Transitional Interior Design
Transitional interior design beautifully marries traditional and contemporary design elements to create a space of timeless refinement and soft, clean lines. In this particular style, gone are the deep jewel tones, dark wood accents, and ornate styling of traditional interiors, giving way to a more soothing, neutral palette that becomes the perfect backdrop for trademark furnishings and stand-out architectural elements. While key traditional features like coffered ceilings, crown molding, and wood paneling remain present in transitional design, they are elevated by the use of airy paint colors and set off by the combination of elegant foundation pieces and accents that lean in the direction of sleek and contemporary. Transitional design takes another cue from contemporary in that it forgoes heavy drapery in order to encourage the natural light and organic feel that is part of its signature. These featured images from Bernhardt Furniture Company (@bernhardtfurniture) capture the essence of this style perfectly. The gorgeous lines and unique profile of their workmanship are showstopping in any room, their work always stands the test of time and trend. At Susan Semmelmann Interiors we pride ourselves in offering the very best to our Dallas Fort Worth interior design clients, Bernhardt Furniture Company makes that easy!
Inspired Contemporary Design
Contemporary interior design is both timely and timeless, on-trend, but definitely not trendy, where fashion meets function and architecture meets aesthetics. Contemporary design done well is elegantly appointed and thoughtfully planned, it will have lasting power for years to come as a statement space with wow factor and beautiful flow. We are absolutely loving this design style and are currently working with two of our Ft. Worth interior design clients with visions of replicating this look in their homes. At Susan Semmelmann Interiors, we appreciate the opportunity to work with each client, discover what moves and inspires them, then bring that to life on the blank canvas of their interior spaces. One current design inspiration for us is @studia_54, their work (shown below) is on point and a perfect example of this style and feel. The neutral palettes are soothing to the eye, allowing the main focus to remain on the juxtaposition of light, texture, and focal décor pieces. The emphasis on grand spaces and large windows helps to invite the outside in for a serene and peaceful atmosphere as natural light plays off of the interior surfaces. The bold use of statement light fixtures draws the eye up and creates space and breath in each room. Design like this produces an environment that becomes a daily invitation to come in, have a seat, wrap yourself in beauty, and stay a while!
For the love of PINK!
PINK! Nature’s foremost harbinger of spring is here to delight and enrapture us once again. Cherry blossoms and redbuds are among the first to awaken our eyes and our senses from the monotone slumber of winter. A splash of gorgeous pink can do the same for your home! As an interior design element pink is an amazing utility player, it can show off and take center stage as it does at Sketch Bar in London (@sketchlondon), or provide a luxurious and sophisticated complement utilizing features like the elegant dusty rose accents and drapes shown here by @mika_it (Egorova Marina Interiors). This stunning gown from @sherrihill is currently serving as an inspiration piece for one of our clients at Susan Semmelmann Interiors, because after all, interior design is simply haute couture for the home, a beautiful collaboration of complementary art forms. The end result of this vision will be a bedroom space with an upscale nod to shabby chic in pale pinks and antique whites. Stay tuned to the blog for our future reveal! With 23 years of experience in the Dallas Fort Worth interior design and Dallas Fort Worth construction detailing markets, we are passionate about this community and about helping you realize your dreams and visions for your home. Maybe now you’ll be dreaming in shades of pink!
Illuminate Your Home
Lighting done well, with proper design and attention to detail, can easily be the star of the show in any room. From the iridescent beauty of stunning chandeliers, pendants and sconces to the subtle highlighting of cabinetry, shelving, niches and recessed features, lighting plays a dual role of accessory and utility and is not to be considered an afterthought. There is a big difference between simply lighting a room and illuminating a room. Il·lu·mi·nate: [iˈlo͞omə nāt] VERB light up, decorate (a building or structure) with lights for a special occasion. Yes! Everyday life is a special occasion and your home should be designed with that in mind. At Susan Semmelmann Interiors we work closely with our Dallas Fort Worth interior design clients to create their desired environment from the ground up and the inside out. Lighting design is key to creating depth, dimension, mood, ambiance and energy in every space from grand living rooms to gorgeous powder baths. These images from @contstantinfrolov.design showcase the brilliant use of lighting as an integral design element. Let us help elevate your home and make your spaces shine like the gems they are!
