Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's transitional living room is a masterclass in timeless design

There's nothing better than a classic, except maybe a classic with a twist. By taking traditional, always-in-style colors and textures and adding innovative silhouettes, one can create a look that withstands the test of time and transcends fads. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's living room perfectly epitomizes this effect.

The actress's space embodies timeless design in a contemporary package, and interior designers are in awe. Her living room is one to watch.

How did Rosie accomplish this elegant look? Interior experts are quick to point out the transitional design and effective use of lines in Rosie's space to create an ever-stylish effect. Meg Lavalette, principal designer and owner of Lava Interiors, states: 'Rosie focuses on quality materials and fabrication in a timeless neutral palette.'

Meg continues on the elements of design used, saying: 'There’s a beautiful mix of classic traditional profiles like the window and door casings, and the fireplace surround, which creates an intriguing juxtaposition as the backdrop to both clean and sculptural lines of the furnishings and lighting.' 

Meg Lavalette

Meg Lavalette is the principal designer and owner of LAVA interiors, an interior design firm based in Manhattan. The firm also has a satellite office in Colorado and a shop in the Catskills. She studied at Parsons School of Design and worked for several AD100 firms before opening her own business.

Elizabeth Lord-Levitt,  principal designer at Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design, adds: 'This beautiful living room's aesthetic leans towards a mix of clean and contemporary lines and eclectic flair. The traditional (mostly like the original) fireplace mantel adds a textural element to the space, combined with more modern shaped and sculptured pieces.' It's all about the juxtaposition.

Elizabeth P. Lord-Levitt

Elizabeth Lord-Levitt is the principal designer and founder of Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Designs. She has a master's degree in real estate and construction management from the University of Denver. She has worked on countless design projects and has been honored with nine 'Best of Houzz' design awards.

Aside from the shapes and materials in the room, Rosie's living room color scheme helps create a luxe effect.  Elizabeth states: 'The neutral color palette creates continuity throughout the space, layered with textural elements like the lamp shade, florals, and wood tones.' The effective use of decorating with neutrals helps make the space feel calm and relaxing.

Prioritizing quality and paring back further solidifies the timeless quality of this living room. Meg adds: 'Everything has a bit of elegance but in a nuanced manner so it still feels approachable. Rosie understands the importance of editing and also investing in quality pieces that not only look beautiful but will last a lifetime. 

Elizabeth continues, 'This neutral living room feels inviting yet elevated. Bringing a space together is all about intentionality, so finding more modern pieces that provide warmth through texture can help replicate a space like this!'

Shop the Look

By focusing on transitional style, using timeless colors, and prioritizing quality, anyone can build a space that will never date. Learning to decorate with vintage and then adding a contemporary twist, as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has done, is a great place to start.