Transitional Style
There are those that fight straight tradition and eschew the trendiest of the trendy. They prefer to be free of the tethers that define country style. For these unique souls, there is one place to flee for creative sanctuary — the diverse furniture style known as Transitional. The label «transitional» can cause confusion for some. Transitional walks the line between traditional and contemporary furniture, with lines that are less ornate than traditional styles but not as severely basic as contemporary lines.
Consequently, transitional furniture is no single extreme, but a harmonic blend of styles that can be adapted to an individual's preference. Comfort and practicality are key aspects to transitional furniture, with many pieces made to meet the demands of the active household. Durable materials found in this type of furniture include contemporary media like metal and glass, but also sophisticated, lush fabrics. Within the elegant curves of this style are two sub-categories:
- Eclectic style furniture borrows from several furniture styles freely. A cluttered, disjointed look is avoided by unifying color or textures.
- Casual furniture is classically inspired with today's family in mind. It's comfy and perfect for entertaining friends and family without formal airs.
Traditional Style
If you like to surround yourself with formality, beauty borne of intricacy, and regal elegance, then traditional furniture might be right up your alley. Traditional furniture takes its cue from furniture produced for European monarchs and the wealthy by master craftsmen and designers from the 17th to the 19th century. Generally, traditional furniture uses dark woods, elaborate carvings and florid ornamentation for a look of unparalleled magnificence. Because of the abundance of detail in traditional furniture pieces, the overall look is busier and heavier in appearance than other styles, but has remained a favorite throughout the years.
English Traditional
Jacobean (1600-1690)
An era marked by the reign of James I through the Restoration and the monarchies of Charles II and James II, Jacobean furniture is predominantly composed of oak with straight lines and squared or rectangular profiles. Considered medieval in appearance, its features include detailed, low relief carvings, spiral turned legs and dark finishes.
William and Mary (1689-1702)
Under the rule of Queen Mary and Dutch born William of Orange, English furniture takes on Dutch, Flemish and Chinese characteristics. Distinctive pieces include the highboy, a tall chest containing four to five drawers, and the lowboy, a short chest used for serving. Bun feet, trumpet turned legs, shaped stretchers and Chinese lacquer techniques define the period, with furniture crafted mainly from walnut. Of considerable import is the fact that upholstery is introduced during this era in furniture-making.
Queen Anne (1700-1714)
A world of discovery awaits those that deconstruct the underpinnings of Queen Anne style furniture. Ball-and-claw feet, curvy cabriole legs, elaborate carvings, fiddle-back chairs and broken pediments make this era one of the most graceful in traditional furnishings. Craftsmen during this time also used popular closed bonnet, S-shaped scroll and shell carving motifs to add stylistic flair. Upholstering techniques introduced during the William and Mary era are taken to exciting new heights with the advent of overstuffed furniture. Proportions are smaller than previous periods and walnut continues to reign supreme as the wood of choice, though mahogany is also employed.
Georgian (1714-1795)
Aptly named, this furniture was produced during the reigns of George I and George II. Heavier in proportion than Queen Anne style furniture, Georgian furniture is highlighted by gilding, cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, casters, pierced back slats and carved ornamentation like scallop shells. Mahogany was frequently used.
Chippendale (1740-1790)
Named after designer and cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale, this style manifested itself in three distinct ways: French influenced, Gothic influenced and Chinese influenced. Characteristics include Chinese bamboo, cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, broken pediments, open or pierced splat chair backs and heavy use of mahogany.
Hepplewhite (1765-1800)
More delicate than the Chippendale style, Hepplewhite style furniture is awash in Neo-Classic grandeur. Fluted legs, veneers, shield chair backs, inlays, and mahogany abound. Particularly noteworthy is the introduction of the sideboard during this time, resplendent with serpentine fronts that add seductive charm.
Adam Brothers (1760-1795)
A daintier, traditional style named after architect brothers who were influenced by the ancient structures of Italy. Look for slender, fluted legs, narrow tables with ornamental side rails, upholstered settees and daybeds, a strong sideboard presence and designs that range from floral to animal figures. There is a wide use of mahogany, gilding, painting and satinwood veneers.
