Great interiors are defined by more than a color palette. Architecture, material, proportion, furniture, lighting, and art all work together to give a space its identity.
From the rich character of Modern Heritage to the expressive layering of Contemporary Eclectic, these six distinctive styles offer different ways to approach a room—and inspiration for selecting furniture that supports the overall design vision.
1. Modern Heritage
Old-World Character, Reinterpreted
Modern Heritage takes the richness and craftsmanship associated with traditional interiors and gives it a cleaner, more contemporary point of view.
Architectural details such as wall molding, arched openings, paneled walls, and rich wood flooring establish a sense of history, while streamlined furniture keeps the space feeling current.
Interior Design by @erikashulmaninteriors | Featuring the Patrick Bunching Tables
Defining Elements:
Dark and medium-tone woods • Burl and figured veneers • Natural stone • Leather • Satin brass • Architectural detailing • Refined silhouettes
Furniture plays an important role in creating this balance. A burl credenza, stone dining table, or beautifully detailed cabinet can introduce depth and craftsmanship without making the room feel overly traditional.
At Belle Meade Signature, materials such as burl, straw marquetry, artisan glass, stone, metal, and specialty finishes offer designers opportunities to bring distinctive craftsmanship into a modern setting.
2. California Organic
Relaxed, Natural, and Connected to the Outdoors
California Organic design celebrates natural light, tactile materials, and an effortless connection between indoor and outdoor living.
Open spaces, large windows, warm woods, natural stone, and soft textiles establish a relaxed foundation. Furniture tends to favor simple silhouettes and organic forms, allowing texture and material variation to become part of the design.
Defining Elements:
White oak • Travertine and natural stone • Linen and textured upholstery • Plaster walls • Warm whites • Sand and terracotta tones • Indoor-outdoor connection
The beauty of this style comes from restraint. Instead of adding more decoration, consider the character of the materials themselves—a distinctive stone surface, visible wood grain, or richly textured fabric can provide all the detail a room needs.
BMS stone, wood, and upholstered designs can be customized in materials and finishes to complement the natural palette of the space.
3. Art Deco Revival
Geometry with a Sense of Drama
Art Deco Revival brings glamour back into the interior—but through a more contemporary lens.
Strong geometry, rich colors, reflective surfaces, and sophisticated materials create spaces with unmistakable presence. Rather than reproducing a 1920s interior, today's interpretation uses Deco influences selectively, allowing statement furniture and materials to establish the mood.
Defining Elements:
Emerald and burgundy • Black accents • Brass and polished metals • Artisan glass • Velvet • High-gloss surfaces • Fluted and reeded details • Geometric forms
This is a style where furniture can confidently become the focal point.
A sculptural table base, artisan glass cabinet, dramatic stone surface, or reeded detail can introduce Deco character without overwhelming the room.
Through Belle Meade Custom, designers can explore combinations of metal, glass, stone, wood, leather, and specialty materials to create pieces with a more individual point of view.
4. New Traditional
Classic American Design, Refreshed
New Traditional interiors embrace the comfort and refinement of classic American design while making the overall composition lighter and more relevant to today's homes.
Symmetry remains important, as do tailored upholstery, decorative hardware, architectural molding, and layered textiles. The difference lies in how these elements are edited and combined.
Interior Design by@rpidesign | Featuring the Murray Dresser
Defining Elements:
Blue and ivory • Rich wood finishes • Patterned fabrics • Wall molding • Tailored upholstery • Decorative hardware • Symmetry • Layered textiles
A bedroom is a natural setting for this style. An upholstered bed, paired nightstands, elegant lighting, and layered bedding create a familiar sense of balance, while cleaner furniture silhouettes prevent the room from feeling too formal.
BMS bedroom and upholstery collections allow designers to personalize finishes, fabrics, materials, and details to create a more project-specific interpretation of traditional design.
5. Mid-Century Modern
Clean Geometry with Vintage Character
Mid-Century Modern remains relevant because of its strong relationship between furniture and architecture.
Low-profile silhouettes, warm walnut, simple geometry, and open layouts create interiors that feel structured without becoming formal. Today, the style can be softened through natural stone, tactile upholstery, and a more layered approach to color.
