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Hot Style: New Traditional

November 25, 2014

It's time to add a modern twist to traditional. Take a look at these rooms that make the classics feel fresh.

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From: Carey Karlan
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Intimate Arrangement

Forget the dark, stuffy designs of the past. Today's traditional decor is softer with a contemporary — even eclectic — touch. Taupe walls provide a warm yet neutral background to this elegant living room, where a pair of sofas is arranged for intimate fireside conversation. Design: Carey Karlan

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Robin's Egg Blue

Hand-painted detailing on the walls combine with a geometric-patterned rug and ikat chair fabric in this funky dining room. Trim painted in a robin's egg blue balances the layering of patterns to keep the space fresh. Design: Katie Ridder

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Photo: Ben Rollins. From: Fernandez & True Interiors
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Modern Twist

This McAlpine Home imperial two-poster bed by MacRae Designs offers a modern twist on a traditional style. Design: Fernandez and True Interiors

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Romantic Vibe

Soft lavender gray and pink tones give the dining room a dreamy, romantic vibe. The brass chandelier adds a mix of midcentury modern and traditional elegance. Design: Jennifer Jones, Niche Interiors

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Built-In Shelving

Built-in shelving delivers maximum functionality without sacrificing space, which is ultimately what all rooms hope to achieve. Design: Design Development NYC/Photo: Trevor Tondro

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Neutral Tones

A variety of neutral tones and patterns are layered to create a soft, cozy, elegant master bedroom. To prevent from blocking the views from the room, the furniture is floated in the center of the space. Design: Jamie Herzlinger

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Photo: Designed by Kathryn Greeley
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Prints and Patterns

A mix of traditional patterns and prints make this large, open space feel welcoming and comfortable. Design: Kathryn Greeley

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Feminine Powder Room

A washstand is a great choice in a bathroom where storage isn't an issue, like this feminine powder room. Designer Christina Stillwaugh of Jessica Lagrange Interiors combined the gold sink and sconces with a dramatic, large-scale wallpaper that celebrates the pink tones in the stone floor. Design: Christina Stillwaugh

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From: Lynn Morgan
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Shades of Blue

Three distinct shades of blue — periwinkle, turquoise and royal blue — are layered throughout this room to give energetic pops of color and depth. Design: Lynn Morgan

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Comfy Nursery

Knit lampshades above the cribs add a whimsical touch to the clean lines of this comfortable nursery. Design: Nancy Twomey/Photo: Angie Seckinger

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Photo: Ben Rollins
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Approachable Touches

Contemporary seating and artwork add approachable touches to the grand formal dining room at the Atlanta Decorators Show House. Underfoot is a rug boasting an antelope fur print. Design: Robert Brown Interior Design/Photo: Ben Rollins

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Vintage-Inspired

Brighten up a work space with vintage-inspired furniture and refreshing art. Design: Design Development/Photo: Trevor Tondro

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So Plush

Plush armchairs and a cozy sofa give the living room a romantic feel. Design: Niche Interiors

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Photo: Design House 2013
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Beautiful Balance

The white ceiling panels in this library help reflect light from the windows, balancing the dark wood of the room. Design: David Mitchell/Photo: Angie Seckinger

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Creative Touches

The formal dining room features an over-dyed turquoise rug from Creative Touch in Secaucus, N.J., while the table hails from Brooklyn-based artisan woodworker Palo Samko. The metallic paper on the ceiling echoes the design in the adjacent living room. Design: Vanessa Deleon

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Crisp White Kitchen

To refine a kitchen and its occasional disorder, tall cabinets in crisp white provide necessary storage for optimum functionality. Choose pops of color for delicious intrigue. Design: Design Development/Photo: Trevor Tondro

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Luxury and Sophistication

Sophisticated and elegant, this guest bedroom features a geometric-patterned wool and silk carpet, luxurious bedding and customized wood-and-iron shelving. Design: Anne Rue

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From: Robert Brown
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Clean Lines

This living room conveys clean lines, perfect proportion and clever use of color — all complemented by exquisite contemporary artwork. Design: Robert Brown

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Juliet Balcony

French doors open to a dedicated Juliet-style balcony, which overlooks the front yard and boasts breathtaking views of the hills and mountains. Design: Linda Woodrum

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Photo: Design House 2013
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Parallel Elements

A cohesive design is achieved in this master bedroom through the use of parallel elements and repeated gold accents, like the unique ceiling lamp. Design: Susan Jamieson/Photo: Angie Seckinger

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Grand Lobby Feel

This amazing great room was created from previously separate living and dining rooms. The homeowners love to entertain and wanted to have the feeling of a grand lobby of a hotel. A turquoise, gold and red color scheme creates a warm setting to host large parties. Design: S&K Interiors

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Photo: design by Clay Snider: photo by Ben Rollins
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Delightful Touches

The Atlanta Decorators Show House child's room is full of delightful touches, like colorful throw pillows, architect floor lamps and globe accents. Design: Clay Snider/Photo: Ben Rollins

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Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

High ceilings do wonders for a living room. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular natural light, and help to open the space visually. Design: Design Development/Photo: Trevor Tondro

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A Study in Purple

This study features custom traditional-style built-in bookcases, while the glass desk is topped by Jonathan Adler's charming horse lamp. The homeowners' vintage midcentury white cane-back barrel chairs are finished with cotton cushions in shades of gray and lilac to complement the vintage purple rug. Design: Vanessa Deleon

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Aromatic Experience

Fresh cut flowers and a potted fruit tree bring the outdoors in and create an aromatic experience in this dining room. The window mullions are a few shades darker than the interior color to create depth and eliminate the need for window treatments. Design: Joel Snayd

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Photo: Design House 2013
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Smart Separation

A nook off the living room helps create a separation between work space and relaxation space in this living room. Design: Michael Hampton/Photo: Angie Seckinger

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Antique-Style

Antique-style furnishings lend a lived-in look in this master bedroom. A serpentine-front cabinet stands in as both a nightstand and clothing and linen storage unit. Design: Linda Woodrum

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Blue and Brown

Soft blue and chocolate brown are always an elegant combination. Graphic patterns on the rug and wallpaper as well as tailored details on the chairs, ottomans and window treatments, keep this design looking updated. Design: Jamie Herzlinger

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Splashes of Color

Touches of red and tufted upholstery wall panels make this traditional living room modeled after the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Fla., pop, as seen on HGTV's Color Splash. Design: David Bromstad

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Photo: Ben Rollins
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Modern Appeal

A pendant light adds modern appeal to this informal, transitional breakfast nook. Design: Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts/Photo: Ben Rollins

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Photo: Ben Rollins
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Regal and Masculine

Smoking chairs covered in royal blue velvet, Venetian plaster with brass nail head trim and backlight shelving sets a regal, masculine tone in the Atlanta Decorators Show House cigar room. Design: Habachy Designs/Photo: Ben Rollins

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Photo: Brian Patrick Flynn ©
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Family-Friendly Dining Room

On display front and center above the dining room's sideboard are some of the homeowners' photographs from his European architecture series. While the children, prone to spills and falls, sit in sturdy steel chairs, their parents enjoy meals in armchairs draped with washed-linen slipcovers. Design: Jon Kelly Davis

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Airy Colors

Only items with clean lines and a small scale were selected for this living room. Light, airy colors also help make the space feel open and spacious rather than cramped. Design: Erin Hiemstra

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Full of Charm

This sunny living room is full of charm. The neutral palette is accented with touches of turquoise. The rug adds texture, and gold accessories give the space warmth. Design: DeLisa Oakes