Sheraton (1780-1820)
Neoclassical in design, the Sheraton style, named after English designer Thomas Sheraton, possesses a refined delicacy derived from straight lines, tables with pedestal bases and drop leaves, convex corners and painstakingly carved designs featuring shields, urns and lyres. The Sheraton style was mainly constructed from mahogany, satinwood and rosewood with inlay and painted finishes. During this period, marquetry, an elaborate veneer technique that creates a detailed picture or design on furniture surfaces, rivaled inlay as a main method of decoration.
Regency (1793-1830)
Furniture of this mode was fashioned from a mix of Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Gothic and Chinese design. Surfaces typically lacked the dramatic curve of earlier styles, and upholstered chairs were not overstuffed as they were in the Queen Anne period. A chair's profile from this style typically includes curved or straight legs, with a concave or straight back. While mahogany continued to be the wood of choice, rosewood, satinwood and zebrawood were also included, along with an increase in brass work.
Victorian (1840-1910)
Named after England's Queen Victoria who ruled from 1837-1901, Victorian furniture revisited a heavier look with dark finishes and upholstery. Gothic influence can be seen in the intricate floral carvings and motifs. Inlays of brass, wood and mother of pearl keep the look formal.
Campaign (19th C.)
Related to Colonialism, Campaign style furniture evolved from English wartime and colonial endeavors. This unique branch of furniture is "knock-down" or collapsible, so that it can be moved from one location to another with minimal exertion. Legs can usually be folded or removed entirely, and the pieces often have hidden compartments. Style was not forsaken for portability, however, as colonial officers saw the furniture and accompanying wares as an opportunity to impress people with the magnificence of the empire as cavalcades of elephants and porters carried the items across Africa.
British Colonial Style (19th C.)
Inevitably, as the British empire extended control into the West Indies, India and Africa, traditional English styles melded with the materials and design aspects of the countries the English colonized. This mixture of influences is called British Colonial, and is known for its use of animal prints, rattan, leather, teak, mahogany and the artistic touches applied by indigenous craftsmen. There are two popular variations of this style, Plantation and Colonial India.
* Plantation style furniture has its roots in the West Indies, with decorative touches inspired by architectural designs meant beat the heat, including shutter detail on armoires and cabinets, wide-bladed ceiling fans and plantation chairs.
* Colonial India style is distinguished by ornately scrolled legs complemented by Persian and Turkish rugs, and flowing accents like printed drapes and throws.
French Court
Louis XIV (1643-1715)
A period of luxurious splendor, the furniture from this Baroque period was meant to impress. Furniture was of a large scale, meant for salons (social gathering rooms) and decorated with veneers of exquisite materials such as brass, ebony and tortoiseshell. Tables were topped with granite or marble, and pieces gleamed with gilding and varnish. Everything in this era was designed for show, with serpentine fronts, scrolls, carvings and an abundant use of chests and cabinets.
Regence (1715-1723)
During this transitional phase of the monarchy, when Phillipe D'Orleans governed as Louis XV came of age, furniture moved away from the "Sun King" style and grandeur that marked Louis XIV's reign. Floral designs, Oriental influences and smaller proportions replaced the massive structures.
Louis XV (1715-1774) — Rococo.
The name even sounds like its presentation, which is light, frothy, romantic. This ever-popular Louis XV style is an offshoot of Baroque, scaled down with a flowing, feminine look. Furniture became dainty and light, eliminating the need for stretchers to support weight between legs. Straight lines fell to the wayside in this era, replaced by curves seen in chair backs and cabriole legs. Comfort took center stage with chairs that were designed for the first time for optimal comfort. It's no accident Rococo derives its name from the French words "rock" and "shell," which were two predominant motifs featured in the detailed, asymmetrical carvings of the period. In addition, scenes of love, merriment, pastoral beauty and mythological allusions flourished upon mahogany, walnut, oak, ebony and chestnut woods.
