Contemporary
Traditional
Contemporary design or modern design relies on clean lines, smooth and polished surfaces, and few intricate details. It is not stark and cold but comfortable and
spatious without clutter. Contemporary design focuses on neutral colors, such as creams, whites, browns, blacks and taupe. Bold colors, such as red or yellow, are for accent. Stainless
steel, chrome and nickel are the usual choices for lamps, hardware and appliances. Black is a popular accent found on the metal. Wood furniture is light or dark. Upholster furniture is
comfortable but not bulky. Leather is a popular choice for sofas.
Traditional furniture is formal furniture made up until the end of the Victorian Period, right before the modernist movement took hold. It is quality furniture made by old-world
craftsmanship, with hand-carved dark wood both elaborate and formal in setting. The furniture is characteristic from the various eras when it was made and had a Gothic look with carved
heads, claw-foot legs on tabes and ornate marbles and hardware.
Traditional style furniture was made from deeply carved, thick wood, often stained dark, with elaborate hand-carved scrolls and with ball or claw feet. There were elaborate inlaid sections
to the furniture pieces, in solid brass and exotic materials, such as bone or ivory. Fabrics were often made from silk in sophisticated patterns, solid colors or
tapestries.