Lead Photo by David Tsay
A Fresh Look at Modern
M odern decor: We define it as decor made for modern lifestyles. The unfussy silhouettes, clean colors, and broad range of materials, from pale woods to gleaming chrome, can create spaces that are as warm, glamorous, or family-friendly as you’d like. Best of all, their innate simplicity shows off your prized artworks, collections, or keepsakes beautifully, whether they’re antique majolica plates or your kids’ drawings. Not convinced? Take a look out how you can incorporate modern furnishings to create a home that could be only yours.
Wood and other organic materials warm up man-made elements such as stainless steel without detracting from the simplicity and sleekness that define modern style. Photo by Nicole LaMotte.
Something Old, Something New
In the early and mid-20 th century, much of what made furnishings “modern” was the use of materials that were new to furniture making—or just plain new. These included steel, chrome, molded plywood, and an array of plastics, including transparent acrylic. One major benefit of designs made with these materials is that they can be mass-produced relatively inexpensively. Another, less-heralded advantage is they tend to be durable and easy to maintain—and that makes them ideal for homes with children or pets (or mess-prone adults).
Modern furnishings weren’t—and still aren’t—made exclusively out of man-made materials. Many pioneers of modern design, especially Scandinavians such as Finn Juhl, Kaare Klint, and Børge Mogensen, made ample use of wood and leather; the materials’ unique grain and variable coloring serve as adornment in lieu of carvings, showy hardware, and elaborate upholstery. “Organic modern” refers to these sorts of furnishings: Parsons tables of richly figured teak or cherrywood, leather-upholstered sofas resting atop slender wood legs, natural-fiber rugs with a subtle herringbone weave.
Organic pieces like these create a welcoming warmth, proof that modern design is far from cold or austere. At the same time, you can easily up the glamour quotient by introducing a Sputnik-style light fixture, molded plastic chairs in glossy whites or primary colors, or a simple side table made luxurious courtesy of gleaming chrome legs.
The globular lampshades and the curvaceous wire chair prove that modern design isn’t all straight lines. Photo by Joe Schmelzer.
The Shape of Things
Much of modern design hews to the philosophy of “form follows function.” Cabriole legs on a chair, for instance, serve no practical function, so they were deemed superfluous. This accounts for the clean lines and unadorned surfaces associated with modern furnishings.
Modern designers do appreciate a beautiful curve, however. In fact, to complement their synthetic materials, they’ve often opted for organic, fluid shapes. And of course, curves can be functional: They allow arc lamps to direct light where needed and make seating much more comfortable. (Modernists Marcel Breuer and Le Corbusier were among the first to incorporate ergonomic design into their furniture.)
Rounded pieces like Eero Saarinen’s Tulip table and Arne Jacobsen’s Egg and Swan chairs couldn’t really be constructed without the use of modern materials, nor could slender pedestals and slim legs support large tabletops and heavy seats. While these visually lighter designs play well in rooms of all sizes, they solve many design dilemmas for small spaces, as do transparent acrylic tables, chairs, and lamps.
The touches of greenery are all the more vivid for being in a predominately white and cream room. Photo by Joe Schmelzer.
Host a Wine Tasting With a Professional Sommelier
What’s a bridal shower without some bubbles? Instead of the standard mimosas, invite a specialist to guide the group through wine tasting 101. You can even theme the tasting around a place you’ve traveled to or where you’ll be honeymooning. Caterer Andrea Correale of Elegant Affairs shares the example of focusing on Tuscany: You can set up long farm tables and serve a family-style Italian meal paired with different Tuscan wines for each dish.
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School Your Guests in Calligraphy
Beautiful script is becoming more important in the days of technology, so if you’re going to handwrite something, it better be well done. Sign everyone up for a calligraphy workshop, where you will begin to master envelope addressing and thank-you notes.
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Create Beauty Products
Everyone wants to feel and look good, so incorporate that into your bridal shower. “Creating sugar scrubs will be fun,” says Raquel Bickford of ROQUE Events. “Plus, the guests will take them home and use them to get that sought-after glow.” You can also have someone show the group how to blend essential oils or have a perfumer help you make a custom scent.
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