Fresh Federalist by Janelle Steinberg
My basic guidelines for executing contemporary American Federalist Style:
-Correct use of period colors, with a few liberties
-Updated furniture with classic lines and proportion. For a truly fresh and contemporary take, few antique furnishings should be used (rather than all the furnishings being antiques- which puts the room on track for being a "period room"). However, antique accessories are absolutely called for.
-Use of hallmark Federalist style motifs, such as the eagle and dentil mouldings.
-A general use of symmetry in layout and room arrangements, with playful asymmetric elements in the details such as accessories and art arrangement.
-Heavy concentration on the interior architecture: custom built-ins and appropriate mouldings are key.
-Brass or gold metals for hardware, lamps, etc.
-In general, darker wood stains and dark paint colors when one desires an alternative to wood grain.
