Design | Grosvenor Heights | Montgomery Row | The Brownstones at Chevy Chase Lake
By: EYA Homes on January 25th, 2018
Contemporary homes often feature neutral color palettes and sleek lines and focus on comfort without clutter. Black, white and beige are frequently used base colors, with patterned fabrics, metal accents or small pops of color throughout the space. Think subdued patterns over colorful prints and clean lines over adorned furnishings. Contemporary homes feel open and airy and offer a subtle sophistication.
How can you get a contemporary style in your own home? We asked EYA's Design Manager, Amanda King, for her top tips on contemporary design ideas you'll want to try.
Are you transitional, contemporary, urban industrial or more of a minimalist?
Take our interior design style quiz to find out!
1. Use a Black & White Color Palette
Black, white and neutral color palettes are the foundation of a contemporary home. The sleek lines of the white cabinets in this contemporary kitchen are complemented by striking black accents, including the light fixtures, stone mixing bowl and metal vase.
2. Feature an Iconic Light Fixture
A striking light fixture with clean lines adds a contemporary flair to this living space. Also, notice the neutral walls with pops of color in the pillows and chairs, metal accessories and oversized art - all elements of the contemporary design style.
3. Show Some Leg
Furnishings in contemporary homes often have sleek lines and exposed legs on chairs, sofas and beds. No skirts, trims or excessive details - less is more! This room also features other contemporary elements such as oversized art and a metal and glass coffee table.
4. Use an Ikat Pattern Fabric
This ikat pattern fabric adds a pop to the room without adding too much color. Ikat is a dying technique that creates beautiful patterns, the perfect accessory for a contemporary space. Also note the use of neutral colors in the room, with metal-accented bedside tables and lamps.
5. Showcase Geometric Art
Geometric art works well in contemporary design. Showcase one large piece of artwork or group smaller pieces together, using black matte or metal frames. This classic mid-century womb chair and sleek end table complete the contemporary look of this room.
6. Add Stone & Metal Accents
Stone, metal and wood are frequently used accents in contemporary design. This stacked ledgestone fireplace with metal trim is a focal point of the rooftop terrace. You can use textured fabrics and pillows to soften up the metal and stone accents, such as these colorful, patterned pillows.
To see more examples of contemporary interior design, visit EYA's model homes featured in the photos above. Which community may be right for you? Take our quiz to find out!
January 5, 2023
Whether you’re moving into your first home or just looking to refresh your furnishings, there are many unique and creative ways to switch up your current home decor to feel fresh in the new year without breaking the bank. Read on for an updated post featuring a Q&A with one of our favorite designers, Holly Polgreen, President and Co-founder of Carlyn & Company Interiors + Design, for the best tips on how to repurpose, reorganize, and redesign your home decor.
December 20, 2022
As we welcome a New Year at the stroke of midnight on December 31st, many of us see the calendar starting again as a chance to instill our own new beginnings. An annual time to reassess and realign our goals, it’s also a chance to recharge, reset, and reflect on our habits, mindsets, and lifestyle. At the heart of most resolutions lists is a hope to find an overall healthier and happier lifestyle. Often this can be achieved by incorporating and practicing wellness in our daily lives. Hygge (pronounced hue-gah), a Danish inspired design trend, aims to do just that. This 18th century concept focuses on enjoying life’s simplest pleasures through contentment, warmth, and togetherness.
December 7, 2022
At EYA, we take great pride in not only creating beautiful living spaces, but also designing neighborhoods that bring people together. This may be done in various ways from creating new parks and playgrounds where kids can meet new friends to designing welcoming front porches where neighbors can greet and get to know each other. For many, being part of a community is an important factor in wellbeing and happiness and neighborhood communities are among the most important ways that people find lasting personal connections. What's it like to live in an EYA neighborhood? Watch the video below to hear from our homeowners about how they not only found a new home, but a new community.
October 25, 2022
At EYA, it is often said that we don't just build homes, we build neighborhoods. Every neighborhood is built with a holistic approach to not only create housing opportunities, but also with an eye towards enduring design, place making and connecting residents with each other and their community. This may be done in various ways, such as creating parks and playgrounds where neighbors can meet and become friends, or through unique art installations that give the neighborhood a sense of place and makes it feel like home.