Simple and sleek

Get inspiration from Atlanta homes that exude contemporary style,

Contemporary style can be diffificult to pinpoint. Most often, the style gets mixed in with modern but it doesn’t have to be diffifficult to defi fine. In the simplest terms, contemporary style encompasses what’s new and current in interior design. Trending colors, textures and accents are a good place to start if you’re looking to adapt this ever-changing style.

Every week the AJC’s Private Quarters takes you inside some of metro Atlanta’s most noteworthy homes and this week is all about homes that embody the simple, clean aesthetic of contemporary style.

“Modern and contemporary styles share a few important features: Both emphasize clean lines and minimal adornment,” writes Houzz. “Butwhile contemporary style is influenced by the hereand-now, modern style is fi firmly rooted in another era: the middle of the 20th century, fromthe mid-1940s to 1970.”

If you’re looking to bring this style into your home you might start by asking yourself: What’s popular? Looking to current trends is a good place to start but newness and popularity aren’t the only defi fining characteristics. A focus on open floorplans with clean lines and lots of structure are crucial elements of this style.

When it comes to the nuts and bolts, you’ll want to keep accents at a minimum. Contemporarystyle is clean, fresh, light and airy: Think strong shapes and furniture with smooth shapes. “Pieces feature clean lines and smooth surfaces without any carving or adornment. Silhouettes are slim without being dainty. Furniture ismade of light-colored woods such as maple and birch (which also have minimal graining), frosted or clear glass, stainless steel, nickel and chrome,” writes HGTV.

As for color, contemporary style does rely heavily on white and other neutral colors like gray and taupe. Butwhat’s great about contemporary style is that it’s open for interpretation. There aren’t set rules because the rules are always changing and high-contrast is an important element. Bold accent colors like teal, navy, yellow are a great addition to a contemporary color palette.

“Color in contemporary-style spaces can be as bright and bold — or as soft and subtle — as you want it tobe,” according to Houzz. “Thoughtful handling of negative space and a confifident application of color, when used, are more integral to this look than sticking to any particular color palette.”

Keep in mind that contemporary style, while minimal, does not have to be cold and sterile. There is plenty of room for comfort and function when it comes to execution. But structural shapes are a must: “Furniture, lighting and accent pieces share a sleek aesthetic with strong shapes and unique silhouettes. Look for slim chair profifiles, long and lows of as, and sculptural light fi fifi fifi fixtures ," writes Houzz.

In short, contemporary style is very much what you make it but you want to keep structure in mind and keep accents at a minimum. Sometimes the easiest way to defi fine a style is to think if what it isn’t. Contemporary style is not cluttered, heavily-adorned or strict about style rules. Lots of open space and sleek, modern finishes will help you go a long way when it comes to this in- themoment style.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS. The living roomof SherryHabif’s home is designed toembody springtimein the forest. Soft colors and organic themes in the decor convey thismessage. Habifworked with Julia and Ted Larrabee of Julia Larrabee Designs to redesign the living areas andmaster bedroomin her homein 2017 and 2018.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS One of the things that drew Rand and Shell Royster to their Atlanta condowas the three-level layout, with a loft area for relaxing at the top. The living and kitchen areas are open, flflowing around the central staircase to give the entire rooma serene feel.

REYNOLDS ROGERS. TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY Working with interior designer Christopher Taillard, Sarah Blackman andWaltGeer designed their kitchen to their taste, following his advice tomixmetal fifinishings in features like their vent hood, faucet and Circa Lighting pendants. They also put in a cabinet-front refrigerator, which is a feature that Sarah has always admired, and double laminate quartz countertops.

BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS. TEXT A unique art piece by Cathy Ehrler fifills onewall of her Atlanta loft. Titled “DNA,” themultimedia piece is a painting of a tree in grayscale with black andwhite family photos collaged onto the trunk. Names of Cathy and her husband’s ancestors arewoven into thework.