Louis XVI (1774-1792)
After a period of reveling in the sensual curves of Rococo, the Louis XVI style brought straight lines back into vogue. Emphasis was placed on Greek and Roman styles constructed with superior excellence, culminating in sophisticated elegance befitting formal rooms. Heavily used woods included mahogany, fruitwood, rosewood and ebony, which were usually adorned with black and gold lacquer.
Empire (1804-1815)
The Empire style was predominately influenced by Greek and Roman design combined with tributes to Napoleon's empire. Furniture moved toward immense proportions and symmetrical, rectilinear silhouettes. Once again, mahogany took center stage and was ornamented with marble, columns, bronze figures and decoration of sphinxes, swans, Greco-Roman designs and emblems of Napoleon, including the letter N, eagles and bees.
Louis Philippe (1830-1848)
This popular style is enjoying a revival in today's market. Louis Phillippe furniture is relatively simple by traditional standards, without ostentation and defined by rounded lines of effortless grace that fit well in many contemporary homes. Walnut, palisander or mahogany frames are often accented with marble tops or sculpted borders.
American Traditional
18th Century American
A formal style that developed mainly in New England and Philadelphia. Styles in 18th Century America were largely patterned after traditional European styles, including Queen Anne, William and Mary, Chippendale and French Empire, then modified to the simpler, practical tastes of the Americans.
Federal (1780-1830)
During the incipient stages of the U.S. federal government, the Federal style emerged as a relatively formal option that used a lot of brass and emblems of national pride, especially the eagle. Lines were graceful, with tapered legs, veneers and inlay adding visual weight.
Duncan Phyfe (1790-1848)
Named after America's first renowned furniture designer, the Duncan Phyfe style is identified by ornamental reeding, fluting, glass knobs and curvilinear design crafted in mahogany. Other common design elements include column pedestal tables, neoclassical motifs and the lyre sofa and lyre-back chair.
German Traditional
Biedermeier (1800-1850)
In the years following Napoleon's defeat in 1815, a new tide of design inspiration swept over furniture, washing away the pageantry and ornate detail that embodied the Empire style. In its stead was a simpler, functional style known as Biedermeier. The thrust of the Biedermeier movement was steeped in the notion elegance need not be overdone, but materialize as the result of fine craftsmanship and practicality. The lack of ornate carvings let veneers shine through, and the mark of a quality Biedermeier piece is exceptional form married with the finest veneers. Because the style traveled from Germany across Europe to the United States and was adapted to various classes along the way, each region put their influential markers on the Biedermeier aesthetic, culminating in a wide range of designs.
Early Biedermeier is crafted from mahogany, and in later years, from birch, grained ash, fruit woods, walnut, and maple, although the wood was used was usually determined by regional preferences. Austrians used indigenous walnut and cherry, Hungary favored ash, Germans used mahogany, birch, walnut and elm, while Russians used blonder woods like Karelian birch and poplar.
Today, Biedermeier is popular for its smaller scale that meshes well with apartments and homes with tighter spaces.
Contemporary Style
Does the luster of innovation make you drool? Or maybe you like sleek, sexy silhouettes setting the scene for your quick-paced life of urban sophistication and adventure. Perhaps you enjoy relaxing in funky retro style as you squish your toes into a black shag rug. The wonderful thing about contemporary furniture is that it encompasses all these things and more. Your living space is a blank canvas no longer bound by traditional ideas of what a room should look like. Ever-evolving, contemporary styles buck tradition and revere the modern materials and technology that makes such continuing evolution possible.
Modern
Simple designs exquisitely executed. Modern furniture is traditional furniture's foil, a cutting edge flipside awash in geometric precision and straightforward presentation. Colors range from neutral to bold, and the inclusion of glistening metal adds contemporary flair to many pieces. Other examples of modern materials include vinyl, plywood and iron.
