ELEMENTS OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

ARE YOU THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO LOVES MIXED MEDIUM, SLEEK LINES, AND CLEAN DESIGN (WITHOUT CLUTTER)? IF SO, YOU ARE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO SHOULD IMPLEMENT A CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR DECORATION SCHEME.

THIS STYLE CAME INTO EXISTENCE IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY. GENERALLY, IT HAS EMPHASIS ON A FEW KEY COLOR PIECES WHILE THE OTHERS BLEND INTO THE BACKGROUND. THE EDGES ARE SOMEWHAT SOFTER THAN MOST MODERNISTIC ROOMS - THE ENTIRE FEELING IS INVITING AND WARM.

FURNITURE

ALWAYS LOOK FOR GENTLE CURVES WITH CLEAN LINES. THE MOST COMMON IS AN EXPOSED METAL OR WOOD, AND SOME BLENDED MEDIUMS THAT WORK TOGETHER (SUCH AS GLASS). WOOD TYPICALLY HAS A LIGHTER VARIETY AND IT FEATURES ALMOST NO DETAIL OR ACCENT. VARIOUS METALS SUCH AS CHROME, NICKEL, AND STAINLESS STEEL ARE COMMONLY USED IN THIS DESIGN.

IF YOU HAVE GONE TO A FEW FURNITURE MALLS, YOU WILL NOTICE A LOT OF GLASS WITH STAINLESS LEG, OR NICKEL AND CHROME FRAMEWORK DISPLAYED IN THE OPEN SHELVES. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND THESE KINDS OF FURNITURE IN THE MARKET. THE MOST COMMON ARE BATHROOM ACCESSORIES WITH A VERY STYLISH LOOK.

WHEN YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE WOOD INTO YOUR DESIGN, YOU CAN LOOK BEYOND COFFEE TABLES AND UTILIZE THESE WOOD SURFACES IN SHELVES, FLOWER POTS, OR PICTURE FRAMES. IF YOU STARTED WITH A WOOD CONCEPT, TRY TO CARRY IT THROUGHOUT THE ROOM FOR A MORE PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE.

FABRICS

THESE ARE "PLAIN," MEANING THEY DO NOT HAVE TOO MUCH PATTERN. IN A CONTEMPORARY ROOM, SOLIDS ARE THE BEST CHOICE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME TEXTURAL INTEREST AND VISUAL TO GO WITH THE FABRIC, YOU CAN TRY RAW SILK, LINENS OR WOOL.

LIGHTING

MOST DECORATING STYLES IGNORE THE LIGHTING ELEMENT, BUT HERE IT TAKES CENTER STAGE. LIGHT FIXTURES AND LAMPS OFFER A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW GLASS OR METAL. ALSO, LIGHTS ARE USED TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROOM'S FOCAL POINT - WHERE ATTENTION IS NEEDED.

COLORS

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN HAS NEUTRAL BASED COLORS SUCH AS: BLACKS, WHITES, GRAYS, TANS, AND SOFT CREAMS. THE REAL KEY HERE IS THE ACCENT COLOR. REMEMBER YOU ARE TRYING TO EVOKE A WARM AND VIBRANT FEELING. USE THESE COLORS IN VARIED WAYS FROM WINDOW TREATMENTS, FURNITURE UPHOLSTERY, THROW RUG, AND WALL COLOR. BE CREATIVE AND THINK OF WAYS ON HOW TO DRAW ATTENTION.

WINDOWS

LIKE THE OTHER ELEMENTS, WINDOWS HAVE TO BE SIMPLE. STRAIGHT LINES WITHOUT A LOT OF FUSS WILL DO. YOUR WINDOW TREATMENTS SHOULD ALSO BE WITHOUT DECORATIVE TOUCHES.

FLOOR

CONTEMPORARY FLOORS ARE A BIT SEXY AND SLEEK. THE OLD LOW PILE CARPETS AND HARDWOOD MATERIALS WORK WELL. TODAY, THERE ARE NEWER FLOORING TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE SUCH AS STONE, POLISHED CONCRETE, AND VINYL.

ACCESSORIES

IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU NEED TO ADD SOMETHING, JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT BLENDS WELL WITH THE OTHER PIECES. CONTEMPORARY SCHEME DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR EXTRAS, BUT IF NEEDED, IT SHOULD EMPHASIZE STRUCTURE AND BE STREAMLINED.

THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE CONTEMPORARY DESIGN TEND TO HAVE A MORE MODERN APPROACH TO ART. THEY LIKE SIMPLE THINGS BUT WITH A TRENDY FLAIR - THIS IS EVIDENT IN THEIR WARDROBE. THE CONTEMPORARY STYLE DESIGN IS COMFORTABLE, SLEEK, AND CLEAN. IT IS NEVER RIGID AND HARSH.

THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY BENEDICT YOSSARIAN. BENEDICT RECOMMENDS JUDGE CEILINGS [ CEILINGS.CO.UK] AND ROOF BOND [ FOR YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT NEEDS INCLUDING ROOF INSULATION AND SUSPENDED CEILINGS

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN?

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN OR MODERN DESIGN RELIES ON CLEAN LINES, SMOOTH AND POLISHED SURFACES, AND FEW INTRICATE DETAILS. IT IS NOT STARK AND COLD, BUT CONTEMPORARY DESIGN IS COMFORTABLE AND SPACIOUS, WITHOUT CLUTTER.

CONTEMPORARY STYLE OFFERS SIMPLE, SOFT AND UNCLUTTERED LOOK. WHITE, CREAMS, LIGHT BLUES AND ACCENTS COLORS LIKE RED AND GREEN ADD WARMTH. TRACK LIGHTING, RECESSED LIGHTING LOOK NICE.

CONTEMPORARY STYLE IS SIMPLE, CLEAN AND OFFERS AN UNCLUTTERED LOOK. INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF FURNITURE ARE ESSENTIALS OF CONTEMPORARY STYLE. THE LIGHTING FIXTURES ARE INSTALLED TO HIGHLIGHT SPECIFIC ELEMENT OR PIECE LIKE PAINTINGS, PICTURES ETC. TRACK LIGHTING AND RECESSED LIGHTING ARE USED TO LIGHT A ROOM IN CONTEMPORARY STYLE.

CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS USED FEATURES OF OTHER STYLES SUCH AS GOTHIC, ROMANESQUE ELEMENTS IN THEIR DESIGNS AND ARCHITECTURE.

CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR DESIGN IS THE OPPOSITE OF TRADITIONAL. IT INVOLVES CLEAN-LINES IN THE DESIGN OF FURNITURE, STRIKING COLORS, AND ABSTRACT IDEAS FOR RUGS, WALL COLORS, ETC.

CONTEMPORARY STYLE IS SIMPLE, CLEAN AND OFFERS AN UNCLUTTERED LOOK. INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF FURNITURE ARE ESSENTIALS OF CONTEMPORARY STYLE.

THE LIGHTING FIXTURES ARE INSTALLED TO HIGHLIGHT SPECIFIC ELEMENT OR PIECE LIKE PAINTINGS, PICTURES ETC. TRACK LIGHTING AND RECESSED LIGHTING ARE USED TO LIGHT A ROOM IN CONTEMPORARY STYLE.

IT NORMALLY MEANS MODERN, UP-TO- DATE DESIGN; DESIGN TRENDS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AN ARTISTIC TRENDS IN THE PAST, YOU MIGHT REFER TO "CONTEMPORARY DESIGN" IN THE SENSE OF DESIGN THAT WAS TAKING PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AS, SAY, THE PAINTING AND SCULPTURE THAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING:

"CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE DESIGN SHOWED CLASSICAL INFLUENCES SIMILAR TO THOSE IN LATE 18TH- CENTURY PAINTING."

CONTEMPORARY / FOLLOWING MODERN IDEAS OR FASHION IN STYLE OR DESIGN : YOU HAVE ALREADY STARTED BECAUSE IMAGES AND IDEAS ARE BEING FORMED AT AN AWESOME RATE WITHIN YOUR MIND.

IT IS SIMPLY WHAT IS BEING CREATED AT THE PRESENT TIME. SO, WHAT YOU CREATE FOR YOUR LABEL IS 'CONTEMPORARY'. TAP IN TO THOSE IDEAS YOU ALREADY HAVE, THEY ARE PRESENT AND READY TO BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE MAGIC OF YOUR IMAGINATION.

NEXT STEP: EXPLORE MAGAZINES, WEB SITES AND COLLECT IMAGES ON:  INTERIORS  EXTERIORS  PHOTOGRAPHS  FASHION  POSTERS  SCULPTURE… ** Bring 2 selected images on each; printed on A4 size. 4 images can be printed on each page. Don’t forget to put your Name, Roll# & Class ** NEXT CLASS WE START WITH PUNCH HOME DESIGN!