Best Of 74+ Gorgeous Modern Vs Contemporary House Design Top Choices Of Architects

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When looking for the perfect house design, there are two styles which are often compared: modern and contemporary. To make decision making easier, we have put together the best of both worlds in this list of modern vs contemporary house design. Here you can compare each of their Pros and Cons and make an informed decision about your next home.

Modern House Designs

Modern house designs are the latest trend in home architecture. These designs focus on a sleek, minimalist style that often emphasizes the use of clean lines and neutral colors. Modern house designs often feature open floor plans and make use of natural materials such as wood, stone, and metal to create a modern and calming atmosphere. Modern homes typically have plenty of windows to allow in natural light, and often combine outdoor spaces like patios and decks to maximize outdoor living.

Modern House Designs

Contemporary House Designs

Contemporary house designs often include elements of modern house designs, but have more unique characteristics that set them apart from traditional home styles. Contemporary house designs often feature a focus on the use of unique materials such as glass, concrete, and steel. These materials are often combined with natural elements such as wood and stone, creating a truly unique look. Contemporary house designs also often feature unique, asymmetrical shapes and high ceilings, giving them a truly contemporary feel.

Contemporary House Designs

Modern Beach House Designs

Modern beach house designs typically focus on creating an open and airy atmosphere that takes full advantage of the outdoor environment. These designs often feature wide expanses of glass and plenty of outdoor spaces that maximize the connection between indoor and outdoor living. Modern beach house designs also often feature elements such as natural wood and stone, which give them a beachy, organic feel. Many modern beach house designs focus on incorporating natural elements into the design such as lush landscaping and outdoor living spaces.

Modern Beach House Designs

Contemporary Beach House Designs

Contemporary beach house designs often incorporate modern features like open floor plans and unique materials like glass and steel. However, they often take the beach house feel a step further by including more traditional elements such as hardwood floors and resort-style amenities. Contemporary beach house designs often put a special emphasis on outdoor living by creating spaces like patios, decks, and outdoor kitchens. These spaces can make the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beach lifestyle.

Contemporary Beach House Designs

Modern Country House Designs

Modern country house designs typically focus on traditional country elements such as wide front porches, spacious kitchens, and cozy living spaces. These modern designs often take traditional elements and give them a contemporary spin, such as in the use of modern materials like glass, steel, and concrete. Modern country house designs often feature open floor plans and plenty of windows to maximize natural light. With a combination of modern and traditional touches, these designs can create a truly unique and cozy space for any homeowner.

Modern Country House Designs

Contemporary Country House Designs

Contemporary country house designs often take traditional country elements such as rustic woods and cozy living spaces, and update them with modern touches such as sleek materials like steel and glass. Variety is key in these designs, as they often incorporate a mix of traditional and modern elements to create a truly unique and welcoming space. Contemporary country house designs also tend to focus on maximizing outdoor living spaces like patios and decks for a truly modern take on classic country style.

Contemporary Country House Designs

Modern Craftsman House Designs

Modern Craftsman house designs often tap into the classic charm of Craftsman architecture while at the same time giving the style a modern twist. These designs typically feature natural materials like woodwork and stone, as well as modern touches like steel trim and glass accents. Modern Craftsman house designs also often make use of open layouts, plenty of natural light, and outdoor living spaces to truly bring the indoors out.

Modern Craftsman House Designs

Contemporary Craftsman House Designs

Contemporary Craftsman house designs are often an interesting combination of traditional and modern elements. These designs often incorporate natural materials like wood and stone, along with modern elements such as glass and steel accents. Contemporary Craftsman house designs also tend to make use of open layouts and plenty of natural light to create a modern feel. Outdoor living spaces like patios and decks further emphasize the connection between indoor and outdoor living.

Contemporary Craftsman House Designs

Modern Bungalow House Designs

Modern bungalow house designs often take the classic architecture of bungalow homes and update them for the modern homeowner. These designs typically feature natural materials like wood and stone, as well as modern touches like steel accents and glass windows. Modern bungalow house designs often focus on open layouts that maximize natural light, and often include outdoor spaces such as decks and patios to create additional living space.

Modern Bungalow House Designs

Contemporary Bungalow House Designs

Contemporary bungalow house designs often take traditional bungalow designs and give them a modern twist. These designs typically feature modern materials such as steel, glass, and concrete, combined with traditional materials like wood and stone. Contemporary bungalow house designs also often focus on open floor plans and plenty of natural light to create a modern atmosphere. Outdoor living spaces such as decks and patios are also often incorporated to create additional living space and expand the connection between indoors and outdoors.

Contemporary Bungalow House Designs

Characteristics of Modern vs Contemporary House Design

modern vs contemporary house design

The terms Modern and Contemporary are often interchangeably used when discussing home design, but there are distinct differences between these two aesthetics. Modern design is oftentimes rooted in the early and mid-20th Century, whereas Contemporary design reflects the moment in which it is created. Both styles incorporate a minimalistic and uncluttered environment, with a focus on clean lines, subtle textures and inviting colors.

Modern House Design

modern vs contemporary house design

Modern home designs aim to reflect the industrial age of the early 20th century. Prominent features that characterize a Modern home often include open floor plans, the use of various metals, neutrals and earthy tones, and an emphasis on either hard or soft geometry in furniture and house fixtures.

Contemporary House Design

modern vs contemporary house design

In contrast, Contemporary designs take cues from the social climate and cultural trends of the moment. These design styles often draw inspiration from the past and mix it with the present. An emphasis is placed on stainless steel and other contemporary materials, mixed with warm and inviting textures, like velvet and warm woods.

Key Differences

modern vs contemporary house design

The biggest difference between Modern and Contemporary design lies in the exploration of shapes. While Modern design can be seen as rigid and dim, Contemporary is more light, airy, and open to experimentation. The past serves as an inspiration for Contemporary design, but it is also a reflection of the present-day.


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