Art Deco (1925-1940)
Art Deco furniture is a celebration of elegant line and curves sans the elaborate scroll work and ostentatious carvings of traditional furniture. With the advent of modern travel and technology, materials that were once hard to procure became readily available. The Art Deco movement in furniture took full advantage of this and created a unique style using exotic leathers, silver and gold leaf, mother-of-pearl, ivory and lacquers mixed with relatively cheap contemporary metals, glass, synthetic plastics and resins like bakelite. As a result of this mixed media, Art Deco does not present itself as overly formal. (Due to GREENCulture's respect of all living things, our Art Deco designs are free of animal product like leather and ivory and feature quality alternatives.)
Retro
This contemporary style gives a wink and a nod to recently bygone eras, spanning from the 1950's to the 1980's. A retro look can be created from acquiring original pieces of furniture from these decades, but retro style furniture today is usually a reproduction of past designs. In some ways, dubbing items like the chrome dinette set 'retro' undermines the vision designers of the past were striving toward. In their time, these retro items were fashionably modern, a calculated exercise in embracing a lighter, contemporary look far removed from the traditional, bulkier furnishings of their parents' homes.
Popular retro staples include one-piece modular chairs and tables cast in plastic, chrome bar stools that remind you of your favorite diner and Formica-topped tables. With the advent of television came furniture designed to make viewing a more enjoyable experience. Recliners and ottomans allowed a person to kick back and watch the tube in plushy comfort. The convenient, mass-produced furniture collections that we take for granted today allowed consumers to perfectly coordinate their furniture throughout one room or all their living spaces. And that last home frontier, the backyard, was the inspiration for rugged Adirondack and other lawn chairs, as well as tables and benches.
Urban
Jazzy, sophisticated and spare�urban furniture is designed with the city-dweller in mind. Pieces tend to range on the smaller size, meant to furnish apartments with up-to-the-minute style. Black is a predominant color in design, but also expect to find furniture constructed of powder coated metal, blonder woods and glass. Platform beds, upholstered sofas with a slim profile and deep or bright colors round out a look for the furniture fashionista.
Oriental Style
If you're looking for a sleek, exotic look perfectly suited to smaller apartments and living spaces, Oriental furnishings are a definite option to consider. Chinese and Japanese offerings have had a great influence on Western furniture and modern design.
Chinese
Lacquered surfaces are a key attribute of the Chinese furniture style, creating luxuriantly deep finishes that are paradoxically subtle and striking in their elegance. Comprised of ebony, teak and rosewood, Chinese furniture often bears an inlay of semi-precious materials like lapis lazuli, jade and mother-of-pearl. Symmetrical construction, miter joints and copper, brass or pewter brackets are often employed to create a clean profile that enhances a modern, cosmopolitan living space.
Japanese
Space-saving savvy puts Japanese-inspired furniture high on the list of city dwellers and dorm room denizens. If you love your sensuously streamlined platform bed and couldn't live without your stowaway futon, you owe your admiration to the ingenuity of a culture that traditionally shuns large, overwrought furniture. Other recognizable items that hail from Japan include the stacked Tansu chests and Nagamochi trunks. Like Chinese furnishings, furniture influenced by Japanese design is defined by its joinery, with master artisans taking years to learn the construction these complex, durable joints. Great pride is taken in the general lack of nails or glue that holds the structure together, and the joint's ability to act as a shock absorber.
Country / Provincial Style
If you find traditional furniture too formal for your lifestyle or home and contemporary furniture too�well�contemporary, you might consider a country look. Before images of knotted chairs bound with rope and twiggy tables leap to mind, take inventory of all the alluring country styles on our website. Country furniture started out as practical and utilitarian versions of traditional court furniture for the populace, and retained charm and beauty in its new incarnations. A majority of popular styles, like Mission or French Provincial, are far from rustic, and provide comfort and durability that turn your home into a welcoming haven from the hectic, modern world outside.
European Country
English Country
This is a handy catch-all phrase for the multitude of styles that stemmed from English country living. However, an underlying trait these styles share is the use of more cost effective and indigenous materials like oak, ash and elm mixed with some walnut and mahogany pieces. Far from the elaborate pieces seen in English salons, the construction was more functional and less ornate.
