The result of your design should be a mixture of both aesthetics. For instance, we just completed a large project where the wife had a more modern aesthetic, and the husband's tastes were grounded in a very traditional base. In many areas, we were able to create a modern aesthetic while using traditional materials. In the kitchen, we used a modern cabinet design but used a traditional, beautiful wood grain material. The wife was happy with the overall look, and the husband felt heard and appreciated the richness of the traditional material.