Interior Design by @kimharveycreamer | Featuring the BMS custom credenza
Defining Elements:
Walnut • Cognac leather • Olive green • Mustard and earthy tones • Natural stone • Low-profile furniture • Graphic geometry • Architectural forms
Furniture should feel purposeful. Look for strong proportions, expressive wood grain, sculptural bases, and silhouettes that remain visually clean from every angle.
Rather than recreating a period room, mixing Mid-Century influences with contemporary furniture allows the space to feel collected and current.
6. Contemporary Eclectic
Designed Around Personality, Not Rules
Contemporary Eclectic interiors resist a single formula.
Art, furniture, color, and materials are selected for their individual character, then brought together through proportion, balance, and a clear point of view. The result should feel collected—not coordinated.
Interior Design by @tarafeliceinteriors | Featuring the Callie Desk
Defining Elements:
Statement art • Unexpected color • Sculptural furniture • Patterned rugs • Burl • Artisan glass • Stone • Metal • Mixed periods and influences
Contrast is what gives this style energy. A sculptural contemporary table might sit beneath vintage-inspired lighting. Burl can be paired with colorful artwork, while artisan glass or stone introduces another layer of texture.
For designers looking for a less conventional starting point, the BMS Custom Design Library offers a collection of furniture concepts created to inspire future projects. Designs can be further developed through custom dimensions, materials, finishes, and details.
One Room Doesn't Have to Follow One Style
The most interesting interiors often exist somewhere between categories.
Modern Heritage can borrow the color of New Traditional. California Organic can incorporate a sculptural Mid-Century piece. An Art Deco-inspired cabinet can become the unexpected focal point of an otherwise contemporary room.
The goal isn't to follow every rule of a particular style—it's to understand the elements that define it and decide which ones support the project.
With Belle Meade Custom, designers can personalize an existing BMS design, modify dimensions and details, or develop an entirely original piece. With an extensive range of wood, fabric, stone, metal, leather, acrylic, artisan glass, burl, straw marquetry, and specialty materials, furniture can become part of the design language rather than a limitation within it.
Explore Belle Meade Signature and discover more possibilities for your next project.
Great interiors are defined by more than a color palette. Architecture, material, proportion, furniture, lighting, and art all work together to give a space its identity.
From the rich character of Modern Heritage to the expressive layering of Contemporary Eclectic, these six distinctive styles offer different ways to approach a room—and inspiration for selecting furniture that supports the overall design vision.
1. Modern Heritage
Old-World Character, Reinterpreted
Modern Heritage takes the richness and craftsmanship associated with traditional interiors and gives it a cleaner, more contemporary point of view.
Architectural details such as wall molding, arched openings, paneled walls, and rich wood flooring establish a sense of history, while streamlined furniture keeps the space feeling current.
Interior Design by @erikashulmaninteriors | Featuring the Patrick Bunching Tables
Defining Elements:
Dark and medium-tone woods • Burl and figured veneers • Natural stone • Leather • Satin brass • Architectural detailing • Refined silhouettes
Furniture plays an important role in creating this balance. A burl credenza, stone dining table, or beautifully detailed cabinet can introduce depth and craftsmanship without making the room feel overly traditional.
At Belle Meade Signature, materials such as burl, straw marquetry, artisan glass, stone, metal, and specialty finishes offer designers opportunities to bring distinctive craftsmanship into a modern setting.
2. California Organic
Relaxed, Natural, and Connected to the Outdoors
California Organic design celebrates natural light, tactile materials, and an effortless connection between indoor and outdoor living.
Open spaces, large windows, warm woods, natural stone, and soft textiles establish a relaxed foundation. Furniture tends to favor simple silhouettes and organic forms, allowing texture and material variation to become part of the design.
Defining Elements:
White oak • Travertine and natural stone • Linen and textured upholstery • Plaster walls • Warm whites • Sand and terracotta tones • Indoor-outdoor connection
The beauty of this style comes from restraint. Instead of adding more decoration, consider the character of the materials themselves—a distinctive stone surface, visible wood grain, or richly textured fabric can provide all the detail a room needs.
BMS stone, wood, and upholstered designs can be customized in materials and finishes to complement the natural palette of the space.
