traditional

Chain stores are great for providing everyday basics, but for special occasions lots of mothers prefer to outfit their offspring in frocks that make a statement. Matilda Ledger has been seen sporting vintage-inspired smocked sundresses, and Sarah Jessica Parker admitted that James Wilkie wears his uncles' and cousins' hand-me-downs. For youngsters seeking simple pieces, Belle Heir Vintage offers those from yesteryear.

Unlike garments relatives stuff into shopping bags and drop at the door, the company offers a variety of classic items featuring hand-stitching, smocking, pin tucks, pleating, embroidery, and button-work from the turn of the century through the 1960s. While the pieces come at an equally pretty price, moms in search of christening, baby naming, and wedding garb for their wee ones might be willing to empty their wallets. For those who like the vintage look, here are additional pieces to ogle.

With a whitewashed frame and traditional outline, this New England farmhouse looks like it may have been there for the last 100 or more years, though it was only recently constructed. The generous use of windows on two stories ensure that the home's owners can enjoy the woodsy view, while the whitewashed house contrasts beautifully with the traditional red barn.


To check out other interior and exterior photos, read more

Can traditional and modern elements successfully mix in a home reno? The answer, according to Saunders Architecture, is a resounding yes. When a family wanted to expand their traditional home, the firm proposed an approximately 100-square-foot extension that would starkly contrast the original home's architecture. Even though this addition was relatively tiny, the space is highly functional and efficient. An open kitchen with glass overlooking the stunning Bergen, Norway, port takes advantage of the views and expands the visual space.
A roof terrace almost doubles the space, while bicycle storage beneath ensures that the family has a safe place to store their two-wheelers. Thanks to a cohesive color palette, which is in one of the traditional colors used in this city's residential district, as well as matched cladding, it's hard to even tell, from a distance, that anything modern has been added at all. To see what I mean, read more

I personally tend to gravitate towards modern décor, though I ideally like to mix styles. But, as I was raised in a traditional-style home, I do have an appreciation for the sort of old, dusty way of decorating . . . antiques, worn-in wood furniture, classic shapes, reserved colors. Writing Casa, I often catch myself saying that some products would "work well in both traditional and modern homes." While I do believe this is true, there are also many purely traditional products that
are unlikely to be found in a contemporary home. I figured I'd round some of these up for you, using Delftware, a style of blue and white pottery that to me is the epitome of traditional, as inspiration. To see what I've found, read more