Your Design Style, Contemporary!

Contemporary style is one of the harder styles to explain.  When a client says they want a Contemporary styled home, they usually mean clean lines not curly Q's, a lot of heavy drapery and definitely not overstuffed furnishings.  Most people think that Contemporary means cold and unwelcoming, but that is a myth. A Contemporary home can be a quiet and comfortable retreat without being cluttered and dark. 

You'll often hear the terms "contemporary" and "modern" tossed about interchangeably, but they're not exactly the same thing.  Modern refers to a specific design movement that arose in the early 20th century and follows stricter guidelines; contemporary, by definition, is more fluid and tolerates a bit of rule-breaking.

Simplicity, subtle sophistication, texture and clean lines help to define Contemporary style. When designing a contemporary home, you focus on space, color and shape as Contemporary homes are sleek and fresh.  In a contemporary style interior, don't use ruffles, excessive carved details, fringe, or floral prints. Abolish cute and small. Go bold, and structural.

Contemporary Bedroom by Pezzo Bello Interiors

Neutrals, black, and white are the main colors in Contemporary style interiors. The palette is often punched up and accented with bright and bold color. Black is often the grounding  and defining color in Contemporary homes as shown in the photo below.

Neutral colors on the walls such as beige, grey,  tan, brown or even ecru will also be a great backdrop for a Contemporary room.  White woodwork is another must if you are looking to spotlight Contemporary in your home.

Contemporary Master Bedroom by Pezzo Bello Interiors

Oversized artwork is another must for a Contemporary home.  Walls in a Contemporary room should NOT be adorned with  plate collections or family groupings.  Instead use a large family portrait or oil on canvas that is minimally framed, if at all.

Catwalk by Pezzo Bello Interiors

Contemporary is not only used in main rooms like the living and bedrooms. There are many ways to use contemporary in bathrooms.  There are fixtures, glass tile and natural stone that can make a bathroom outstandingly contemporary.  Even small bathrooms like the one shown below with a granite vessel, chrome wall faucet, oversized art and a chrome contemporary sculpture.

Overall, what makes Contemporary work is a strong emphasis on line and form — two essentials of good design — gives contemporary style its energy. Contemporary rooms are designed with abundant open space which makes them feel airy and expansive. Because there isn't any clutter, every piece has to count.


So how does Contemporary fit in your design style?  Does it leave you cold or light you up?  Do you feel at home in contemporary settings or are you wanting more?  Let us know how you feel about this weeks design style and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Pezzo Bello Interiors until March 15th.  Hurry time is running out!