Interior designers resurrect Old World motifs for today

Thanks to modern technology and confidence in current economic prosperity, residential design is experiencing a renaissance. Just as Roman ornamental decor was adapted into the architectural style of the 15th Century Renaissance, classical architectural forms are being used in today's plaster work, inlaid woodwork and painted decoration.

Floors of colored and patterned marble paving are frequently integrated with the overall decorative scheme. Classical ornamental motifs -- stucco exteriors, interior plaster finishes and fine wall painting -- are being used again.

Only high-end home owners can afford to recreate a Louis XV study complete with gilded panel molding, but, even in modest homes, architectural ornaments are being used as accent pieces. For instance, a Gothic arch may be placed above a bed instead of a headboard, or a fragment of a carved frieze may be hung on the wall in place of a more traditional picture. Painting a sky mural in a two-story entryway can give this underutilized space great visual impact.

Design trends don't come out of a vacuum. Historical precedents are adapted to modern ways of using space, balancing tradition with modern sensibilities and use of space. The struggle between the desire to cling to tradition and the necessity of accepting a society based on mechanized industry is not new. For example, many people found it increasingly difficult to live with modern austerity after the World War II era. As a result, there was an increase in the manufacture of reproductions of all kinds, especially furniture, made partly by machine and partly by hand. At the same time, the process led to a revival of old handcrafts.

Today, in addition to a revival of classical motifs, several other design trends are seen:

• Eclecticism. Balance, symmetry, color, pattern and repetition used to be a matter of adherence to tradition, but today, safe, monochrome color palettes and matching fabrics are being replaced by an "anything goes" attitude. Often, it takes a professional to make sense of the apparent chaos, to discern patterns and principles and to find the craftsmen and resources that can draw what's meaningful from historical designs and translate them into the modern lifestyle.

• Use of antiques and reproductions. The deliberate use of antiques as decoration was unusual in the past. Generally, in older houses, elements of the previous decorative scheme were relegated to less important rooms when new decoration was added to bring an old interior in line with current trends. Limited availability of fine antiques has caused an appreciation of fine reproductions, so the lines between decorative and fine arts is blurring.

• Faux finishes. More designers, architects, builders and homeowners are seeking artists who can create multi-dimensional faux finishes on walls, paint ceiling murals for entryways, build custom furniture with finishes that replicate the appearance of aging and apply hand-painted details. And there are increasing numbers of craftsmen in Houston who are able to apply the Old World techniques of using plaster to install gypsum crown molding and new techniques of creating faux finishes from the latest water-based paints and glazes.

• Natural materials. Although it may be subconscious, people are aware of the innate qualities and textures of natural materials. Earth tones never go out of style, and the natural colors and textures of stone, wood and leather routinely surface on walls, floors, furniture and fabrics.

• Regional design. Awareness of the natural environment also has led to regional differences in design trends. In the South, designers recognize the climate's similarity to the sunny Mediterranean. They often incorporate interior and exterior wall finishes that replicate the layered plaster finishes of a Mediterranean villa. Warm color schemes create a slower, more "laid back" feel to a home, providing a refuge for increasingly stressful urban lives.

• Architectural embellishment. New construction often features larger rooms, higher ceilings and architectural elements such as art niches, domes, barrel-vaulted and coffered ceilings and either single or double curved staircases. Unadorned, these large spaces appear cold and empty. They can be transformed by large-profile plaster moldings, intricate resin moldings that give the look of a carved frieze, and even panel molding that incorporates the shell, flower and ribbon motifs that flourished in 18th century French salons.

Homes and offices reflect the comfort and luxury that come with economic prosperity. But more people are opting for interior design that uplifts rather than being surrounded by dehumanizing technology. While a salon from the palace of Versailles would never be described as cozy, it does have grandeur and elegance. With modern materials, Old World craftsmanship and historical appreciation, it is once again possible to recreate the ambiance of the past.

Peter Evans and Karen Rudat are owners of K&P Interiors, an interior design firm that specializes in decorative painting and architectural embellishment.

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