3. Art Deco Revival
Geometry with a Sense of Drama
Art Deco Revival brings glamour back into the interior—but through a more contemporary lens.
Strong geometry, rich colors, reflective surfaces, and sophisticated materials create spaces with unmistakable presence. Rather than reproducing a 1920s interior, today's interpretation uses Deco influences selectively, allowing statement furniture and materials to establish the mood.
Defining Elements:
Emerald and burgundy • Black accents • Brass and polished metals • Artisan glass • Velvet • High-gloss surfaces • Fluted and reeded details • Geometric forms
This is a style where furniture can confidently become the focal point.
A sculptural table base, artisan glass cabinet, dramatic stone surface, or reeded detail can introduce Deco character without overwhelming the room.
Through Belle Meade Custom, designers can explore combinations of metal, glass, stone, wood, leather, and specialty materials to create pieces with a more individual point of view.
4. New Traditional
Classic American Design, Refreshed
New Traditional interiors embrace the comfort and refinement of classic American design while making the overall composition lighter and more relevant to today's homes.
Symmetry remains important, as do tailored upholstery, decorative hardware, architectural molding, and layered textiles. The difference lies in how these elements are edited and combined.
Interior Design by@rpidesign | Featuring the Murray Dresser
Defining Elements:
Blue and ivory • Rich wood finishes • Patterned fabrics • Wall molding • Tailored upholstery • Decorative hardware • Symmetry • Layered textiles
A bedroom is a natural setting for this style. An upholstered bed, paired nightstands, elegant lighting, and layered bedding create a familiar sense of balance, while cleaner furniture silhouettes prevent the room from feeling too formal.
BMS bedroom and upholstery collections allow designers to personalize finishes, fabrics, materials, and details to create a more project-specific interpretation of traditional design.
5. Mid-Century Modern
Clean Geometry with Vintage Character
Mid-Century Modern remains relevant because of its strong relationship between furniture and architecture.
Low-profile silhouettes, warm walnut, simple geometry, and open layouts create interiors that feel structured without becoming formal. Today, the style can be softened through natural stone, tactile upholstery, and a more layered approach to color.
Interior Design by @kimharveycreamer | Featuring the BMS custom credenza
Defining Elements:
Walnut • Cognac leather • Olive green • Mustard and earthy tones • Natural stone • Low-profile furniture • Graphic geometry • Architectural forms
Furniture should feel purposeful. Look for strong proportions, expressive wood grain, sculptural bases, and silhouettes that remain visually clean from every angle.
Rather than recreating a period room, mixing Mid-Century influences with contemporary furniture allows the space to feel collected and current.
6. Contemporary Eclectic
Designed Around Personality, Not Rules
Contemporary Eclectic interiors resist a single formula.
Art, furniture, color, and materials are selected for their individual character, then brought together through proportion, balance, and a clear point of view. The result should feel collected—not coordinated.
Interior Design by @tarafeliceinteriors | Featuring the Callie Desk
Defining Elements:
Statement art • Unexpected color • Sculptural furniture • Patterned rugs • Burl • Artisan glass • Stone • Metal • Mixed periods and influences
Contrast is what gives this style energy. A sculptural contemporary table might sit beneath vintage-inspired lighting. Burl can be paired with colorful artwork, while artisan glass or stone introduces another layer of texture.
For designers looking for a less conventional starting point, the BMS Custom Design Library offers a collection of furniture concepts created to inspire future projects. Designs can be further developed through custom dimensions, materials, finishes, and details.
One Room Doesn't Have to Follow One Style
The most interesting interiors often exist somewhere between categories.
Modern Heritage can borrow the color of New Traditional. California Organic can incorporate a sculptural Mid-Century piece. An Art Deco-inspired cabinet can become the unexpected focal point of an otherwise contemporary room.
The goal isn't to follow every rule of a particular style—it's to understand the elements that define it and decide which ones support the project.
With Belle Meade Custom, designers can personalize an existing BMS design, modify dimensions and details, or develop an entirely original piece. With an extensive range of wood, fabric, stone, metal, leather, acrylic, artisan glass, burl, straw marquetry, and specialty materials, furniture can become part of the design language rather than a limitation within it.
Explore Belle Meade Signature and discover more possibilities for your next project.