Caitlin Wilson - Return to Pretty: Giving New Life to Traditional Style

In this nook of our studio, you can see how our pillow patterns play off each otherbalancing motifs and scale in diverse ways that always look elegant, thanks to their dressmaker details like bows and pleats.

Thats why Ive long believed that it is time for a beautiful awakening, to bring back elegant style and embrace traditionally beautiful interiors and details. As a young mother and entrepreneur, it might feel easier to throw out the concept of beauty and say someday my home will be pretty or pretty just doesnt fit in this season of life, but the truth is, we need the intrinsic power of pretty details now more than ever.

People are returning to pretty because of what it does for our homes, our daily happiness, and our families. Its as inescapable as air because its oh-so-powerful. In a world that can sometimes feel awash in shades of gray, impactful color palettes and pieces can give spaces a total metamorphosis. Part of it is that for a time we couldnt travel to visit ornate architecture in faraway locales, so we sought to bring their beauty home by embracing design choices with cultural meaning and storytelling. Even if youre not one for frills, you may find that a few layered, tasteful, pretty elements in your living spaces can put a pep in your step that was sorely needed. Classically designed elementswhether its a Rococo mirror, a carved mantle, or a princely textilereally do a lot for a home, and a frame of mind.

Dont believe me? Try to think of the last time you had to attend an important event feeling less-than-polished. Perhaps you were internally frazzled about your to-do list or just couldnt get to the dry cleaners in time to pick up your perfect dress, so you had to settle for your second best. Chances are it impacted how you feltand the same is true of your interiors. Like fashion, interior design gives us a chance to express both how we feel and how we long to feel. Even when youve dressed just one room to the nines, its a transformative experience!

So Im beyond thrilled that classic, traditional style is back and better than ever. Call it grand-millenial or classic prep, but weve come full circle and entered the world of the New Traditional. When the Wall Street Journal declared that young people are being drawn to unmodern things, I jumped for joy, as many of us have been waiting for our contemporaries to get back to what is traditionally beautiful. Were embracing femininity with florals on florals and adding trims and scallops wherever possible. (Proof I adore details: My own wedding dress was alternating layers of pleats and scallops! My old soul has always longed for a more sophisticated, refined style to return to the forefront of design.) Hand-painted floral chinoiserie is universal and creates the most elegant backdrop for formal spaces. Young designers and millennials are finding a refreshing beauty in the old-fashioned, whether that means picking up a Louis XV bed at a local flea market or using their grandmothers sideboard in the dining room.

To me this return signifies a pivot toward maturity. Its the moment we let go of trends and embrace our own personality, accepting our individual styles and becoming comfortable with what feels beautiful to each of us on a deeper level. Its about how we want to feel and how the people we care about feel in our home. Its personal. Your home is meant to tell your unique story, and that story cant be told in an empty or meaningless space. Meaningful design incorporates your history and traditions. Thats one reason why the grandmillenial revival went viral: we all desperately need that nod to our sweet grandmothers and the lost art of creating and seeing beauty all around us. Rooted in the warmth you felt at your grandmothers house, its characteristically pretty and over-the-top femininetruly cozy and one-of-a-kind. Thats why I love standing behind the lovely and classicand championing your most charming memories of home.

In my first book, I hope you will discover ideas for how to pursue all things pretty. That includes decor advice (such as ways to incorporate pretty details into every area of your life, including pattern mixing, color palettes, place settings, and timeless pieces that evoke a connection to the past and are always worth the investment). But it also includes happiness-boosting lifestyle tips, like the importance of handwritten notes and personalized gifts that will undoubtedly bring joy to those you love.