← Design guides

Guide 01

Cozy Traditional

Let us waltz into your Nancy Meyers dream house. I'd define your style as traditional meets transitional, with none of the boomer mom baggage. It feels proper, and feminine, and won't be going out of style anytime soon. Sometimes it leans a little cottage, and other times it feels like an art collector's city apartment. I think we can pull off doing a bit of both.

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Cozy Traditional · north-star reference
01 / Your style

How I'd describe it

What it is

  • Timelessly fashionable, leaning on classic traditional elements
  • gallery walls full of original artwork
  • Eclectic and lived-in, warm
  • Ample traditional looking lamps, large-scale flower arrangements
  • slip covers

What it isn't

  • trendy or trying to reference a specific era
  • gallery walls full of digital art / posters
  • minimalist, sterile
  • Modern statement lamps, anything "edgy"
  • leather
I know you love pink and blue, but we've gotta figure out how to make that work with your cherry wood walls. Also, i'm noticing the painted portraits here, the white couch, the flowers and curtains bringing the pink in.
Through-lines: Pleated empire lamp shades, flower arrangements, and vintage ceramic pots
How can we capture the FEELing of this picture? I think it's all in the palette and texture. Everything is a warm shade of beige. Count the textures, linen, the throw pillow, the wicker baskets. Let's try to recreate this.
What makes this room so sophisticated? I think it's the 1) lighting (two sconces and two lamps) and 2) intentional combination of elements. While there are a lot of items on the credenza, most of them are larger than a melon. A good rule of thumb to avoid a cluttered look.
02 / What I am noticing

Through-lines

Lamps with empire shades and a ball-shaped base Large single varietal bouquets White or cream slip cover couch Gallery wall of originals
03 / Palette

Recommended color palette and patterns

Blush

accent color

Linen

couch

Walnut

Your walls

Thin blue and white stripes pattern swatch

Thin blue and white stripes

04 / You can find it

What to thrift

Thrift

Blue And White Porcelain Fishbowl

This pot can fit the large-scale arrangements you love (like the hydrangeas). I think it looks very elegant and transitional. Feels thriftable - or check eBay if you're striking out.

Thrift

Paintings and Ornate Frames

The only way to achieve this look affordably is to thrift some art, or at least some frames!

Thrift

Solid wood dresser

Heavy-duty dressers like this are fairly easy to find, and they are heavy hitters in terms of bringing some traditional credibility to the room.

05 / Make it

What to DIY

DIY

Ottoman Slip Cover

Notes

It's hard to find an ottoman with the exact right funky-fabric. Since you just got a sewing machine AND you are into the slip cover look, I feel like this would be perfect!

Consider thrifting a coffee-table sized ottoman and covering it up. Check out matchy-matchy sewing club for fabric.

▶ Video tutorial by @stalrosedesign Shop supplies →
06 / Worth it

What to splurge on

Splurge

The sofa

A nice white couch you must HAVE!

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07 / Items to consider

What to buy

Buy

Cappuccino Cup and Saucer

The red stripe!! It's so classic. I feel like this belongs in your home.

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