French Provencal/Country
The variety of designs that make up French Provencal furniture are indicative of the varied lifestyles of France's 18th and 19th century middle and lower classes. Some French Provencal styles evolved as simpler, locally crafted versions of French Court furniture built for wealthier landowners and merchants desiring trendy home furnishings. Other styles were original to the provinces that nurtured an aesthetic and functional ideal far removed from what was happening in the vogue epicenter of Paris palaces. Despite this, there are some general characteristics that these styles share. Decoration is simple, but nevertheless charming and graceful, with splats, painting, and bas relief carvings. Craftsmen used walnut, ash, poplar, chestnut and fruit woods like cherry and pear to construct the furniture, and often included marble or wrought iron embellishments.
Spanish Colonial (1600-1840)
While Spanish Colonial furniture took inspiration from traditional furniture, it was also shaped by Spanish Catholicism, with furnishings often destined for churches and monasteries as well as ranches and homes. Mesquite, cedar, walnut and cypress woods were used to construct refectory tables that sported lyre-legs, along with chests and other pieces. In rural areas, locals adapted these designs to suit their more practical needs and simple tools, constructing flat paneled, slated furniture with A-frame legs. Popular today in ranch-style and colonial homes, the furniture's versatile, sturdy style blends well with the life of the busy individual.
American Country
Early American/Colonial (1640-1700)
The most elementary time in American furniture, the Early American style was utilitarian and manufactured from local materials, including indigenous woods like maple, walnut and pine. English styles were either simplified in the colonies or brought from overseas to furnish homes of the period. However, some important American innovations, like the iconic rocking chair, were developed during this time and would go on to become well-loved additions in country homes today. Other furniture pieces commonly found in the Early American style home include trestle tables, canopy beds, cupboards, and chairs with ladder backs and rush or cane seats.
Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish (1720-1830)
Infused with Germanic influences, Pennsylvania Dutch furniture was simple and practical. Colorful accents came from folk painting applied to the case goods.
Shaker (1820-1860)
Constructed by a religious group in the United States by the same name, Shaker furniture exhibited a spare, straightforward design. The solid wood pieces were light in color with smooth and tapered lines, woven chair seats, rounded wooden knobs, and proportioned for optimal functionality. The result is a look that's clean and unfussy, but well-crafted.
Mission Style/Arts and Crafts (1880-1910)
The Arts and Crafts style, also known as Mission style, played a hugely significant role in furniture design in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Arts and Crafts movement focused on functionality and the belief things were meant to be used. While the philosophy seems to set-up decades of fabulously boring furniture, it was anything but. Rather, Arts and Crafts furniture was beautifully designed, with manufacturers relying on exquisite craftsmanship and finishing techniques to add serene elegance to an item. Joints, such as the ubiquitous mortise and tenon joint of the time, were in clear view and enhanced an otherwise simple appearance. Wood was often quarter-sawed for the lovely way it presented the wood grain, and nails were usually hammered in by hand, with gleaming nail heads complementing upholstery. Wood slats, stretchers and handcrafted hinges of pewter and copper further embellished, without ostentation, these masterworks.
Southwestern
Rich colors of the Southwest landscape provide warmth and joyful spirit to this style. Furniture is more basic and naturalistic and makes frequent use of mortise and tenon joints. The look is enhanced by turquoise or silver accents. Full achievement of a Southwestern look may require some Navajo rugs and other indigenous accents.
Spanish Style
A study of Spanish furniture's Islamic styling reveals the lasting influence of almost 800 years of Moorish conquest in what is now modern-day Spain and Portugal. This period of time made an indelible impression upon Spanish culture and formed its furniture's most distinctive design features, which otherwise tended to follow traditional European trends. Arabesque features include motifs formed from geometric patterns that are often stylized representations of animals or plants. Traditionally crafted from cedar, walnut, oak, chestnut and pine, Spanish furniture also features turned, scrolled arms and legs and liberal use of leather (any leather-like products on the GREENCulture website are constructed from animal-free fabrics).
