What is classic style? How will it be expressed at home?

This short blog is accompanied by photos from my projects that will give you a small taste of my classic world and maybe help you understand if this is your preferred style.

Classic style is confusing and not as distinct as modern or country style. This style conveys luxury, drama, and elegance. It combines rich materials and layers of textures to create a majestic, mature, and timeless look.
In this style, we can combine refined furniture with a hint of modern style and heavy furniture made of carved wood with a royal and luxurious look.

The color that characterizes the use of the classic style is white with shades of cream combined with golden / copper shades. Extensive use of crystals and etched or painted glass will enhance and add to the rich royal look.
We can combine and highlight special furniture in black or dark shades to create contrasts and appeal.

One of the prominent features of this style is the use of a cornice. This architectural element stands out from the wall and is located in its upper part. The cornice has a design role - it gives the space an additional dimension of richness, and its level of decorations and details will affect the overall appearance. Sometimes, we will also want to combine decorative elements on the walls, such as painted wooden panels and decorative frames attached to the wall and painted in the same shade to create a particularly rich overall look.

Textiles in the classic design have a prominent place. We will usually use rich, high-density, heavy fabrics, such as velvet or fabrics rich in textures and prints combined with golden touches. The use of textiles apart from the seating set in the living room could be reflected in the dining room chairs, which could be of solid wood combined with padded seats that would go great with a solid wood table.
Use prominent and dominant lighting fixtures such as crystal chandeliers and decorative wall lamps. 
And, of course, the integral furniture will receive many molds, rounded lines, and decorations. In the living room or kitchen, we can combine showcases with glass fronts that display luxurious dishes or decorated and gilded frames.

Classic style kitchen:
Like everything that happens in the rest of the house, even the kitchen will radiate wealth and prestige.
Designing the fronts of the kitchen cabinets with a shiny decorative frame, including a combination of golden metal handles. We can combine showcase cabinets with decorated glass to store rich decorative items displayed inside or placed on the designed surfaces.

Classic style living room:

To achieve a classic style in the living room, you don't need to be afraid of combining a variety of furniture to create a complex look as long as it is done in a controlled manner and we maintain elegance in the space. Let's start by choosing a seating set combined with developed wooden parts, with dominant legs and decorated sofa sides, and, of course, incorporate dominant and matching upholstery. To add to the dimension of wealth, we will choose cushions upholstered in different textures, and we will add armchairs in a shade that contrasts with the color of the sofa to upgrade and enrich the look. We will combine in the space pictures or mirrors with decorated frames and, of course, curtains with folds and layers. 

This is definitely a style that is not suitable for everyone. You have to be dominant and maybe a little dramatic, like the elements defining the classic space and producing luxurious, royal, and stylish charm. Do you think this is the style that characterizes you? Or just the opposite?

You are welcome to contact me, and I will be able to define together with you the needs and, of course, the style tailored to the type of people you are.

Lilian Benshoam
Architect and interior designer.

(Source: Architecture and Interior Design – Tel Aviv Villa B Project)

(Source: Architecture and Interior Design – Tel Aviv Villa B Project)