Traditional Design A New Trend in Vancouver?
It may not be a trend, but several homeowners have recently asked our designers at Kerr Design Build to develop traditional designs for their homes. This is something novel for Vancouver, which generally has been on the cutting edge of modern design. I can’t say it is a trend, but it is definitely different from the past.
Traditional elements
Personally, I like a classical, traditional kitchen and house design with beautiful panelling and added architectural details. A client right now is interested in doing a face frame cabinetry style, which is really beautiful with higher-end detail for that classic European look. This really isn’t a usual Vancouver thing.
Traditional design elements include crown moulding, baseboards and casing details that have more of a profile, not just flat stock. It also includes panelled walls, coffered ceilings, and natural materials like marble in backsplashes and counters. Cabinet door styles have more detail, not just a simple shaker like a craftsman style.
Traditional colours
As far as colours are concerned, traditional design tends more into neutral colours. There wouldn’t be bold colour schemes. They could be dark, but they wouldn’t be a saturated colour like a true blue or a true green. It would be a muted version, like a denim blue or a sage green.
We have had a couple of clients opt for a dark blue for the whole kitchen, specifically Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy. Previously, clients would only want the island in a deep colour like that or charcoal. But that was the old trend. Now people want the whole kitchen to be that dark colour.
Traditional style
People are also going back to a traditional-style fireplace. There was to be a big trend for skinny, horizontal, linear fireplaces that are quite modern. Many people are now asking me for the more classic traditional fireplace style, which is square or slightly rectangular with a beautiful wood mantel around it.
However, this movement towards traditional design hasn’t dampened people’s desire to have open spaces in their homes. We still take down the wall between the kitchen and dining room or living room. The difference is that we add back in a traditional-style casing around the walls to give a visual separation to the rooms as if they were never renovated at all.
We have even gone as far as including a transom window with a leaded glass insert for the casing between rooms.
Seems like a traditional trend might be happening in Vancouver. Check out our all portfolio images on our Hudson St. project.
That being said, we love helping our clients develop the right look for their home, whether the design is traditional or transitional or modern. And we have an international reputation to uphold. Our company was given “Best High-End Home Renovation Specialists – Vancouver – Award for Innovation in Residential Design 2021” by UK’s BUILD Magazine earlier this year.
We can help guide you home too.
If you are thinking of renovating, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation to go over your project and give you a workable plan whether you use us or not. It would be our pleasure to help you achieve your dream home.