Modern transitional homes are very popular in the Raleigh Durham area, and we have many of them. But what does “transitional design” mean? Transitional style is for homeowners who like different aspects of more than one particular style, so they don’t want to be pigeonholed into “traditional,” contemporary,” or “mid-century” modern. They are also a winner for couples who have competing/contrasting decor styles as a way to incorporate elements that please both.
What Does Transitional Style Mean?
Transitional style strikes a balance between traditional and contemporary, and it also reflects how the ways we use our homes have changed. Multi-tasking means we’re looking for open spaces where we can watch the kids doing homework in a family room while preparing dinner.
At parties, guests can gather around a kitchen island and then easily continue conversations as they move between the kitchen and the adjacent dining room.
The trend away from “every room has a specific function” to a wide-open livable space isn’t always in sync with the original exterior design of the home. Transitional style helps bridge that gap. .
Transitional Home Exteriors Common Characteristics
The transitional style of architecture followed mid-century modern in the late 1960s as homeowners began to appreciate and combine the clean lines and open floor plans of modernist architecture with the comfort of overstuffed couches and plush carpets. The style has evolved over the last 40 years to incorporate elements from traditional styles, including farmhouse, Colonial and Craftsman.
Most transitional home exteriors share common features - clean lines, natural materials in wood and stone, and abundant natural light. The aesthetic also emphasizes texture and minimal ornamentation.
Another hallmark of transitional home design is blending outside and inside together. Walls of large windows create this effect, as do decks and patios that flow seamlessly from the interior spaces. If you’ve got a brick exterior, simply painting the brick can give you a fresh look without significant remodeling.
Transitional homes are well-suited to smaller lots and lots with unusual lot shapes as the flexibility of the design can adapt to the specific site.
For remodels, exterior changes often update the existing design. So, for example, you may have an exterior that features classic natural stone with modern siding or a roofline that features both gabled rooflines and sections of flat roof. A modern roof combined with a classic color scheme successfully blends the two styles into a fresh look.
Remodels may also focus on enlarging windows and replacing existing small outdoor spaces with enclosed patios or sunrooms that blur the boundaries between inside and outside.
At its best, transitional style exteriors allow homeowners to create a balance that combines the warm aspects of traditional homes with modern finishes to create original spaces tailored to those who live there.
Transitional Style Interior Design Features
Transitional interior design combines traditional and modern elements into a seamless blend and cohesive whole. This style has several hallmarks: neutral palettes, organic textures, and a minimalist approach to decor and accessories. Oh, and comfortable furniture!
Neutral palettes of tan, off-white, taupe, or beige are popular choices. Presenting different shades of the same color is one way to vary the color scheme, as are accents in pops of color.
Organic textures like wood, stone, concrete, and granite are standard design features in this style. Warm hardwood floors and textured wall coverings like wood panels or bamboo blinds are typical in a transitional home.
Balance is also key to this style. Modern finishes and materials peacefully coexist with the very traditional crown molding. In a transitional living room, the curved lines in armchairs enhance the contemporary lines of a square arm sofa. In a kitchen, cabinets are more likely to be made of wood in streamlined profiles rather than trendy lacquered looks.
For decor and artwork, less is more, and one sizable contemporary piece of artwork is more effective than an arrangement of smaller components. Lighting in transitional homes follows the transitional theme - warm lighting, clean lines, brass, crystal, or metal finishes that complement the finishes in the room.
Comfort is key to this style. Choices in furniture, wall and window coverings, floors, lighting, and decor - all work together to provide an oasis of tranquility for the homeowner. Most importantly, transitional style offers the homeowner a space that feels authentic to them, finding just the right balance of modern and traditional that feels like “home.”
Transitional Design Satisfies Differing Styles & Tastes
Modern transitional homes are an excellent option for homeowners who don’t want to be confined to one design style. A couple with different aesthetic sensibilities can find common ground in this warm and welcoming style with its combination of clean, sleek lines of modern design with the warm, homey touches of more traditional design. Transitional home design provides the Goldilocks option of being not too formal, not too fussy, but instead, being “just right.”
Transitional Style Homes for Sale in Raleigh-Durham
See below for our Transitional Style listings in the Raleigh / Durham area. The transitional style is used as a kind of "catch all" for architecture, since it blends both contemporary and traditional design. There can be two homes that look pretty different that can both considered transitional.
These homes are more popular than any other home type. This is due to most of the builders in the Raleigh / Durham area building transitional homes ever since the 1990s.
If you would like to learn more about homes and neighborhoods in NC, or if you’re ready to start your search, contact us today.
Listings provided courtesy of Triangle MLS, Inc. of NC, Internet Data Exchange Database. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. © 2024 Triangle MLS, Inc. of North Carolina. Data last updated .
