What is Timeless Design? by Tiffany Birch
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hat is considered “timeless” in the field of interior design? If you polled 100 people, you might receive 100 different answers. This can be explained in part by the old adage, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Another common saying, “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure,” frequently holds true as well. However, when it comes to timeless design, there are a few considerations that arguably separate the two. Throughout history there have been a number of notable styles in the field of interior design, including Edwardian, Georgian, Victorian, and Art Nouveau. Today’s typical home buyer might not know which time period they prefer in architecture or interior design, but they will know instinctively if they like the style of the house. More general descriptors such as “traditional” or “modern” are now often 22 | The Brick Magazine
used. But at the end of the day, there are a few notable characteristics of “timeless” design. Well-designed architectural elements are timeless. They establish the character and overall look of a house or room. When you hear that a space has “good bones,” it usually refers to the architectural elements of the house. For example, well-proportioned staircases, moldings, windows, and built-in features can add a feeling of richness and completeness to an interior space. A skilled architect can transform a basic, boxy space into the most lovely building when adhering to the guidelines of simplicity, symmetry, and proportion. Classical architecture offers the most timeless elements. Iconic features like a gable roof, cornices, or columns may come to mind; they are but a few elements that give a structure its unique style. There are countless others, but
