Luxury real estate and mansions make a modern transition

Like all fashions, architecture and interior design are constantly evolving. With each new decade, come new methods and technologies – some go through fads while others stand the test of time.

Many designers and home builders today have fallen between the push and pull of the times and the modern, and have chosen to marry the two: transitional style.

More from ForbesReal Estate Highlight: 3 Southwestern Real Estate Projects Designed for the Modern Buyerby Spencer Elliot

Transitional architecture has been defined as the blending of traditional forms with modern techniques and materials, allowing builders and buyers to do away with rigid forms and combine elements from a range of styles.

Whether inspired by 16th-century French villas, Italian Renaissance estates, or Beaux-Arts palaces, these three new transitional residences combine enduring style with vogue.

Stately Living in Toronto, Ontario

The question about the price: C$5.65 million (about $4.44 million)

The Toronto neighborhood, St. Andrews, where this first house was set, is known for its mixture of affluence and a “country” feel, and as such, the area’s homes have a certain rustic luxury.

Inspired by French regional architecture, the two-story residence will face a dramatic limestone exterior.

Other bold traditional elements such as the arched portico, circular center window and sloping roof blend with more subtle hints of current trends, such as the black-framed windows and heated entrance.

Inside, designs showcase decorative finishes such as herringbone wood floors, coffered ceilings, and patterned wallpaper, lending an air of classic French estate throughout the four-bedroom, five-bathroom layout.

Modern touches can be seen in the home’s 4,600-square-foot utility fixtures, such as the latest kitchen appliances, glass-enclosed steam showers, and a sleek stone-front gas fireplace.

Other highlights include a soundproofed theater room, a low-key gym, and a covered balcony.

Ballantray Farms’ Mansion in McLean, Virginia

The question about the price: 24 million dollars

The expansive Ballantrae Farms is planned to be 20,000 square feet in size and is a veritable transitional area incorporating a range of architectural styles through the ages.

The shows depict a front exterior with inspirations ranging from Italian to Georgian to French Provincial with design elements such as ornate roof towers, French doors that lead to balconies equipped with ornate balustrades and a hemispherical dome, to name a few.

The interior is more eclectic. In just one sitting space, a coffered ceiling adorned with gold accents and lights evokes Art Deco, herringbone wood floors give a French chateau feel, and charcoal-colored walls give a modern feel.

While the eight-bedroom, 13-bathroom home may cover a variety of styles, the interior is unified by a common elegance, emphasizing bold designs and refined taste.

Also included in the design of the three-storey mansion will be a Finnish-style sauna, elevator, two kitchens, a media room and a wet bar.

Beaux-Arts Style in Potomac, Maryland

The question about the price: $13.95 million

While this completed 16,500-square-foot property primarily follows Beaux-Arts designs, high-tech features and contemporary technologies bring it into the transitional zone.

Set on nearly two acres in one of Washington, D.C.’s most sought-after neighborhoods, the six-bedroom mansion faces portals circling a neoclassical fountain.

Through the entrance, adorned with towering columns and an arch of windows, is a picturesque grand foyer, where marble floors lead to a branching staircase decorated with 24-karat gold trim.

While the home’s size and wealth of luxurious spaces—amenities include an indoor pool, 12-car showroom and home theater—might be the first thing that catches the eye, it’s the fine details that really impress. These include decorative motifs such as wave-framed French doors, Italian kitchen cabinets and an array of crystal chandeliers.

Among the charming designs are technological amenities that offer modern conveniences such as heated floors, Lutron lighting system and state-of-the-art security system.

The stately mansion also includes a wine room, sauna, and two-story library.

---

Barry Cohen’s Homes And Long and Foster Real Estate They are exclusive members of Forbes Global Real Estatea consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the most luxurious homes in the world.