by Carolyn Anderson
Co-Principal, Desa Design

My family just returned from a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. After days of pirates, roller coasters, and merry-go-rounds, we managed to escape Fantasyland and toured Celebration, a destination billed as one of the most promising new towns in America.

Located adjacent to Walt Disney World resort, and founded by a division of the same parent company in 1994, Celebration is an innovative, real town that promotes a strong sense of community and has a touch of Disney magic.

Five of central Florida"s premier custom home builders, two national home building companies, and three regional building companies comprise Celebration"s ten featured builders. The community offers everything from million dollar estates to affordable townhouses. Surprisingly, the builders have managed to establish an old fashioned appeal throughout this brand new town.

Children bike and ride scooters to school. Moms with strollers walk along tree-lined streets, while Dads rake leaves in their small but perfectly maintained front lawns. Seeing this brought me back to the charming neighborhoods of yesteryear.

So, what"s my point? Traditional is back in style! As evidenced by Celebration, all across the country, traditional is big. At this year"s Pacific Coast Builders Conference, the number of companies offering old world, traditional products-or at least products that had a traditional feel-struck me.

Those who want to lend a traditional feeling to their own home can do so in many ways.

The Power of Color
In design, there is nothing as powerful as color. Choosing rich, traditional colors like cranberry and navy blue can give your home a warm, inviting feel. Try incorporating a few pieces of historical furniture. Or choose transitional pieces in darker woods such as mahogany or cherry to add traditional appeal.

A Look At Window Treatments
Something as simple as adding top treatments to your existing window decor can lend traditional elegance to any room. If you"re starting from scratch, you can use an inexpensive blind with a non-functioning top treatment above. You can install a basic treatment like this yourself and save money on fabric manufacturing and installation.

If These Walls Could Talk
Mouldings and trims are a great way to give your room an established look. Wallpaper can add an instant historical background to any setting. Look through magazines like Traditional Home and Veranda for ideas, then head to the local home improvement store to flip through wallpaper books. Another inexpensive option is stenciling. You can stencil a traditional motif around any room to add historic flair.

Doors, Floors, and More
From exterior stone trim and richly carved wood entry doors, to cabinets that look as if they were borrowed from a century-old farmhouse, traditional elements can be found throughout today"s new homes. Best of all, whether you"re looking at pre-cast fireplace mantels or antique-looking fixtures and hardware, today"s traditional has the added advantage of modern technology. Finishes on these products are easily maintained, and the materials are surprisingly affordable and durable. Mouldings and trims are often made of lightweight, termite-proof polyurethane. Instead of being hand-carved, these elegant trims are molded, which makes them more uniform and affordable.

There"s No Place Like Home
We all have such busy lives that our homes have become a sanctuary from all of the chaos of the outside world. After the September attack on our great country, people view the American Dream of home ownership as even more of a privilege. Ideas about creating the perfect home that once felt like Fantasyland are now goals to strive for and cherish. In today"s world, the feeling of patriotism and tradition is not only in style, it is truly heartfelt.