Designing the Dream Home
The spacious great room is the center of the home and is where the family will gather together so we wanted to make the space feel cozy and inviting with a large plush sectional and comfortable, edgy swivel chairs arranged to allow for conversation and fellowship. We brought in contemporary wood and metal furnishings in the cocktail table and side tables to add texture as well as functionality.
A major focal point of the great room is a beautiful floor to ceiling split faced stone fireplace. We love the texture and dimension it adds to the room as well as the warmth it brings in through its natural elements.
We coordinated with The Kitchen Source, the featured cabinet vendor, for the kitchen design. The cabinets are sandy white striated with a light grey wood grain finish. The integrated pull handle and slab style door give them a modern design. The countertops are a cool grey polished quartz. Quartz is known to be durable against high heat, stains, and chipping making it ideal for a kitchen used for entertaining. The backsplash is a blend of brushed and polished aluminum giving it a sleek, reflective surface that ties in with the appliances. Above the island we chose an oversized metallic silver linear pendant to tie it all together.
In the master bedroom we kept the space bright and airy with light Oak wood and German Silver furnishings. The white Oak and woven Abaca canopy bed is a standout structural element in the room. The bed is paired with identical white oak bedside tables with tarnished nickel accents symmetrically placed on either side. At the foot of the bed we chose a hair-on-hide bench with polished stainless steel legs to add texture as well as a contemporary flair. The room is carpeted with a sophisticated light beige woven fiber to bring a softness to the room which juxtaposes the hardwood flooring throughout the entire home.
The entertainment console we chose is wrapped in German Silver plated metal, with a geometric pattern. This beautiful functional furnishing adds dimension and a source of light reflection, similar to a mirror while also acting as a place for storage. French doors leading out to the pool and outdoor living space allow for private access as well as bring in a natural light source.
A specialty of Grandeur Design's is customized bedding. We love to bring together fabrics and trims cut specifically to your desired taste to give you a completely personalized bedding set. For the master bedroom we chose a beautiful, lustrous metallic toned fabric to base the bedding from.
One of our favorite rooms in the home is the Game Room! It was so much fun to collaborate with the homeowner, Hal. As a former Texas Christian University football player, Hal wanted this space to reflect the fun and spirited history of his time at TCU. To allow for maximum leisure we chose to place two full sized sofas made with a TCU purple inspired leather, as well as two sting ray textured swivel club chairs in the seating area centered around the large flat screen television making it the ideal space for game day viewing parties.
The game room also features a custom kitchenette/bar area. The cabinets are custom measured and features custom lighting to showcase Hal's football memorabilia as well as his favorite liquor selections. The countertops are made of a specialty laser cut Ceasarstone Motivo made to look similar to reptilian-like skin. This specialty countertop is a favorite of Hal’s and ours alike with the incredible texture and dimension it brings to the bar. We chose to install rustic, vintage wooden beams on the ceiling as well as bar doors to give the space a rustic, masculine feel. A wall of windows is framed by another specialty of ours, custom drapery. Everything from choosing the fabrics and trim to the hardware can be specifically customized to your taste. A custom TCU themed pool table brings everything together as well as being a source of additional entertainment. This is truly a “Dream Home”.
Contemporary vs. Modern
The debate between contemporary and modern interior design has been long fought, and many people are still unclear as to what each design style represents. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a distinct contrast between the them.
Contemporary interior design is a fluid term and refers to referencing styles popular in the current time period rather than drawing on inspiration from past eras. The contemporary style became popular in the 1970’s and combined many different popular elements of the time. This design style changes depending on current trends, lifestyles, and technology. Contemporary design is not ornate or elaborate, but is seen as sleek and simple.
Unlike other more traditional styles, today’s contemporary furnishings do not see any detailed carvings or baroque embellishments.
Modern refers to Modernism (post World War I) and mid 20th century modern interior design, and it was derived from German and Scandinavian styles. A major component of modern design is in functionality, implying that there should be a purpose in the furnishings and decorative objects. Many modern designs use structural elements such as exposed beams or concrete to decorate a space. Clean lines and minimal curves as well as natural light and large windows are also seen as a staple in modern design technique. Reflective surfaces such as chrome and glass also help to tie a space together by bringing in a different textural element.
While the styles may seem similar and are often confused for one another, they are distinctly different and each provide their own unique flare to a space.
This kitchen by @studia_54 is a gorgeous representation of today’s contemporary design borrowing some modern elements!
