Steps to Guide you in Creating a Classical Personality for your space that reflects your authenticity, personal style, interests, hobbies and taste.  Your home is the most personal expression of you.  This list is based on certain basics for creating a classical decor that is relevant for today’s classical lifestyle.

“The Classic Spirit is the disinterested search for perfection; it is the love of clearness and reasonableness and self-control; it is above all, the love of permanence and of continuity….And it loves to steep itself in tradition.  It would have each new work connect itself in the mind of him who sees it with all the noble and lovely works of the past, bringing them to his memory and making their beauty and charm a part of the beauty and charm of the work before him.  It does not deny originality and individuality–they are as welcome as inevitable.  It does not consider tradition as immutable or set rigid bounds to invention.  But it desires that each new presentation of truth and beauty shall show us the old truth and the old beauty, seen only from a different angle and colored by a different medium.  It wishes to add link by link to the chain of tradition, but it does not wish to break the chain.”   The Classic Point of View– Kenyon Cox

1.  Classical Walls 

Nothing defines Classical Style better than wall panels.  Paneling divides the wall into rectangular fields separated by vertical and horizontal bands and mouldings.  A panel layout design organizes the surface according to the proportions and ornaments associated with the panels.  The organization of the panels establish the primary proportions of the room style.  I have done many blogs on wall panel ideas.  My most recent Walls with Classical Wall Panels is a great reference filled with inspiration.

In this month’s Architectural Digest Francis Sultana’s Maltese palace blends baroque and modern achieving a creative blend of traditional and contemporary.  Wow his mirrored wall panels are so unique.  Here is his classical personality quote; “A mix of antique, contemporary, new, and commissioned.”

Wall panels offer order to personal collections, family pictures, eclectic treasures and  travel prints.   You name it and panels will frame and organize it.

Antonovich Design

Tangier Getaway – Veere Greenney

Lots of Classical personality in this beautifully designed bath.

2.  Classical Ceilings

In classical design the ceiling holds up the walls and as such offers a large uninterrupted surface with great opportunity for ornament and decoration.  This certainly is a great vehicle for adding your personality to your classical style.  Check out Statement Ceilings – The Fifth Wall for some great inspiration.

My personal favorite.  Shell Ceiling 87″ x 35″ $1,095

Treillage Room by Veere Grenney

Love the treillage on the walls and ceiling.

 

3.  Architectural Details and Ornamentation

The use of architectural details and ornamentation is a powerful classical ingredient for creating an authentic and personal style.  Whether you choose baroque or art deco or anything in between it  adds a timeless quality of beauty and artistry.  Carvings that have endured and have a place today that is a part of that unbroken chain of tradition.

Francis Sultana Maltese Palace – “I wanted to get the right balance of traditional—as in original—and contemporary in both the refurbishing and decorating,” Sultana explains.

I didn’t want to live in the past. The contemporary art brings energy and life, which is hugely important to me.  Francis Sultana

Wonderful application of ornamentation by Sultana to the dining room walls.

Repurpose sliding doors with panel ornamentation.

Beautiful frieze frames a dark ceiling for double impact of classical personality.

This is a very simple use of swag ornamentation to create a lovely classical statement.  It is not a pefect design in that the swag and drop are not connected but even with that criticism, it is lovely and easy to add.  The use of the moulding to create the space for the swag adds a wonderful architectural detail.

Large classical Goddess Oval Panel 24″W x 46-1/2″H $750

The rope moulding is simple and beautiful for the coffers and walls.  Design by Veere Grenney.

The ultimate library with ornamented pilasters.

4.  Classical Accent Furnishings

 

Carrie Hayden design photo by John Granen

Wisteria Louis Fabric Back Side Chair

This is a beautiful and affordable chair on sale right now.  $238.97.  Comes in lovely jewel tones.

5.  Classical Patterns on walls and fabrics

Veere Grenney Tangier home with amazing handpainted walls.

Nothing is more classic and timeless than chinoiserie.

Great classical architecture.

 

Trompe l”oeil of architectural details

5.  Add anything that reflects today’s tastmakers.

Candice Olson

The Candice Olson Look “The collections I have created embody my signature fusion of traditional form, scale and proportion with the simplistic beauty and crispness of modern design.  The marriage of contrasts; old and new, minimal and adorned, sleek and lustrous, delivers a look that is current yet timeless, fresh yet familiar”

Candice Olson Wallpaper Collections

Bloom Wallpaper

 

Add work by today’s artists and artisans.

Verre Eglomise mirrored sconce panel