Moving From Traditional to Mountain Transitional

Photography by Dallas & Harris Photography

When your home feels stuck in another decade and the thought of a full remodel sounds too overwhelming, updating the furnishings is the perfect solution. The architecture of most mountain homes features timeless design elements from natural wood beams and stone fireplaces.

The original construction was meant to bring the outside in and reflect the surrounding landscape. With the demand to remodel being so high, more often than not, contractors can be booked months to even a year out. This is where simple updates such as a fresh coat of paint, furniture, textiles, art and lighting can bring an aging home back to life.

Paint brightens and lightens a space

Keep the wood trim and stone fireplace, but freshen up the walls with a hue of white paint. This will make the natural elements pop and add contrast to the space. Some of our go-to whites are Sherwin Williams Pure White, Alabaster, and Drift of Mist (for more of a greige tone). We recommend blue-taping several options to your walls and observing them during different times of the day to narrow down your decision. 

Stay neutral on larger pieces, add color and pattern in the art and accessories

Traditional homes focus on heavy textures, colors, and patterns with lots of movement. A mountain transitional home features a lighter, neutral color palette to make a space feel open, airy, and reflect natural light. Using light-toned fabrics on a sofa or sectional creates the welcoming environment of a calm, relaxing mountain retreat. Color and pattern can then be added back in through accent pillows, throws, art and accessories. These are smaller items that can be updated easily over time, while the larger pieces can remain for years to come.

Use statement lighting and wall coverings

Add a modern chandelier or wall sconces to turn the focal point of a room away from the honey-toned beams and flooring and draw the eye to an artistic feature. Wall coverings are also a great way to add personality and character to any space.  

By incorporating these simple principles, your interior designer can help you seamlessly update your traditional home to a mountain transitional style that you will enjoy for years to come. 

Preethi Rajaratnam and Amanda Furlong are Senior Interior Designers at Cathers Home Furniture + Interior Design, an Aspen, Colorado-based full-service interior architecture and design studio, home furnishings retail store and rug gallery. View their profile or contact Cathers Home at info@cathershome.com and 970-927-6556. 

Content for this article provided by Cathers Home Furniture + Interior Design.