Traditional

Wingbacks, Chesterfields, wood casegoods, striping, nailheads, contrast welts, specialty furniture feet, casters, mixing tight back and pillow back.

Silks, velvets, cotton blends, damasks, plaids, floral, linen, menswear, animal prints.

Crystal chandeliers, shaded sconces which could be patterned, silk or linen lamp shades in ivory or parchment, lanterns, gas lanterns, soft curves.

Hand-knotted Persian and Oriental rugs in deep reds, blues, greens. Wool pile, intricate borders.

• Dark-stained hardwood, walnut or cherry.
• In entries and dining, checkerboard marble or inlaid parquet.
• 3.5 inch wide wood plank.

Dark soapstone, marble, quartzite, polished finishes.

Raised or recessed panel doors, inset construction, decorative molding or trim, furniture-style bases, rich stained woods or classic painted finishes, detailed hardware in brass or bronze.

Brass, oil-rubbed bronze, polished nickel, hammered. No brushed nickel.

Grasscloth, damask or striped wallpapers, wainscoting, heavy drapery, paneled walls, ornate ceiling medallions, crown molding, higher gloss paint, more ornate trim throughout, coffered ceilings, arches.

Oil paintings, landscapes, portraits, still lifes or classic prints. Ornate gold or dark wood frames, symmetrical arrangements, subjects that feel timeless, formal and collected.

Warm, timeless, classic, collected

• Traditional design celebrates pattern — it's a key differentiator from modern styles.
• Rooms should feel richly layered with coordinating (not matching) patterns at varied scales.
• Classic formula: one large-scale (drapery or rug), one medium-scale (upholstery or wallpaper), one small-scale (pillows or trim).
• Keep patterns in the same color family and mix types — floral with stripe, damask with geometric.
• Every seating area should include at least two visible patterns.

• Solid or engineered hardwood 3"-5" widths.
• Red oak, white oak, walnut with medium to dark stain.
• Parquet patterns (herringbone, Versailles) are signature.
• Stone in formal entries — marble, limestone, slate.
• Avoid: wide-plank over 7", whitewashed, concrete-look, large-format porcelain.

• Classic marble — Carrara, Calacatta, Crema Marfil.
• Subway 3"x6" beveled edge.
• Hexagon mosaic 1"-2" marble for bath floors.
• Basket-weave and pinwheel patterns.
• Decorative borders.
• Avoid: large-format slabs, cement tile, zellige, industrial.

• Wall-to-wall preferred in bedrooms, studies, formal rooms.
• Wool in deep tones — navy, burgundy, forest green.
• Patterned: damask, trellis, subtle floral.
• Stair runners with brass rods.
• Avoid: sisal, jute, low-pile industrial.

• Raised panel or beaded inset, full-overlay or inset construction.
• Painted warm white, cream, deep green, navy.
• Cherry or mahogany for studies.
• Applied moulding, corbels, decorative feet.
• Crown tying to room crown.
• Avoid: slab doors, handleless, two-tone, rift-cut modern.

• Knobs on doors, pulls on drawers.
• Polished brass, oil-rubbed bronze, polished nickel.
• Ornate backplates on features.
• Bin/cup pulls 3" CC.
• Knobs 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" dia.
• Crystal/glass for dressy.
• Avoid: bar pulls, matte black, hidden hardware.

• Widespread cross handles — 8" centers, signature Traditional.
• Polished brass, nickel, chrome.
• Bridge faucets for kitchen.
• Undermount oval sinks (17"x14").
• Clawfoot or skirted tubs.
• Pedestal sinks in powder rooms.
• Avoid: wall-mount, matte black, vessel sinks, minimalist.

• Crystal chandeliers — Maria Theresa, Empire, Georgian.
• Brass lanterns for entry.
• Shaded sconces — silk or pleated on brass arms.
• Table lamps on every surface.
• Avoid: exposed-bulb, industrial, matte black, sculptural contemporary.

