| mporary design, or modern design as it is also | | | | chairs, for example - simple, straight lines with a |
| called, emphasizes simplicity and order. In today's | | | | comfortable seat are all that is required. There's |
| hectic world, coming home to a neat, clean house | | | | no need to "dress" every room in the house, |
| has a great attraction. | | | | from the hallway which you first enter to the |
| In the past several months I've looked through | | | | living room to the bedrooms to the bathroom to |
| over a hundred books on home decorating, | | | | the porch. |
| looking for ideas for my new home, and I must | | | | "Dressing" the room. That's what a few books I |
| say it's been quite an education to see the kinds | | | | read called decorating each room, and it put me in |
| of styles that are out there. | | | | mind of a stage play, which is where I'd heard the |
| Well...not so much of an education. All they've | | | | term initially. In a stage play, everything is artificial, |
| shown me is styles that I don't want. Every single | | | | and put there for effect - not because anyone |
| one of them seems to emphasize clutter. I've | | | | real is actually going to live in that room. It's the |
| paged through book after book, and seen photo | | | | same thing with the photos of rooms in all the |
| after photo of walls jam-packed full of photos | | | | books I read. They're so cluttered...I couldn't |
| and paintings, floors stuffed so full of furniture it | | | | imagine anyone actually living in one of those |
| seemed as if it would be impossible for someone | | | | rooms and being able to keep it neat and clean. |
| to move around in the room without knocking | | | | With the minimalist approach, there's |
| something over, beds piled high with pillows, and | | | | ornamentation of course. It's not like you're stuck |
| hundreds of knick-knacks everywhere. I | | | | living in a colorless house with no flowers, no |
| shuddered just looking at those photos and | | | | paintings, no comfy chairs. But there's no excess, |
| thinking of all the dusting and other cleaning that | | | | no clutter for the sake of clutter. |
| would be required. | | | | Although one can certainly use furniture made |
| That's why the contemporary style of home | | | | from wood in contemporary design, I myself |
| decorating appeals to me. There's no fuss | | | | prefer the metallic look, black leather chairs that |
| involved. It's all about seeing the bare bones of a | | | | are set off nicely by the beige walls and carpet, a |
| room, with no clutter to get in your way. There's | | | | glass-topped table, a vase with a single flower by |
| ornamentation, of course, one painting to a wall, | | | | the window. |
| for example, but nothing over the top. | | | | I have to confess to breaking the rules about the |
| The main principle of the contemporary style of | | | | walls, however. I'm a great reader, and I've got |
| design is minimalism. Form following function. | | | | bookcases in every room of the house, including |
| There's no need for extensive scroll work on | | | | the bathroom! It's all about what pleases you. |