors. A play of light and dark. Luxurious, buttery fabrics. Layers of lighting and lamps. I like my style to evoke a feeling and create an instant sense of intrigue. I want our spaces to feel like a moment.
To me, moody design is more than just plain dark color (although, you know I love rich, dark color that envelops our spaces!). Some of my favorite colors are moody on their own: dark green, grey-blue, smoky taupe, chocolate brown. I also think that lighter colors can feel moody when the room has depth. I long for depth in rooms, in colors, in people, in conversation. Adding more light sources to the room, so you have this shadow and light effect that creates movement, can help a lot with this.
Modern
Although I’ll get to my love of traditional style in a minute, I like to bring really big juxtapositions to the decor by incorporating modern lines. When I look at my personal style, modern design really comes through with furniture, rugs and art. Clean, simple lines. More elegant materials. Geometric angles. Organic forms. Everyone tells me.
Modern style is also about retreat. It’s a bit more utilitarian, and everything works for me in my home. I do not want life to be sacrificed on the altar of decoration. (I need to be able to see my family in our home!!) Modern style is definitely a big part of my design aesthetic. And there’s nothing I love more than seeing a super traditional fabric or candlestick next to an abstract piece of art. Be still my soul!!
Traditional
Shop in the dining room
I grew up in a traditional house, and every year I lean more towards the traditional. It evokes that collected charm with wall murals, accents of gold and silver tones and plenty of patterns. Some might ask, doesn’t the word describe traditional and classic style? But when I think of the classics, it seems to me that it can be safe. It will always be in there. And that’s not me. I don’t worry so much about what other people might think these days.
There are many rules in a purely traditional style, such as an obsession with symmetry. Lots of saturated color palettes. Lots of dark wood. Pattern layers. I love them too, but I also love breaking the rules – all the time. That’s why I like to combine all three of these styles!
So what’s next for our house?
You see originally, I thought of our house as a “modern colonial”. I have also called houses of the past styles (see “The Modern Cabin.”) Yes, our home is a Colonial style house in the architectural sense of the word. But I’m starting to see our home as an expression of Moody Modern Traditional. It can handle all the traditional elements I want to put in it. And then there is the moodiness. like, of course I’m painting the outside of our windows dark! In addition, I created modern accessories to add the unexpected.
Shop for a primary bedroom
This is why I feel safe defining my design style as Moody Modern Traditional: I wouldn’t change the way I’ve designed our home over the past few years. In fact, I would add more!
I want to rely more on layers of decoration and shaping. More pattern mixing in every room, from rugs to draperies. Don’t even be afraid of damask (gasp!) as a neutral wall covering for any room in the house. I can’t wait to paint the walls one shade paired with a completely different color of painted trim. So many possibilities to enrich the spaces of our home.
Defining my personal style also helps me know how to deal with spaces in my house that we haven’t gotten to yet. I often leave my hallways lighter, because I usually do my rooms in a color palette. However, at The Biltmore, I was inspired to consider the hallways as spaces in their own right, with their own colors, trim, moldings, and more. The color transitions and framing from room to room was one of my favorite parts. Now I can’t believe I have white hallways — I can’t wait to add something to it.
One thing people worry about when it comes to a bold style like Moody Modern Traditional is, “Are you afraid you’ll struggle with it?” And I think it’s natural to think, “Oh, can I really look at this bold every day background in your entry?”
I guess I’ve lived with an all white room as long as our powder room with bold stripes and I’m so sick of staring at an all white room until I can imagine a powder room any other way. It also helps that I don’t see anything like that scrolling through Instagram every day.
Wallpaper | Sink | Sconces | Towel Ring | Similar hand towel | Fox Art
While touring The Biltmore, I asked the tour guide 5 times to clarify if yes, it really was built — and decorated — in just 6 years. I spent 6 years in the house and never finished it. Of course, money and time are factors, but I also like to slowly try to make my own space. In my home there is still space and room for new ideas.
Now that I’m fully embracing my design style, I’m so excited for what’s to come!