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Contemporary Style New Home Design Process


by DoItYourself Staff

If you are building a new home and looking for a particular design process, you can try contemporary styles instead of the old Tudor, Edwardian, or Victorian styles. A contemporary home simply means using modern design ideas and styles. It also incorporates all the conveniences of the modern age such as broadband and WiFi access.

Large and Spacious Living Room

A contemporary house has clean lines and no extra fixtures. There are no additional elements to the house. It incorporates a large living room, rather than a formal living room and dining room. The open kitchen most often opens out from a side of the large living room. The living room has space for a TV or other forms of entertainment as well as a computer for the home office. Besides, it has space for the children to do their homework.

Small and Functional Bedrooms

The bedrooms are small and are intended only for sleeping. A house such as this should have a minimum of two spacious bathrooms for full functionality. One of the walls can be entirely of glass for a great view of the garden or lawn.

The architectural elements are kept to a minimum. The décor comes from personalized choices of fabric, paintings and artifacts. These too are kept at the minimum. Only a couple of good paintings should adorn the walls, rather than a large number of miniatures, for example.

Furniture

The furniture too should be in keeping with the architecture of the house. Do not choose period furniture for such a home. Instead opt for pieces with clean and elegant lines. They should be functional and, when placing the furiture in a room, you'll want to leave a lot of space between pieces.

Stainless steel can be added to wood to give a contemporary feel to the furniture and other woodwork such as cabinets. They should all be based on the principle of minimalism. There is no need for decorative handles or edges. Just the bare minimum in neat lines should do.

Furnishing

The furnishing too should adopt the same principle. You can use a few bold colors for contrast and geometric designs will suit this style better than flowery designs.

Energy Needs

Contemporary homes are often built to be energy efficient with passive or active solar heating facilities. These elements are built into the house’s design and do not stand out in any odd way.

Flooring

The floor too should be clean and functional. Wood flooring, especially of hardwood or laminates is best. If you really need a carpet, opt for a low pile one.

Also, allow space for adequate wiring for future needs of both the Internet and other forms of communication. A modern and contemporary design home is functional and easy to maintain. It makes its occupants lead an easy life with a minimum of fuss and bother. There are fewer overheads and modern technology is used to save energy and water. It is less formal than a period home and family togetherness is stressed in its very design.

The materials used are rugged and modern. Materials such as stainless steel are used to give a touch of modernity even to objects of everyday use such as cabinets and chairs. A contemporary home is uncluttered in its design and outlook. It makes use of open space to the maximum. There are no nooks and corners in it. Except for the bedrooms and bathrooms, the other areas merge and flow into one another. There are no strict boundaries between the kitchen and the dining area, or the living area and the dining area. This is a distinct feature of contemporary design.

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