Contemporary Design Urban Sophistication

If you're confused about the differences between Modern, Contemporary and Metropolitan design, you're not alone. Even designers and architects find it difficult to always clearly define each of the styles. And one Louisville architect prefers "none of the above" when it comes to design that's noted for its clean, uncomplicated style, much preferring the term Expressive.
    Rich in Kentucky history, it isn't surprising that Louisville design tastes have long reflected
a Traditional style. While that style certainly isn't being completely usurped by Modern and
Contemporary design, Louisville homeowners and designers are breaking out of the traditional mold and are exploring and choosing design styles that are fresh and exciting.



At Home Design & Living, we have the enviable opportunity to talk to the area's top designers and architects to get the inside track on the latest news in design and décor. We're always fascinated, enlightened and sometimes surprised by what they have to say. They shared with us their impressions and interpretations of Contemporary design, with each one offering an individual perspective.

Gayle Ciliberti, Gayle Ciliberti Interior Design

When a client says he or she wants Contemporary design, I carefully evaluate what they have in mind. Because Contemporary means different things to different people But in general, Contemporary refers to a clean look, a simple application that doesn't have a lot of ornamentation.
The concepts of Modern and Contemporary are similar. Modern design would include the Bauhaus period, Frank Lloyd Wright and Philip Stark.
Furniture articulates the space in Modern, Contemporary and Metropolitan. Contemporary interiors, like Modern, reflects a minimalist approach.
There is a sense of the whole and a cohesive flow with Contemporary design. Materials are combined so that they complement each other. Many times it has features of glass and stainless steel. Bamboo and maple are great flooring materials, although mahogany could work. Although white is a frequently used color, Contemporary design can have soft colors, even intense and bold colors, often brought in through artwork. Anigre and hardwood, often used for traditional cabinetry, can also be used for Contemporary. The difference is the application.
Contemporary design may introduce chrome elements, things such as Barcelona chairs and other furniture that carries out a minimalist approach. When planning to create a Contemporary space, some people end up with what I would call "pseudo Contemporary" in the sense that it includes a pattern of wallpaper or a genre that looks like Contemporary. But true Contemporary goes for a timeless interior, not something that will date itself.
Contemporary design may require that spaces need to be redefined. Walls may need to be removed to open up a four wall box. If there is a lot of trim in an existing house that's being redesigned as more Contemporary, it's possible to keep the trim but paint it as the same color as the wall. An existing traditional fireplace could be transformed using horizontal and large tiles, and changing the surround from a brass to a stainless or a brushed nickel finish.
Contemporary also involves rethinking the concept of a particular room, such as a kitchen. Instead of standard cabinets, a Contemporary kitchen may feature flat panel full overlay cabinet doors, more open shelving, high polish finishes such as lacquer, and perhaps colored metal.
I was involved in a loft project that originally was 20 apartments. It was redesigned into four distinctly Contemporary lofts. We left all the HVAC exposed, cleaned the brick, reclaimed the hardwood floors and painted the walls white. There's a lot of stainless used in the appliances and hardware, great cabinetry with a wenge finish, a light granite countertop, some custom glass pendants by Louisville artisan Jonathan Swan, and Contemporary furniture.
Industrial Contemporary is often characterized by the use of stainless steel and raw material such as plywood. It allows you to see how things are put together or fabricated. The joints and hinges are purposely exposed.
Metropolitan design can be an eclectic mix of Contemporary and Modern, and is often notable for the use of older materials and classic pieces. It could juxtapose Contemporary furniture against brick walls and have Modern cabinets and a wonderful use of stone and custom glass pieces.


