A huge trend in the early 2000s, modernist and futuristic design is back in the zeitgeist. But this time, the modern décor has taken a much warmer turn, as exemplified by Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys' living room.
Contemporary architecture has the ability to express its own style while blending perfectly with its surroundings. Success depends on using the right materials and choosing sophisticated designs that effectively blend old and new.
Less is more, so be careful not to overdesign. Also, very modern designs can sometimes come across as stark and industrial, so try to bring in warmth by layering lighting and adding textured furniture to create balance and interest.
Designed by Wallace E. Cunningham of La Jolla, California, this sleek 10,653-square-foot mansion is said to have inspired Tony Stark's Malibu hideaway in the Iron Man film series, and has also been featured on the Visa Black Card and in Calvin Klein television commercials.
Despite its modern bones, Alicia Keys' home is filled with warm, personal touches. The easiest way to achieve this look is to copy nature's warmest room color ideas. Inspired by the colors of the natural world, this warm, minimalist aesthetic adds a soft, calming feel to your interiors by layering textures and tones with the seasons.
“Working with a natural palette like the one above is all about adding depth and contrast with different layers and textures,” says Jane Landino, creative lead at Taylor Howes Studio. “Mixing and matching tones, even neutral hues, is essential to making a warm, minimalist color palette look design-ready, and most importantly, it's contemporary – just because it's beige doesn't mean it has to be solid.”
Another way to add softness to modernist architecture is through the use of texture in the form of tactile objects such as fabric, wood, and stone to add physical comfort and visual interest to contemporary living spaces.
“Texture should be considered just as important as colour and pattern,” says Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord. “There's nothing worse than flat design. Interiors are about the senses, so texture is an essential element of any design that stimulates the senses of sight and touch.”
Rough, rough textures like reclaimed wood and terracotta have more “visual weight” and create a rustic beauty, while smooth, shiny textures, including metals like chrome, reflect more light and create a more contemporary finish.
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Decorating with neutral colors, especially warm ones, creates a calming atmosphere in your home, which is a lovely, thoughtful touch that's not difficult to recreate in your own home.
Homage marble and white oak round coffee table
Hugger Carved Boucle Sofa by Lianne Ford
Willie White plaster base side table