In the age of contemporaneity, when design favours minimalism and cleanliness, it is increasingly common for the best interior designers to play with design characteristics of yesteryear to enhance the interiors of today. Whether through furniture, colour schemes, lighting, or other features of interior design, evocations of the traditional are used to enhance modern spaces. Traditional interiors usually employ ornate, comfortable and classic furniture, while the modern style, which is normally minimal in appearance, utilises simple, clean-lined furniture. We reflect on this design dichotomy by illustrating case studies from Callender Howorth, a luxury interior design specialist in London.
Traditional Interior Design
Primarily designed to create functional and comfortable environments, traditionally styled homes tend to have more of a cosy feel than modern homes. Soft edges and a variety of thick, rich materials help to create a calm atmosphere, which is why so many people choose to have traditionally styled bedrooms. With a nod to the lavish style of the regal suites of bygone centuries, the Knightsbridge Project from Callender Howorth utilises calming lighting and a luxurious gold colour palette to create a bedroom that looks both classy and incredibly inviting.
The living room of the Nice Apartment Project features antique-style furniture to evoke references to past eras. Dark wooden tones complement ornately designed pieces to create a sense of classicism, while modern nuances – such as the chandelier – bring the traditional into the modern day. The effect? The Nice apartment benefits from a feeling of comfort and homeliness, yet there is a great selection of interesting talking points to enhance the home’s sophistication.
Modern Interior Design
The modern style of interior design is in complete contrast to the traditional style. Born from the German Bauhaus design movement, the core belief at the heart of modern style is that form should combine with function. It is for this reason that modernist furniture is often made with industrial material such as plastic, glass or metal.
This Mayfair Mews house achieved its modern look using furniture made from man-made materials. The plastic chairs in the background appear ultra-modern, as if from the future, whilst the extensive use of glass in the architecture provides plenty of light.
However, this beautiful Regents Park home takes modernism one-step further. Using a giant glass swimming pool as its central feature, Callender Howorth illuminated the home with bright blue lights, creating something ultra-chic and incredibly futuristic. Furniture that is largely crafted from metal gives a stylish, industrial warehouse effect that will still feel modern in centuries to come. Harsh clean lines throughout – from the tables, shelving, sofas and even the stairs themselves – gives one the feeling that they’re inside some sort of luxurious but incredibly inhabitable spacecraft. The effect is a mesmerizing display of design creativity. Callender Howorth has toyed with the boundaries of architectural possibility to encapsulate modernity in its finest form.
