Contemporary & Modern Style
What is contemporary design? How can we use it in our homes?
Contemporary is, by definition, what’s happening in design at this very moment in time. A contemporary interior is defined by its simplicity, clean lines and deliberate use of textures and finishes. In interiors, we tend to think if something is fashionable then it is called modern.
Colours, Textures & Detail
Neutrals, greys, blacks and whites are the grounding colours. The palette is then normally given a punched up look with textures, bright or bold colours against the ground colour. Accessories can also be used in brighter or bolder colours against a ground wall. The accent shades that you may choose often follow cat walk trends and design companies, such as Pantone. This is where your modern scheme will start to work. Generous amounts of metal, stone, opaque or clear glass will work well and can be softened or warmed up with heavily textured fabrics.
Colours, Textures & Detail
What are the key characteristics of contemporary furniture? Contemporary furniture makes a statement. It is bold but with simple lines, and is uncluttered, smooth and clean cut. Geometric shapes can also fall into contemporary styling. Upholstered furniture is often black, white, grey or neutral. Popular materials include leather, jute and silks. Exposed legs on sofas, chairs and ottomans are often finished in metal. Go bare, bold and structural. The basic rule of less is more is intensified in contemporary design. However, don’t be afraid to use colour in a statement piece of furniture such as a sofa.
The Contemporary/Modern Living Room
For a clean contemporary, loft living modern or penthouse chic look, consider sofas such as Lusso, Casa and Linea. With clean lines, these Italian design sofas are the epitome of luxurious style and comfort. The Cousins’ Bespoke leather collection means you can choose a design that is most suitable for you and your room. You can to pick your own comfort and design details with choices of having lumbar support, contrast piping, pinch tuck or plain backs in different height choices, a large variety colours plus leg finishes and .It has the versatility of seven different sizes and a modular format to build the exact seating plan that your home needs, with a variety of corner or chaise options and all with the fine quality reassurance of reinforced frames and pocket sprung seats.
The Jackson collection by G Plan sports a modern shape but with the pinnacle of modern day sophistication. Graceful sweeping arms combine perfectly with contemporary comfort, sleek piping, and a choice of brushed metal or wood feet legs. Indulge in manual or power recliners integrated USB charging plus an optional space-saving storage footstool. Jackson is the ultimate in contemporary relaxation.
The Felix is an understated modern design with sleek detachable metal legs and innovative, adjustable headrests, while whilst the Meridian sofa range is stylish and available as a generously proportioned chaise sofa with clean but beautifully shaped arms, comfortable pillow back or a smart and tailored buttoned standard back, and both with sophisticated metal legs.
Parker Knoll have also introduced Design 1701 and Design 1801 which are futuristically designed, perfect for modern-day living, boasting USB ports for charging, reclining mechanisms and adjustable headrests. The 1801 is sightly more slender than the 1701 but is equally full of luxe contemporary aesthetics.
The Contemporary & Modern Dining Room
Clean structured dining tables and cabinet furniture in high gloss finishes are a fantastic starting point of for a contemporary dining room, with clean line chairs laid upon floors treated with natural finishes, woods, laminates, tiles and vinyl. The Chiara echoes this and is a luxurious, Italian designer dining range finished in a fashionable taupe toned gloss wood veneer with elegantly padded high back chairs.
Glass topped tables, stone and concrete finishes also sit strongly in modern design. The Petra dining collection with a grey concrete look top with contrasting brushed stainless steel legs sits perfectly with the modern style alongside the Pavia which uses a grey marble patterned top whilst being complimented with a designer high gloss grey base. The Parma range has stylish curves while keeping in touch with modern styling with its grey matt finish and glass surfaces.
Using coloured dining chairs is a bold way of adding personality to a modern scheme. Our Venjakob dining and storage range is not only perfectly designed for the modern interior with its modular like styling and quality finish but also sports a variety of chair colours, including yellow and orange to really add a pop of colour.
The Contemporary Bedroom
Clean, high gloss bedroom furniture often with built in led LED lighting can instantly make a bedroom feel modern and contemporary, follow fashion and what is on trend. A perfect example of this is the Livorno bedroom range in a grey wood veneered high gloss finish with polished chrome detailing whilst the headboard’s sleek design is framed and highlighted by LED lighting. Alternatively, opt for the Platinum Night range, again in a taupe wood effect veneer high gloss finish with an integrated sleek and linear led light within the headboard.
For a softer modern bedroom there are so many upholstered beds available in many a wide selection of colours and luxurious fabrics than that can add comfort and make a fashion statement to your room. Choose between buttons or no buttons, headboard only or with a footboard, co ordinating ottomans for storage, the options are endless in so many fabric choices and colours to keep you on trend and fashionable.
Contemporary / Modern Accessorie
By co ordinating your accessories, high end fashion is easy to follow. For example, if you want to use the gold trends within your home consider using the Chinnon table and floor lamp that showcases a neutral cylinder shade housed in a stunning gold frame and couple with a the Orion Flag rug.
Clean geometric shaped lighting will become a focus point in a contemporary interior. Spot lights, track lighting, task lights & recessed lights are functional. The Lorient lamp is a sleek task light. Coving lighting or indirect lighting can be used to light up wall spaces and using lights to highlight art work, such as the Oasis canvas on walls or sculptures to draw focus to these areas.
For focal lighting consider or a statement light, look at sculpted and curved led lighting, a pendant light in glass or an oversized shade, as these all work with the simplistic clean lines of contemporary design. Look at the Scaffold floor and table lamp when using geometric for more subtle shaping.
Modern interiors will sometimes feel that they date a little more often, so spend money and invest in your contemporary key furniture pieces and update the look through painted walls, accessories, cushions, bed throws and pictures, this will ensure that you remain on top when it comes having the ultimate modern and contemporary home.
