CONTEMPORARY STYLE

NANDINI BATLAPGIDS A

MEANING OF THE WORD

Contemporary means belonging to the same time or living or occurring in the same period of time.Contemporaries are people and things from the same time period. Contemporary can also describe things happening now or recently. It's common to speak of contemporary music or contemporary furniture, for example. Those things are new, not old. Anything characteristic of the present day can be called contemporary.

MEANING OF THE WORD

Contemporary history is a subset of modern history which describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. The term "contemporary history" has been in use at least since the early 19th century.

TIMELINE

CONTEMPORARY INTERIORS

Contemporary by definition means “existing, occurring, or living at the same time; belonging to the same time.” And that is exactly the same for the use of the term in interior design. Contemporary design refers to what is popular or used right now. Contemporary design can be very eclectic for that reason, because it is ever changing and borrows pieces and styles from all different eras.

MEANING OF THE WORD

It doesn’t have to be something that is “designed” right now – for example; furniture and art from the modern era are often used in contemporary design, and tradition mouldings and millwork are incorporated in many cases.Right now a contemporary home might incorporate large windows, unique or odd shapes, open plan and harmony with the surrounding landscape. The finishes would use a lot of natural elements such as fir or cedar and stone. The finishing details and furniture are in-ornate and use clean lines. Comfort and sustainability are key values that are important in a contemporary home.

Contemporary living room

Contemporary bedroom

EXTERIORContemporary houses offer striking, attention grabbing facades. Exterior features of a contemporary house include large windows and daring, even radical roof lines. Flat, expansive roofs or dramatically angled roof lines characterize contemporary houses. An asymmetrical design is another common feature along with bold, geometric shapes. Since a connection to nature is another important attribute of the contemporary home, natural materials such as stone, brick, wood and stucco are commonly used.

Contemporary houses often incorporate an industrial feel, and this is certainly true in the kitchen. Materials such as stainless steel, marble, granite or even concrete are often used. Stainless steel appliances, hardware or even counter tops can denote a contemporary kitchen. Simple, unadorned cabinetry might also feature areas of sleek, open shelving. Function is as important as form in a contemporary kitchen. This means minimal embellishment and efficiently arranged work spaces as well as plenty of counter space. Contemporary features include dramatic lighting that also places the light where it is needed most.

KITCHEN

LANDSCAPE

. Banks of over-size windows, a major characteristic of contemporary homes, welcome exterior views into interior spaces and smooth the transition between indoor and outdoor living space. Sliding glass doors lead to streamlined decks and outdoor living spaces that blend seamlessly with the architecture.

A contemporary home offers a smooth flow from the interior to the exterior of the home. Intelligent landscaping softens and complements the bold lines and geometric shapes of a contemporary house.

CHARACTERSTICS

Simplicity in Form and FunctionMany minimalist houses have a simper, straight forward and efficient plan layout with stacked volumes of spaces. This creates clarity in plan, where spaces are predictable and uncomplicated.Uncomplicated punched openings for doors and windows punctuate the facades. Overall, there is a simple house design that avoids a lot of ins and outs, complex curves or angles.

Uncomplicated Cladding & Wall FinishesUsing a simple continuous exterior cladding material can easily provide visual appeal and articulation by expressing the physical characteristics of the materials and their texture.

Clean, Open, Light-Filled SpacesAn open floor plan between kitchen and living areas lets an abundance of light fill the space. Light colored wall surfaces, clean modern detailing, uncluttered spaces and a neutral color palette (with a few splashes of color) give spaces like this minimalist home interior a calm interesting appeal.Spacious rooms filled with light, wide sight lines and an uncluttered aesthetic are typical of many minimalist interiors. Only the necessary furniture and accessories are used so that objects have some breathing room. The abundance of natural light adds to the ambiance of the space, helping it feel warm and cozy rather than cold and sterile.

Simple Detailing Devoid of DecorationMany minimalist interiors are also characterized by clean cabinetry, stair, and trim details – paring down to only what is necessary.

Detailing cabinetry with flat slab panels instead of raised or recessed panels and minimally exposed hardware eliminates the visual noise often seen with cabinetry. Clean, crisp window details and well-designed facades avoid the need for unnecessary trim work. A flush window frame aligning with the joints in the cladding material provides a clean minimalist solution to window articulations like the exterior image on the left below.Simle minimalistic details are cost-effective.. Flat stock trim is an inexpensive and easy way to trim out windows and doors and still maintain a minimalist look.

Strategic Use of Materials for Visual Interest, Texture, + PersonalityThe material palette is limited to mostly concrete and glass. Yet, the board-formed concrete provides texture and interest to the minimalist interior design.The texture and grain of the tile pattern adds visual interest to the simple neutral palette of the modern bathroom.Eye-catching materials such as the brick wall can stand on their own without the need for shelving and knick-knacks to clutter them up.

Contemporary design is typically offset by neutral colors. When painting your walls you'll want to choose shades of brown, taupe, cream or pure white. You can easily spice up your room by painting one wall with an accent color, adding a bold colored sofa and choosing small, yet vivid decorative accessories, like pillows, area rugs, lighting fixtures and artwork. A word of caution when accessorizing is not to clutter your space because the key to contemporary design is simplicity. 

COLOUR

MATERIAL

Metals like stainless steel, nickel and chrome are very popular in contemporary design, because they provide a sleek finish and clean look. You can easily accent your home by choosing stainless steel appliances for your kitchen. When it comes to your kitchen and bathroom faucets, there are a multitude of great metal finishes to choose from. For home accents consider using metal for furniture pieces, lamps, shelves and artwork to help keep the style consistent from room to room. 

FABRICS / UPHOLSTARY

If you want to add texture and create a more natural and inviting setting use fabrics such as silk, crushed velvet, linen or wool. Accents like fabric window treatments, furniture upholstery, over-stuffed pillows, area rugs and linen wallpaper are a great way to offset the clean, smooth lines of the metal accents. When choosing your fabrics, stay away from elaborate patterns because they will distort the clean, contemporary look you are trying to achieve. 

MOTIFS

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODERN

AND CONTEMPORARY

The term “Modern” in interior design really refers to “Mid Century Modern”. It is recognizable by it’s clean, unadorned interiors. Use of natural materials such as wood, leather, teak and linen are prominent. Melded plywood and plastic is very popular in modern furniture, as well as polished metal. Furniture is very open and raised off the floor allowing for an airy feeling. Walls are often white adding to the expansive feeling. Modern interiors generally have bare floors and if area rugs are used, they are typically wool, and neutral in colour. Hints of colour were used in moderation. We generally refer to modern interiors as retro these days.

 

Contemporary by definition means “existing, occurring, or living at the same time; belonging to the same time.” And that is exactly the same for the use of the term in interior design. Contemporary design refers to what is popular or used right now. Contemporary design can be very eclectic for that reason, because it is ever changing and borrows pieces and styles from all different eras. It doesn’t have to be something that is “designed” right now – for example; furniture and art from the modern era are often used in contemporary design, and tradition mouldings and millwork are incorporated in many cases.

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