Archive for category Contemporary Home Decor
Contemporary Interior Design in Chinese Homes
Posted by in Contemporary Home Decor on July 20, 2011
Living in China is a busy, ultra-modern lifestyle and the interior design in Chinese homes reflects these qualities. The chic, sleek and contemporary lines of contemporary Chinese furniture punctuated with traditional elements coming from wall paper patterns, soft furnishings and striking oriental paintings make Chinese homes a temple of good taste and practical simplicity.
These days sumptuous furnishings contrast dramatically against traditional Chinese home decorations. In rural areas of China where the mainly poorer families live interior design has yet to contribute towards their standard of living. But in the urban areas of the huge Chinese cities like Beijing, modern designs, drawing from traditional culture, are rife in the homes, hotels and offices all over the city. Typical colours used in Chinese decor are black and bright red primary colours scattered with filaments of gold decorations.
Calligraphy and exotic images or patterns of birds, fish or flowers are used to express the very essence of Chinese culture. Bamboo furniture, wooden blinds and screens help contrast against paler plain walls and ornate lacquered furniture as feature pieces in room add to the rich opulence of colour. Chinese motifs such as the tiger, monkey and of course dragons feature heavily on rugs, wall hangings and accessories. It’s not unusual to have paper lanterns for your lighting and ceramics with candles burning, filling home with wonderful scents and a soft comforting and relaxing glow. Practical blue and white Chinese pottery is typical of old meets new contemporary design and looks fantastic in living rooms and dining rooms too. Read the rest of this entry »
Modern Contemporary White Interior Design
Posted by in Contemporary Home Decor on June 29, 2011
There’s plenty to love about using white for interior design. White isn’t simply an absence of colour. White creates an image of elegance, brightness and expansiveness. It also symbolises purity, goodness and lightness of being. White is definitely far from boring, but it does involve a number of interior design techniques in order to fuse in a modern contemporary look. Here are some pointers on how to use white as part of your home décor without emitting a sterile hospital-like vibe.
First of all, although we seem to always think of white as one particular shade, the truth is that choosing the right shade of white is not so, well, black and white. There are actually many different tones of white and the colours that would match these white tones would be remarkably different. For instance, blue-tinted white will look jarring against a red sofa. To incorporate warmth in your interior design, opt for whites that have hints of yellow, like ivory, beige and cream. Cool hues look best with brighter whites.
Having white as the theme for your furniture is extremely trendy, as you can see from flipping through interior design magazines. White furniture against white background will give you the sensation of a very modern contemporary empty room, making the room appear bigger than it really is.
White is also very versatile. Depending on how you accessorise the rest of your room, you can create a minimalist, romantic, classic or even dramatic feel. For example, black and white photographs would add a touch of timeless romanticism to the space. Bring in a red bowl and watch how it attracts attention and changes the mood of the entire interior design.
Go natural. By incorporating wood, wicker or bamboo, you can take the edge off the starkness and create a beautiful natural look while still maintaining the peaceful and bright overall effect of a modern contemporary white theme. Read the rest of this entry »