• Wood mantel with classical proportions — dentil, fluted pilasters, carved corbels.
• Extends 8"-12" past firebox.
• Marble or limestone surround.
• Raised hearth 14"-18".
• Herringbone brick firebox.
• Gilt frame overmantel mirror.
• Avoid: linear gas, frameless, floating mantels, concrete.

• Pinch-pleat or goblet-pleat, floor-length with 1"-2" break.
• Silk, damask, lined cotton.
• Layered: sheer + over-drape.
• Cornice boards, swags/jabots for formal.
• Brass or wood poles with finials.
• Avoid: roller shades alone, ripple-fold, bare windows.

• Marble primary — Carrara, Calacatta, Crema Marfil, Emperador.
• Honed or polished.
• Granite: Absolute Black, Giallo Ornamentale.
• Soapstone for colonial.
• Ogee or double-ogee edge.
• Avoid: engineered quartz, concrete, waterfall edges.

• Ogee is signature — classic S-curve.
• Double ogee for formal.
• Bullnose for softer look.
• Beveled acceptable.
• Standard 3cm thickness.
• Avoid: square/eased, mitered, knife edge.

• Six-panel (most traditional) or four-panel, raised.
• Painted trim white or stained.
• Round doorknobs in polished brass, crystal, or porcelain.
• Arched tops for formal entries.
• Heavy casings 3-1/2" to 5" with back-band.
• Avoid: flush, lever handles, pocket doors, minimal casing.

• Turned wood balusters.
• Volute or turnout at base.
• Substantial newel post 5"-6" with cap.
• Wood handrail with traditional profile.
• Stained treads + painted risers, or carpeted with brass rods.
• Avoid: cable rail, glass, open risers, metal balusters, mono-stringers.

• Damask, toile de Jouy, chinoiserie, florals, stripes — full traditional vocabulary.
• Dining rooms and powder rooms primary.
• Grasscloth for relaxed (study, bedroom).
• Ceiling paper in small spaces.
• Coordinate with fabric.
• Avoid: abstract, oversized graphics, metallic contemporary.

• Warm rich colors: BM Hale Navy, Newburyport Blue, Revere Pewter, Navajo White.
• Jewel tones for dining/libraries: Gentleman's Gray, Narragansett Green.
• Trim in bright white semi-gloss (Chantilly Lace).
• Ceiling lighter than walls.
• Avoid: cool grays, stark white walls, accent walls.

• Crown moulding essential — 6"-8" for 9' ceilings.
• Coffered in dining/studies with deep 8"-12" profiles.
• Medallions around chandeliers.
• T&G on porches.
• Plaster details, rosettes, dentil for high-end.
• Avoid: smooth flat without moulding, cove lighting, modern flush.

• Full paneling vocabulary: raised panel wainscoting 32"-36" high, full-height raised panel in dining/entry, picture-frame moulding, chair rail at 1/3 height.
• Layered moulding — base cap, chair rail, picture rail, crown.
• Profiles: ogee, cove, dentil.
• Avoid: flat panels, board-and-batten, shiplap, clean walls without moulding.

• Wingback chairs, Chesterfield sofas, camelback settees, rolled-arm club chairs.
• Queen Anne, Chippendale, Hepplewhite legs.
• Pedestal tables, sideboards with carved detail, secretary desks.
• Four-poster beds.
• Tufted with nailhead trim.
• Avoid: low-profile, metal frames, modular, slab-sided.

• Silk for formal drapery/pillows.
• Damask, brocade, jacquard wovens.
• Velvet in jewel tones — ruby, emerald, sapphire.
• Needlepoint pillows, tapestry throws.
• Tassels, fringe, cord trim.
• Chintz florals.
• Avoid: performance fabrics, bouclé, raw linen, distressed textures.

• Oriental and Persian — Tabriz, Isfahan, Kashan, Heriz.
• 8'x10' or 9'x12' with all legs on rug.
• Runners 2'6"x8' or 2'6"x10'.
• Aubusson for formal.
• Needlepoint for accent.
• Rich colors: navy, red, cream, gold.
• Avoid: solid modern, cowhide, jute, abstract, faded vintage.