Contemporary Homes - The Stressful Life Antidote

Since their inception the latter half of the 20th century, contemporary homes have had times of up and down demand but are once again experiencing a revival. Homeowners find the clean, sleek lines and airy spaces of today’s contemporary designs to be a calming respite from their harried, fast-paced lifestyles and demanding careers. Design is paramount in evoking a peaceful serenity inside and out.

While modern and contemporary homes are terms often used interchangeably, they are each distinctive. Contemporary style usually references what is current and timely now, but can draw from a variety of past styles. Generally speaking, modernism is most often represented by era-specific designs typically those of post-World War One from the 1920’s – 1950’s.

The contemporary home often includes these features:

-Less is more. Fewer walls and more wide open areas achieve the light and airy sense of space. Rooms can be visually divided by partial walls or open shelving. Various floor or ceiling treatments can also help designate areas, especially in living spaces.

-Repetition is the key. Shapes or angles are often repeated in a series of doorways, or windows to give a soothing rhythm while hardscapes can do the same with cabinetry and furnishings or even flooring.

-Slightly off-kilter. Elements like windows in geometric shape and spacing are more in keeping with the style than symmetrical designs.

-Not fussy. Clean lines, smooth surfaces and slim silhouettes free from adornment are perfect support players to light colored woods, frosted or clear glass, stainless steel, nickel and chrome. Mixed materials create interest. Combining different materials like different kinds of wood or combining wood with metal or glass create visually rich environments.

-Colored bright or neutral. There’s a place for bright colors in a contemporary home, but muted, earth tones can give timelessness to the home. Black adds a striking color injection and can be used in wall colors or countertops and appliances and also plays nicely with steel elements.

-Inside out. The relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces are emphasized and often incorporate moveable walls. Various alphabet shaped, open floor plans like L, H, T, and U designs maximize the outdoors. This also enhances the abundance of natural light into the home.

-Decidedly different. Exteriors announce unique curb style with irregular and asymmetrical façades.

Portfolio has many luxury homes available including this stunning contemporary listing:

Cielo House

With an enviable Texas Hill Country location, perched high on the brow of a hill, the  Cielo home was designed by San Antonio architect Davis Sprinkle for a client seeking solace in design and space to suit their lifestyle that leaned to the monastic. Built in 2006, the 3100 square foot luxury home enjoys large glass cantilevered expanses to direct and capture particular vistas and views of landscape details afar. Sitting on over 3-acres, it features two wings connected by a glass entry and corridor; one being public, the other private. Elevated covered patios on both sides of the entry create a modern version of the “dog trot” plan.

With mid-century modernist influences, the home boasts a low sloping roof, galvanized metal fascia, commercial windows and doors as well as sheltering overhangs, and glass placement that provide passive cooling, ventilation and abundant natural light. The steel structure encased in stone and stucco is enhanced by the spare palette of materials that make it not only aesthetically pleasing, but also sustainable and affords cost-effective living.

A masterful combination of natural and man-made materials, it incorporates wood, stone, steel and glass setting a sleek sense of style and clean design. The one-of-a-kind art space was designed to showcase and preserve the client’s notable art collection. More details on this luxury home can be found  here.

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