New Homes & Lifestyles

Timeless Interior Design

By Andrew Bart

All homeowners aspire to timeless interior design, whether they are buying or selling, or just want to surround themselves with a beautiful yet highly functional environment. If the home is for sale, the interior should be appealing to each potential buyer who walks through the door. With a recently purchased or remodeled home, the resident wants to ensure their interior design investment is sound so their home will remain breathtaking for years to come. But what is timeless interior design? Three designers from the Scottsdale-based Elements of Design studio take us on a photographic tour of techniques to freeze the home-décor clock.

TIMELESS LIVING ROOM
Gena Chipley says interior design should be cohesive with the architecture of the home. In this living room, the addition of ceiling beams makes a strong architectural statement. Stone seamlessly blends with both the wood beams and the travertine flooring. Bright color, which can be trendy if not introduced in a tasteful manner, is brought into the room by the luxurious red leather sofa. The rich color makes the furniture warm and inviting.

“The neutral-colored tile flooring provides longevity and a sense of permanence to the room,” says JoAnn Johnston. The stone wall introduces texture and serves as the room’s focal point, providing contrast to the smoothness of the wood beams and matching mantle. In the future, the homeowner of this space can easily refresh the accessories and artwork to give it a new flavor, but won’t need to replace other, more expensive items.

The beams in the room are classic elements that add an extra touch of class without being excessive. “Beams are common in European homes, especially throughout Spain and Italy, because they visually pull down the high ceilings to give them a more intimate feel and add a lasting impression of comfort,” Lina Quintero explains. Finally, the travertine flooring in the room adds durability and complements almost any design.

CLASSIC, ELEGANT KITCHEN
The kitchen shown in this image perfectly illustrates a strategic concept for timeless design in the use of a neutral base color surrounded by trendy, hot colors placed in targeted areas, says Chipley. This allows the homeowner to easily update the space without having to repaint the entire room, simply by updating the accent colors. Contrasting the color of the island countertop from the primary countertops adds interest, while the granite and marble surfaces have a durable beauty of their own. This color differentiation is enduringly elegant.

“The beauty of carved wood in a kitchen is always timeless,” says Chipley. This particular kitchen offers a superbly functional design in the work triangle formed by the refrigerator, sink and the cook-top, and with frequently used items in close proximity to one another.

In addition to the functional cooking environment, the bar component of the kitchen adds a variety of multipurpose uses, adds Quintero. The bar serves as an inviting place for friends to have a glass of wine or a child to do homework while the host is cooking. Plus, the arched entry is reminiscent of classic Roman architecture.

PALE NEUTRALS & FOCAL POINTS
This kitchen is a perfect example of how the use of neutral colors allows the eye to concentrate on a primary element within a room. According to Chipley, the eye should not be distracted from the beauty of the custom-carved cabinetry in this kitchen. The detail in the carvings will never be dated, and metal accents also help modernize the cabinetry.

The classic motif of the carvings in the cabinetry never goes out of style. The wood stains and the copper hood with pewter tile are further examples of non-trendy finishes. The use of Persian rugs softens the hard surfaces while maintaining a classic design concept.

“The style and look of the kitchen hood make it the focal point in the room,” Quintero says. “The shape and purpose of the hood introduce a timeless quality. From the rope trim to the patterns, the detail in the cabinetry is representative of European handiwork.” Indeed, the cabinets serve as the artwork in the room, while the open island provides an invitation to the kitchen.

HOME OFFICE
In a home office, bold upholstery colors can accentuate the colors of artwork on the wall. The dark cabinetry helps the colors stand out, emphasizing the artwork’s impact as the room’s focal point. It is enhanced further by strategically positioned lighting.

With the fast-moving world of technology, Johnston advises keeping negative empty space in an office as critical to timeless design. For example, the artwork could easily be replaced with a flat-screen monitor. The room combines elements of contemporary design with Southwestern fabrics and classic Old World chairs for a sophisticated, worldly room that could be from any era.

Also fundamental is the combining of comfort, elegance and function in a room, Quintero says. Note that the classic chairs in the office appear elegant yet comfortable, and the built-in cabinetry provides ample storage. The addition of two or three family photographs adds a personal touch to the room without being overdone.

CONTEMPORARY LIVING
This living room beautifully illustrates that combining a neutral background with colorful accent pieces is an ideal recipe for timeless design. “The reds in the contemporary artwork, embroidered pillows in red and gold, and fragrant red roses give the room life and heighten the level of visual stimulation,” says Chipley. Adding life to a room by introducing fresh flowers or realistic faux plants helps to slow the aging of a room design.

“Good design never goes out of style,” says Johnston. This room has a sense of visual stimulation that moves the eye naturally from top to bottom. Numerous textures, such as the shiny fabric on the couch and the simple silken wool rug, give the room a permanent sense of style and comfort.

The use of neutral color in the area rug and sofa allows the room to transition through time, Johnston adds. As illustrated by the coffee table and sofa, the living room has clean, simple lines. The use of red in the paintings spices up the entire room; red is known for its warmth and timeless quality, and makes a gorgeous accent color.

LESS DÉCOR IS MORE
The living room portrayed in this image is defined by its simplicity in an age when many homeowners tend to over-accessorize. Chipley explains that classic furniture styles and neutral colors serve to showcase the trendy cream-and-black pillows, which can be easily changed for updated styles or colors. The window treatments are simple and let in ample sunlight to bring in the outdoors.

The timeless nature of the living room is defined by the strong monochromatic color accents. The greenery helps to cool the space while adding fresh life into the room. The use of wood and stone lends a feeling of quality and substance while creating intriguing detail.

“The neutral color of the walls allows the eyes to focus on the stunning fireplace,” Quintera says. The detail in the stone and the mantle is naturally inviting, and it would be a mistake to try to shift the focus of the room when it already offers a magnificent element virtually begging to be the focal point. Forced design and over-design are two major mistakes that will lead to a tootrendy, non-functional design that is quickly tiresome. Michelangelo’s famous line was that his sculpture “David” came from the stone naturally; the design was not forced. This principle is timeless and holds equally true for interior design.

Interior designers Lina Quintero (owner), JoAnn Johnston and Gena Chipley offer their expertise out of Elements of Design. The Scottsdale studio, which caters to affluent homeowners nationwide, features one of the largest showrooms in Arizona.