A [very] cool company

It's no secret that I love some Mid Century Modern sprinkled in with contemporary and traditional design.  What I love more is supporting the arts.  Blu Dot is a company started in 1997 by 2 architects and a sculptor in their quest to create unique furnishings at a price point they could afford themselves.

They are now in 7 retail locations and gaining worldwide notoriety.

I love the stories in their catalog that tell you the inspiration behind some of their designs.

[This 2 pack of shelves compile the wall unit above the hanging credenza.]

[Their furniture ships in 2-3 days; unheard of!]

[This desk has a sliding top and can be used as a buffet, desk, console-you name it.]

[Love this mink velvet and brass bench.]

[The REAL GOOD CHAIR comes in 7 colors and 3 heights.]

The inspiration behind the design of this Real Good Chair came from their frequent pizza deliveries while in the design studio.  The pizza box itself lead them to create a flat chair, delivered in a pizza-like box that one can easily assemble as shown in this cool video:

Check out Blu Dot to get your creative juices flowing.

Styles evolve

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Back in 2012, I did a series on Decorating Styles and tried to simplify styles into Traditional, Country, Contemporary and Eclectic categories.  Styles sure have evolved into more categories since then!  I am loving this California-contemporary-swedish-eclectic-vibe currently. 

 It is typically light-filled, a bit sparse, layered with texture, neutral with subtle color and speckled with some antique treasures so it doesn't look all new like a store catalog.  I love natural materials like the brick floor under the sisal rug.

Are you wanting more color these days, or are you liking neutrals still? 

 Seriously, anything goes.

Decorating Styles Part II: Contemporary

Decorating Styles 

    by Powell Brower Home 

Contemporary design styles reflect today's tastes and trends and  generally refers to the late twentieth century through the current time. While interior design "today" features softened, rounded lines, clean and sleek shapes, there is no carving and ornamentation like in traditional style. The current trends in decorating offer  a mix of natural wood, glass, metal, and fabrics both neutral in color and in striking colors and patterns. Texture is paramount to distinguish between various neutrals and colors like white, cream, tan, taupe abound. Large, slim profile windows bringing the outdoors 'in' are markers of this style.

Color trends today evolve as a new version of a color from last year. You will hear about the Pantone color matching system which is universally used throughout the industry. Colors are predicted and identified as the current trend each year by Pantone. Here are the fall Pantone 2012 colors, in case you haven't seen the line up.  These can be pops of color you add to your neutral decor, or you can go bold with any of these to be current!

We see alot of bold accents in contemporary  such as in a striking piece of art, a geometric rug or wall color, yet this look is uncluttered and simple.

                   Part II: Contemporary

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This room is from a premier contemporary store, Roche Bobois:

Contemporary rooms can be an all-neutral, or a room like this that uses "current"colors:

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People use the terms modern and contemporary interchangeably but they are not the same. Modern refers to 1920-to the mid twentieth century.We did a post previously on contemporary versus modern architecture explaining the differences. Interior trends follow the same precipice. This look is contemporary because it uses neutral colors with pops of the current trends, sleek finishes, i.e. metals, glass, mirror, lucite, but is warm and inviting.

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Contemporary style is:

• neutral colors, with bold accents
• uncluttered, unadorned furnishings
• clean, simple lines
• natural materials
• minimalistic
• reflective surfaces
• unusual colors ( more trendy)

In comparison, Modern style includes vintage modern pieces from the 1920's-30's, Mid-Century Modern- see post here- (up to the 1970's),Art Deco( 1920-30), and the Arts and Crafts Movement, or "craftsman"( 1910-1930).

• angular lines, low profile, streamline
• geometrics, abstracts
• linen, teak and leather
• barewood and concrete floors
• industrial decor, recyle, salvage
• "form follows function"
• art deco: glamour, mirrors, chrome, glass, "glitz"

Here is a modern decor scheme. See the retro items and spare materials?

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Is your home contemporary or modern?

Nancy

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 We offer room consultations, paint suggestions, shopping and sourcing, complete room and house redo's, staging and reworking your current furniture, spot-checks in areas that aren't quite gelling and many other services. eBoards are a quick and easy way to get a design look and feel in your home. While hiring a designer may cost you a bit extra, we aim to save you money by preventing costly mistakes in your design plan.

Contemporary or Modern Architecture?

I have always appreciated Mid Century Modern Architecture. Typically it is defined as a style that incorporates nature, simplicity and organic forms. This was a highly significant design movement from the 1930's to the 1960's and is still being copied today. Good design is timeless, right?

Having grown up across the street from a brick ranch-style contemporary home, it's image is ingrained in my mind as one of my all time favorite home designs.

As an art student I studied Frank Lloyd Wright and have seen his  Pope Leighey home, in Alexandria, VA. It is small, wood, glass and concrete, and the form and function of the home are paramount. The wooded lot that it stands on is as important as the building itself. All these homes featured here have these similar elements.

This also brings up the question of what is the difference between contemporary and modern architecture? 

Contemporary refers to design of the current time, of the period in which it was created. Modern architecture began at the turn of the 20th century, and not only employs the "form follows function" principle, but also is characterized by the natural unmasked appearance of materials, the industrial aesthetic, elimination of unnecessary details, non-ornamentation, simplicity and clarity of forms.*  It encompasses contemporary architecture. The terms are loosely used and have similarities, but the main difference is that modern architecture could have been created in the 1920's or now. It is contemporary at the time it was built. Confused enough?

There was a mid-century movement within modern architecture. Famous architects of this movement are Eero Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, Oscar Niemeyer, Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller. A perfect of modern architecture is:

     via

     I am quite intrigued. My current ranch style home is traditional, but if I could have a wish, it would be to trade it for one of these....

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I would love to go to Falling Waters in Pa. next. Have any of you been there? Do any of you share my love of this architecture? Do tell.

Nancy

If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices. Nancy and Bethany