Tracee Dore, Tracee Dore and Company, HGTV Designer

A lot of people think of Contemporary as cold, but I look at it as an art form. The whole room can become a piece of art. It's all about beautiful lines, linear or curvilinear. I've done cool color palettes but I prefer to do a warm color palette with accents of color.
I like to take classic influences, either very clean lines or very ornate, and give them a new twist. The green movement is perfect for reusing pieces that have been handed down. I enjoy taking pieces from the 1920s to the 1970s and having them redone. Love it, love it, love it! For some Contemporary rooms, I go antique shopping. Antiques in a Contemporary setting can look like a million bucks.
When designing a Contemporary space, I find something that inspires me...a yummy fabric, a piece of art, an incredible piece of art or something as vague as a color.
It was so much fun to bring Contemporary design to an older home with large scale moldings, tall ceilings and wonderful windows. I started with a very creamy color on the walls and trim that served as the backdrop for neat art and some of the other pops in the room. Adding things that made the people live there happy was the most important part. The end result was a unique home that had unbelievable richness, character and history.
A Contemporary room calls for neutral window treatments unless they are to be the major focal point. They don't have to be expensive fabric, just something that has a very nice hand to it. I usually prefer panels, Roman shades or roller shades that look like screens.
I preach texture even in rooms that are very clean and monochromatic. Mix heavy textures with sleek textures so the room doesn't get too sterile. I love metallic and iridescent finishes, always have, always will. But I'm really tired of so much mirrored furniture.
I hate overaccessorizing. Every corner doesn't need something. Leave some corners and walls not filled. Don't worry too much about scale and proportion. Do what you like and what feels right.
In there's one best place in Contemporary to put your money, it's in wonderful art. Choose art you absolutely love. Don't worry about matching the art to the interior. Really good Contemporary design doesn't look like you tried too hard.


Jim Peterson, Architect & Builder

I'm usually opposed to using the word "Contemporary" because it has the connotation of cheap and cold. The last thing I want to do is to design a house that's cold. I want it to be warm and livable. To add that warmth and unique character, I utilize many details such as unusual railings, staircases, columns, coffered ceilings and carefully selected flooring.
My own house started out fairly minimal because I thought that would be very cool. But it wasn't warm and inviting. We've altered it over the years, changing the color from what was basically a single color palette to one that has some deep colors. We also got rid of the flat ceilings and exposed the rafters. The amount of wood flooring was increased, and was accented with two tones, maple and Brazilian cherry. One of the most interesting changes was that on cornice treatments we painted words or names of destinations where we like to hike. They're always a conversation starter when we have guests.
There are certain features I never use in Contemporary design...crown molding, shutters or Palladian windows. The interesting thing about Palladian windows is that 20 years ago they had to be custom ordered. Now they're readily available and overused. They don't catch your eye. Rarely do I use molded doors or painted doors.
Unfortunately, Contemporary is often misunderstood and thought of too narrowly. A good example is that the cottage style can be traditional or Contemporary. A Contemporary cottage style would have some of the structure wrapped or visible, and could use natural woods, niches and softened corners. We could even include raw steel headers over the doorways that might have a light patina of rust that forms on some of the steel. Like copper, some would be shiny, some oxidized. What's so compelling about Contemporary is the enormous potential for innovative applications.
Certain features, such as concrete floors, may be part of some homes' Contemporary design. But the concrete floors that have been used for several years have been eclipsed by integral concrete staining. The concrete can be stained a dark beige, almost a walnut color. The dyes are a lot better and less expensive than before. Also, craftsmen are learning to install it better than in the past.
When people hear the word Contemporary they often think of a flat roof and shocking materials that aren't on Traditional houses. That isn't the case at all. I use all the materials that are used on a neighboring Traditional house, but not in the same composition.
Of course, some neighborhoods won't allow a Contemporary exterior because of design mistakes that were made in the past. Architects usually refer to this as "the fresh date has expired." A house is of poor design if you can look at it and say, "Well, there's a '70s house." It's important that the design of a house not look dated in 20 years. The design and the materials should stand the test of time.
If someone wants a Contemporary house but chooses to live in a neighborhood that prohibits a Contemporary exterior, it's not a good idea to design a traditional front exterior and a Contemporary back. Instead, I'd focus on using some of the same components, such as windows, on the front and back, but in a different way. I might use more glass on the back and be a little freer with details. But it will probably be the interior that turns out to be Contemporary.
I prefer to use the word Expressive rather than Contemporary. But it's a shame that Expressive is so similar to expensive. I think of Expressive in terms of the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the century and believe it more fully expresses my style than does Contemporary. During that period the craftsmen were very expressive with their elements. The walls were solid. The brick masons really gave it their all. The slate guys turned corners and produced great craftsmanship. That's what great design is about. When I design what most people would consider a Contemporary home, my goal is to showcase the work of artisans and craftsmen.


