Classic/traditional

The traditional furniture style has stood the test of time whilst competing against the styles of Art Deco, Art Nouveau and the current modern and minimalistic styles of today.

Traditional furniture design is that of a warm, rustic, and all-round homely feel using rich, dark woods and carved faces and corners, complimenting cool, neutral upholstery.

Traditional furniture takes its inspiration from Europe, and most specifically the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Some pieces are also referred to French Furniture, Georgian Furniture or Edwardian Furniture, thanks to the carvings and decorative motifs, although not as ornate or as elaborate as its French predecessors. This furniture style prides itself on the symmetry of its pieces, and its friendly charm.

As mentioned previously, this style of furniture is made from dark hardwoods such as maple, mahogany, cherry, merbau and walnut, and sometimes stained even further to show more of a richness to the material. Other materials for the more lavish pieces often included brass, bone and ivory. Characteristics of pieces like tables, beds, wardrobes, etc. include either claw or ball feet; some inlaying of lighter woods; decadent carvings to represent nature – the more gothic style of traditional furniture had motifs of animals such as boars.

Fabrics were often made of silk with opulent patterns to accentuate the richness of the material, such as paisley, tapestry styles, stripes and sometimes solid colour.

The whole idea of the traditional or classic style was originally designed to mimic the stately homes and palaces of the day’s regality, without the costs associated for the lower classes. Today, however, due to the advances of manufacturing and the ability to mass produce furniture, this style is now available to everyone, which is probably why it is still as popular, if not more so than when it was first released