Also, here are some great tips for choosing furniture and layout for your outdoor space.

What are you planning to do to create your perfect outdoor space this spring?

Cheers!
Rebecca

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Here are three design suggestions from John Newlin:

1. Show no fear. Don’t be afraid to try something completely different. Just because it’s not in the rule book doesn’t mean it’s against the rules. You’ll know pretty fast if your experiment works. Interior designer Nick Olsen has a pretty cool thing going.

2. Evolve. While you may just be that one person who created the perfect room, I think the rest of us should be making adjustments to our spaces as frequently as our lives’ dictate. It seems natural that our dwellings grow with our character.

3. Don’t limit yourself to one particular style. Develop your own aesthetic and buy pieces that speak to you, whether they’re modern, vintage or not fashionable at the moment.

Great advice, don’t you think?  Personally, I love any advice that encourages us to follow our inner guidance system and do our own thing. Thanks Morgan for the great interview.

- Rebecca

Quite nice, don’t you think?

~ Rebecca

Here eight contemporary looks we hope will inspire your own interior design projects. Please enjoy!

Mid-Century modern and contemporary meet in this pretty redo. Subtle color and pattern give the space a warm and inviting vibe. Texture and movement make the beautiful contemporary rug the focal point of the design.

In today’s contemporary design, the kitchen is still the heart of the family home. This inviting pale blue and white space offers lots of room for cooking and conversation. I love the decision to surround the deep-set sky light with recessed kitchen lights.

Sleek contemporary built-ins create a home office that’s both pretty and functional. Glass shelving gives the spaces an open airy feel.

Today’s contemporary interior designs often include natural wood. This open dining room is a beautiful example of the brilliant use of many different woods and finishes in one space. The contemporary oval pendant light is a great design choice over the table.

Here, a bedroom in warm tones gets an updated look with a sleek natural wood canopy bed “dipped” in white paint.

Gray is fast becoming the go-to neutral in many contemporary homes. Darker shades of gray add depth to this open space. Pendant lighting stars here, in both the kitchen and adjoining dining room.

A contemporary powder room goes global with Scalmandre’s Zebras wallpaper in Safari Brown.

Graphic black and white is often seen in contemporary bathrooms. Not so expected is large geometric pattern that covers the floor and an entire wall. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of these contemporary looks? Leave your thoughts below and be sure to stop by our website for more home decor and interior inspiration!

Create interior space that’s free of distractions, such as electronics and gadgets, enriched with aromatherapy scents and adorned with harmonious decor by adopting the following design tips:

Moody Lighting

Avoid harsh overhead lights in spaces intended for relaxation and friendly interaction. For areas that require brightness, such as the kitchen, install a dimmer so that you can match the type of mood you’re trying to achieve. Also, lighting your home with natural sunlight is the best way to create a serene, inviting ambience. Custom roller shades are a stylish solution for maximizing privacy and bringing sunshine into the home. Include decorative floor and desk lamps as part of your lighting scheme; themed bases, dimmed lanterns and shapely contemporary designs are stylish interior accents.

Blissful Color Scheme

Incorporate colors that exude calmness, tranquility and bliss. Whether you’re painting walls or establishing a color scheme, select hues that naturally resonate with you and create positive energies. Earthy tones such as blue and green may put you at peace, or perhaps citrus colors such as lemon-yellow and tangerine make you feel happy and lively.

Be wary of loud, bold colors or trendy patterns. Contemporary interior design ideas may be chic and stylish; however, a modern interior-design theme can quickly become outdated and grow tiresome. One design option is to keep the walls and color scheme neutral. Use colors such as sand and beige and then accent with colorful decor. Table centerpieces, throw pillows, lamp shades and wall hangings can play significant roles in the aesthetics of your interior space.

Alfresco Decor

Integrate outdoor elements into your home for a natural, stress-free environment. A variety of fresh plants and flowers from the kitchen to the living room provides oxygen and air purification, which enhance everyday living. Organic and earthy elements naturally calm the mind and ease moods. Imagine coming home from a busy day at work to be met with colorful, blooming flowers and lush, green vegetation. Also, wall art depicting beautiful landscapes and nature scenes create an inviting, friendly and interactive space.

Simplified Space

Free your home of clutter and useless junk. An organized and minimal interior space reduces anxiety and creates a happier home. From nostalgic possessions that you can’t let go of to miscellaneous debris, eliminating unnecessary clutter from your home can be an exhilarating and spiritual experience. Newly open space in drawers and closets as well as on countertops will feel like an empowering, fresh start. Eliminate clutter and items that no longer serve a purpose. Evaluate and toss possessions that you’ve outgrown, only aspire to use, rely on as a crutch, keep because it was a bargain or cling to because of sentimental reasons.

Thank you for this guest post by Gary Needle. Gary’s career has taken many twists and turns; he’s been a nurse, a construction worker, a bartender and now a go-to guy for interior design ideas. He is as amused by all of the hats he gets to wear as much as his readers are.

Perfect eye candy on a grey-sky day in January.

- Rebecca

Would any – or all – of these look great in your kitchen?

Don’t forget to follow 17th and Riggs on Facebook and on Pinterest for ongoing contemporary design inspiration!

Mmmmm…. perfect.

‘Like’ us on Facebook for more modern inspiration and tips for creating a calm, contemporary space.

Visit our store for a beautiful selection of serenely styled furniture, lighting and decor.  One of our new favorites (in cream!):

]]> http://blog.17thandriggs.com/2012/11/serene-whites/feed/ 1 http://blog.17thandriggs.com/2012/11/a-modern-wine-cellar/ http://blog.17thandriggs.com/2012/11/a-modern-wine-cellar/#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:51:24 +0000 Rebecca http://blog.17thandriggs.com/?p=4491 Continue reading →]]> I must admit, this lover of most things minimalist and contemporary, has a soft spot for quaint country homes and farm houses.  Oh, and I would most definitely choose a rustic, Italian country-side style wine cellar over a sleek, modern one.  Toss in a table for sharing a few bottles with friends and you have perfection:

However, this led me to wonder about what wine lovers who want a sleek wine-tasting room might dream up for their modern home.

And this last one definitely has that ‘wow’ factor:

Of course, it’s no rush to choose a design…  There is currently zero wine cellars in our two-bedroom apartment but you do have to plan/dream ahead for these things:).

Which do you prefer? The rustic cellar or a sleek wine storage area?

- Rebecca

PS – Don’t forget to ‘Like’ us on Facebook and ‘Follow’ 17thandRiggs.com on Pinterest to catch all of our contemporary interior inspiration!

Photo by Simon Upton via Architectural Digest.

Don’t forget to stay tuned in for contemporary design inspiration via Facebook and Pinterest!