
“If you can envision Louis XVI dining chairs, an English Regency mahogany dining table, balloon shades, loads of passementerie, or Chippendale influences, any of these are part of the foundation of traditional design,” Contreras explains. However, it’s worth noting that other cultures have their own versions of a traditional style that may not look the same as this more Western version. When talking about traditional interior design, most are referencing a design style that originated in the 18th and 19th century throughout Europe. To learn more about the sophisticated and refined style, AD spoke with Contreras as well as Elizabeth Ghia, a Miami-based interior designer and member of the AD Pro directory. If you like the sound of rooms that look like modern versions of something you might find in Versailles, traditional interior design might just be for you. “In keeping with its name, traditional design has its roots in tradition, or the past,” says Paloma Contreras, a Houston-based interior designer, author of Dream Design Live, and member of the AD Pro directory. These are only a few of the adjectives you might hear someone use to describe traditional interior design.