Ken Hooper, Louisville, Interiors Design & Décor

Modern design is very cutting edge that you don't see day to day. It can be very cold and look institutionalized. Midcentury Modern is a bit warmer, has more curves and has a Retro feel.
Everyone has a slightly different take on Metropolitan design. Some people say it's a nice overstuffed fluffy sofa thrown in a Contemporary setting. I think it can be soft and cozy, but needs to have straight lines and a clean look. A Metro sofa would never have ruffles but could have a comfy fabric.
Contemporary is one of the most difficult styles to have come out correctly. With traditional design there are some rules, but there aren't so many rules with Contemporary. The freedom is good but to pull it off requires vision.
I like to take the best of 30 or 50 or 80 years ago and mix with what we have today. The big upholstered furniture, oversize headboards and massive sofas of the '30s can be wonderful additions to a Contemporary room as long as the room isn't too busy.
Contemporary can have lush fabrics such as velvets and textured chenilles, even beading and big buttons on pillows. The trick is to mix textures and materials for maximum interest. And use everything in an updated, Contemporary way. Don't automatically discount something such as a Traditional swirled pattern because it looks Traditional for draperies in a Contemporary room. If it's used to create draperies that have a very simple style, the result can be perfectly Contemporary.



Kathey Schickli, Schickli Design Associates

Several things define Modern design. It is organic in that it takes its cues from nature and celebrates how something is constructed. Look at how a tree is put together. Where the branch comes out of the tree isn't hidden. Modern design doesn't try to hide something by putting a one design element on top of another.
The second important facet of Modern design is its utilization of materials. There are many new woven nylons and synthetics for carpets, upholstery and window treatments that are playing an important role in Modern design.
Another factor is the elimination of anything that's not necessary, resulting in clean lines. In Modern design, function dictates form. The progression of how a home is laid out is central to Modern design. Modern design homes may not have a formal living and dining room, but may have an area for multi uses, a larger space that accommodates the way families live today.
One of the most appealing aspects of Modern design is that it encourages the question, "What if I did it this way rather than following any previous traditions or rules?"
Although Modern design is often considered cold, I think good design is good design and bad design is bad design. If a Modern room is well designed, it won't be cold. The goal is to integrate color, texture and lighting. A brick wall could be cold if it's not properly lit and there isn't the right color on it to add warmth. There are no colors that are off limits in Modern design as long as one color plane is played against another one. For example, there could be a play of bright color against a stark white.
Because Modern design takes its cues from nature, fake materials are rarely used. Glass tile, stone or slate are selected over their manufactured counterparts.
I love seeing buildings leave in tact their 19th century architectural features as the interiors are being designed in a Modern style. I think it's great to combine Contemporary and Traditional. Putting a Traditional piece of furniture, maybe a Queen Ann sideboard, into a Contemporary space turns the furniture into a work of art. It's the best of both worlds.
As green design becomes more mainstream and there's a conscious effort to live green, Modern materials will play an even greater role in home design. Products such as cork and bamboo will be appreciated because they're Contemporary and because they're green.
leave in tact their 19th century architectural features as the interiors are being designed in a Modern style. I think it's great to combine Contemporary and Traditional. Putting a Traditional piece of furniture, maybe a Queen Ann sideboard, into a Contemporary space turns the furniture into a work of art. It's the best of both worlds.
As green design becomes more mainstream and there's a conscious effort to live green, Modern materials will play an even greater role in home design. Products such as cork and bamboo will be appreciated because they're Contemporary and because they're green.