Saturday, February 18, 2012

Modern Home Masterpieces

Modern house plans are more than architecture; they are truly works of art in and of themselves. Modern house plans offer the ability to customize the home in an endless number of ways. In modern architecture, the only rule is "Anything Goes". Modern homes can be characterized by clean lines and simple proportions. They can be built using unconventional materials or constructed to be environmentally friendly. In designing modern house plans or constructing a modern home, there are infinite possibilities as to how to utilize the space and create a truly customized home.
Many modern house plans draw inspiration from other types of homes, then modify and update certain features and aspects to give the house a more contemporary feel. Traditional ranch-style homes have been turned into modern homes by retaining the one-story, flowing floor plan and open living rooms and adding modern elements such as floor-to-ceiling windows and implementing sliding glass doors that open up to spacious outdoor living spaces.
Another traditional home design that has taken on many contemporary additions is the log cabin. Traditional log cabins have been updated by utilizing clean lines, flat-paneled woodwork, and large windows to bring in natural sunlight and offer spectacular views of surrounding landscapes. Modern takes on the traditional log cabin have refrained from the original style of including large, sweeping roofs in the design and have instead opted to exclude the rook entirely, favoring a flatter, cleaner look for the exterior.
Modern houses have taken much inspiration from the traditional and highly functional design of adobe-style homes. These modern house plans are characterized by classic southwestern and Santa Fe style, rectangular shapes, long driveways and a flat, expansive floor plan.
One of the most common styles of modern homes is the beach-style modern home. These modernized versions of traditional luxury beach homes from the Caribbean coast are characterized by simple, clean facades and large windows perfect for gazing out at an ocean view or beach sunset. Beach-style modern houses are popular due to their open floor plans, making them perfect for people who enjoy entertaining.

Latest Modern Home Trends and Designs

Designing and building a new home is a very exciting time in your life, checking out the latest trends and designs is essential so you can consider including them in your modern home plans. Investigating what is going to be in fashion and might suit you and your home is a great idea so that once it's built you aren't left wishing you had included some great new feature. Some of the latest trends are listed below;
Colourways
Deciding which colour to decorate your home in has got to be one of the biggest decisions especially as replacing items like carpet or tiles can be very expensive if you get it wrong. Most home owners still feel most comfortable with neutral tones as these are familiar and we feel safe with them, however the beiges that have dominated the home decor scene for many years to slowly being surpassed by tones of grey.
Kitchens
Sleek with clean lines are still on trend for your modern home plans when it comes to kitchens, maximising storage and creating a great flow of the kitchen to the dining area are still also key, however smaller butlers pantries are becoming more popular allowing you open storage and a second preparation area whilst also being able to close it off of the main kitchen area when entertaining.

Contemporary Lighting Tips on How to Match Your Contemporary Home Design With Modern Lighting

If you want to draw attention to a room, add contemporary lighting to it. The elegance created can cause a person to be mesmerized by the area. Although some people take the lighting for granted, you should never commit the same mistake. Even when you buy the most expensive furniture and home decor accessories, if you put on an inappropriate light, you will end up ruining everything. Because of its importance, you must give extra attention to it. Here are the tips to achieve your desired effect with using contemporary lighting for a maximum effect for your home.
Style
Contemporary lighting is usually minimalist and quite simple. If you want to keep in tune with your theme, choose the designs that are simple yet elegant. For example consider the style with minimal accessories. In the theme you want to portray, the main rule is, the lesser, the better. The feature goes well in houses with limited living space or in smaller apartments. By choosing less intricate designs, you can have more room for movement within the place.
Size
Contemporary lighting mainly focuses on the size of the light fixture. Before buying your lamp, measure the ceiling or the area you want to illuminate to get the proper size. Because you are after the space you can increase, do not overpower your room with too big lighting fixtures. They should not also be too small; otherwise, they will lose their essence. Keep them within the right balanced range to bring out their elegance in the room.
Color
The majority of color types in a contemporary styled home is beige, black and white. These colors are very safe to match with other similar shades that don't give you a strong glare. When choosing the color to match your room, pick from these shades instead of going ballistic with some strong retro style. When the light strikes to it, it creates roominess in that area of the room. Thus you will easily create an illusion of increased space and also add sophistication to your home as well.
If you do it right, your decorative ideas can turn your room into another masterpiece that your neighbors will envy. By choosing the right contemporary lighting, you can have a fantastic looking house and display the creativity of your mind using the style that you truly love. Your home will not only be more inviting to your guests, but they will look in awe at the way your new illumination gives way to a much better ambient and decor in your home. Don't be afraid to experiment and let your creativity flow freely while you express yourself with contemporary lighting.

Minimalist Interior Design For the Modern Home

A minimalist interior design scheme doesn't need to be stark and cold!
Modern minimalist designs are not the old, harsh decor of years ago. The new look for minimalist interior design is a softer look, more personal and easier to live with. Yes, you can have a real life, or even kids, and go for a minimalist look in your home!
It is true that you do really need to be a certain kind of person to get on well with a minimalist scheme - messy people need not apply! But seriously ... if you find it easy to stay neat and tidy, are very organised and hate clutter in any form, this is very likely a look that will work for you.
I love the look of a minimalist interior design scheme. But I have come to realise it just isn't for me! If you do struggle to keep on top of mess or clutter, if you like your knick-knacks and collections, or just enjoy being surrounded by all your favourite possessions, this probably isn't a look you can live comfortably with...
Keeping your house 'spick and span' and clutter free can be hard work, there's no two ways about it. But your reward will be worth it! A minimalist interior design scheme is a very simple, relaxing style, which will bring an air of real tranquillity to your home - but it has a great, cutting-edge, contemporary feel too!

