At first glance, this kitchen and breakfast area have all the hallmarks of traditional design — classic cabinets, stone countertops, crown molding, hardwood floors and timeless wainscoting. However, a second look will lead your eye upward to the modern light fixtures. Streamlined pendant lights over the island and a bubble-glass chandelier feel of-the-moment, creating a transitional style that doesn't feel stuck in the past.

Transitional design relies heavily on a neutral color palette, using taupes, creams, grays and tans with a few accents in darker shades. The muted hues create a soothing, inviting aesthetic that's polished yet casual. For this monochromatic bedroom, soft grays are used for the walls, window treatments and fabrics, and darker colors come in through the furniture framing and hardwood floors.

A middle ground between traditional and contemporary design is transitional, which brings the best elements of each style together. This bathroom blends classic details, such as the herringbone-patterned floor, timeless cabinets and antiqued light fixtures, with more modern pieces, like the crisp, clean lines of the countertops and shower framing.

Since transitional style sticks to a fairly neutral palette, bringing in a mix of textures and patterns is key to keeping the design from feeling stale. Velvet, leather and cotton upholsteries all combine in this living room, and a grouping of motifs, from faux bois and graphic to striped, bring subtle energy to the place. Though transitional style tends to lean away from color, the neutrality of the yellow and blue in this space still works.