Inspired by Clements Design

Always looking for like-minded design vibes, I came across the fabulous Los Angeles firm of Clements Design.

We love this organic California eclectic look, where traditional elements meet modern.  

Design elements to notice:

• edited minimalism
• organic design
• mix of natural materials
• neutral design scheme with subtle color accents
• light and dark contrast
• lots of natural light
• collected artifact
• dramatic art                                               

Interestingly enough, this is the former home of designer Kelly Wearstler, 
and the two designers rooms are shown in a side-by-side comparison in a great article in My Domaine.

      

                   I hope you are enjoying the winter months 'nesting' in your home!

Add a modern chair and you're up to date!

We love to make a statement in a room to make it feel unique and not straight out of Decor 101.   Incorporate a bold contemporary piece of art in a traditional room, or a large old masters reproduction in a modern room or add one of these chairs to any decor to kick it up a notch.

Iconic modern chairs have a history rooted in the 1940's-60's and have become classic over time, yet still they remain viable in contempory decor today.

Let's look at some of these brilliant designs:

1: The Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen

2: The Bertoia Chair designed in 1952 by Italian furniture designer Harry Bertoia.

3: The Papa Bear Style chair, by Danish designer Hans J Wegner

4: LC3 Chair by Le Corbusier

5: The Eames lounge chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames

6: The Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen

7: The Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer

8. The LCW Plywood Chair by Charles and Ray Eames

Here is my favorite iconic modern chair, the Barcelona Chair, by Mies van der Rohe, who designed this chair in 1929 for the king and queen of Spain.  It also won the Museum of Modern Art Award in 1977.

Some sources for original or reproduction mid century modern chairs and other furnishings are Design Within Reach, Thrive, All Modern, IFN Modern, Modern Mobler, Acme, Kardiel, One Kings Lane and of course Ebay, Craigslist, local classifieds and estate sales.  With these favorites on your radar you may find the deal of the century in an unsuspecting place.  I know I have passed up some that I now regret.

Do you have any favorite places to shop for modern chairs?

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....

1/2/3/4/5/6/7

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