Fundamental Elements of Modern Home Interior Design

f you want a house with chic, clean lines and a fresh, updated feel, you will probably enjoy the look of an ultra-modern home interior design. The primary benefit of this type of design is that it offers a wide variety of choices when it comes to colors, fabrics and decorations that you can use, making it easy for you to come up with an overall look that is truly your own.
The trademark look of modern home interior design is that of class and elegance without the frills and extravagance that designs of previous decades are known for. On the contrary, the furniture and architecture used in modern home interior design are very simple, to the point of being quite minimalist. The colors are very solid as well, and the shapes are mostly geometrical. Intricate designs and lavishly ornamental pieces are very rarely, if ever, found in modern home interior design.
A Contemporary Look
Most of the appliances and furniture used in modern design are made from a combination of stainless steel, glass, plastic and leather, making for a very contemporary look. However, wood elements are also a nice addition to any modern room. The rich, dark tones of walnut and mahogany can soften the atmosphere in the area and they complement the coldness of metal and other modern materials.
Speaking of metal, no modern home interior design is complete without its share of metallic elements. Stainless steel in undoubtedly the most popular choice today, perhaps because of the relatively low cost, but there are also other metals that work effectively in a modern environment. Brushed nickel cabinet handles and chrome floor lamps for instance, are always excellent highlights. In general, any metal that is sleek and shiny will be a perfect fit in any modern home.
Modern Theme Color
Color is another important factor that one should consider when designing a room or a home with a modern theme. A lot of people think that neutral colors are the best choice when it comes to modern design, but this doesn't always have to be the case. You can stick with a beige or gray wall but you can offset the coldness of this hue by bringing in a deep red couch or adding royal blue drapes to your windows. These colors will not take away from the modern look of the room at all, but they can certainly add much-needed drama to the area.
The best thing about modern home interior design is that it is so easy to maintain and so comfortable to live in. This is probably the reason why millions of people prefer this kind of design today.

Contemporary Home Design - Cosy Up and Protect Against One of the Coldest Winters For 100 Years

t's official; we are experiencing one of the coldest winters in the last one hundred years. There has been lots of snow and even now that it has melted, the nights are still extremely chilly and people are staying indoors.
Traditionally winter is a time for snuggling up at home, a time for relaxing in front of warm open fires, entertaining close personal friends and having people round for dinner. These activities are much more appealing right now than going out and facing the elements.
This keenness to entertain friends in the warmth of our own homes and to spend more time there as a family, leads inexorably, to the desire to make it a more comfortable place to live in. This can be achieved quickly and easily, through the addition of rugs, throws, cushions and candles.
Placing plush, deep pile rugs on top of varnished floorboards for example will immediately warm the room, reducing droughts whilst at the same time, providing comfortable floor space upon which to cosy up with your partner in front of that warming winter fire.
Investing in quality cushions and throws can add warmth and comfort to you living room and bedroom. Available in a huge range of sizes, styles, patterns and colours they are an ideal way to add interesting details to complement your existing colour scheme.
Lamplight emanating from the corners of rooms tends to feel that much warmer than the harsher overhead, central ceiling lighting. Why not invest in some contemporary lamps to warm up specific areas of your home and create a romantic, cosy and intimate ambience that comes from soft diffused lighting.
Candlelight can also be used to warm a room. Not literally of course, you'd need lots of them to do that, but it brings a pleasant glow that will feel really comforting. Imagine a dining room with a table set for eight, flagstone flooring, a large sideboard and an upright piano. Now imagine that same room, with a number of flickering candles set around it. How much cosier and romantic does that feel?

Elements of Modern Home Design

Updating a home involves many elements of change, which involves anything from modern furniture and artwork to room designs. A home can be transformed into a contemporary dwelling with features and accents that have a 21st century edge and style. Modern home design elements can add a touch of style and design to any home.
Modern homes can mean many things to many people, but all of them point to non-traditional style and features. Contemporary home furnishing outlets have home furnishings available, including things like glass panel kitchen cabinets and island kitchens with bar stool seating. These attractive furnishings can really serve as an attractive centerpiece for contemporary kitchen design.
Homeowners can also add updated features to their bathrooms as well to make them look neater and more spacious. Wall mounted cabinets are a great way to store bathroom items as well as give the room a decorative look. Some people choose to remodel their bathrooms with stylish vanity sets that are functional and attractive fixtures for bathing and pampering as they prepare for their day. These attractive bathroom accents add a touch of style and grace to a bathroom space.
Living room areas also lend themselves well to modern design features that can incorporate amazing colors, geometric shapes and contemporary furniture pieces. People can buy furniture coverings with vibrant colors and design patterns to enhance the modern color scheme and design. The living room will stand out and people can enjoy the contemporary feel when they entertain and relax in the room.