Simply Contemporary: Inspirations for the Modern Home

by Sølvi Dos Santos

Eclectic, livable, personal: these are the qualities that epitomize today's most captivating modern homes, turning them into spaces brimming with individual style.
In "Simply Contemporary," renowned photographer Solvi dos Santos shares her unique portfolio of twenty-eight homes that have been updated to reflect the personalities and passions of the people who live in them. None of the properties has been made this way through exorbitant budgets, extravagant shopping sprees, or pages of style tips from glossy magazines. Rather, the homeowners looked to the items they already own and love to create dwellings that are full of personal significance and history. These spaces have been gutted, rebuilt, adapted, or simply redecorated, and not a single one was produced under the watchful gaze of interior designers. The end result is a collection of modern interiors that are constantly evolving, bringing a fresh new spin to contemporary design that tailors itself to the lives of each home's inhabitants.
Much of the beauty of the spaces in "Simply Contemporary" is derived from the objects within: African masks in a lakeside apartment in Copenhagen revealing a fashion designer's penchant for collecting, or a kitchen blackboard hanging below a painting in a Dutch country villa showing that a family's need for practicality doesn't override their love for art. From a family's weekend houseboat off the Danish coast to a restored farmhouse in Provence, from an architect's New York City loft high above Chinatown to a writer's hideaway in the shadows of Palma's cathedral, this stunning collection will inspire you to embrace the items already in your home to create warm, comforting spaces that radiate individual personality.
"Simply Contemporary" transforms the often daunting concept of contemporary, modern decorating through interiors that are at once aspirational and accessible. Whether you're searching for inspiration to redesign your home office or ideas to personalize your country getaway, "Simply Contemporary" will spark the creativity of anyone looking to embrace individuality and meaning to create the perfect comfortable home, regardless of location, size, or budget.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2006

Reviews

[Beth Bonini · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book is a bit misleading - at least, it doesn’t really express my idea of ‘contemporary’ when it comes to interior decor or style. Really, this is a very chic book for the upcyclers and collectors and people who prefer the vintage and the ‘storied’ over the new and designed. There is a huge variety here - the Norwegian photographer features 28 houses; mostly in Europe, although two of them are in New York state - but they are united in sensibility and approach, if not in anything else. Most of the decor does fall on the sparse and minimal side, and I suppose that is the ‘contemporary’ bit; for instance, you won’t see much in the way of elaborate soft furnishings, or modern ‘techy’ appliances, and there certainly isn’t a fitted carpet to be seen. The emphasis is definitely on the integrity of the ‘line’ and the materials.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book full of pictures of beautiful and unique homes, but, as another reviewer noted, it doesn't really deliver on being "inspirations for the modern home" because so many of the homes featured are in exceptional buildings - one is literally introduced with saying that when it was built it made headlines. Most people, especially Americans living in locations where development is mostly recent and fairly cookie-cutter, likely won't be able to compare their own homes to those featured because a lot of the beauty comes from the architecture itself, rather than design.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book shows the decorating style in a wide array of apartments and homes across the world. I did not find any inspiration as all of the buildings shown are so unique in their architectural style. The decorating styles, while they vary to some degree, are a combination of modern, antiques, and country. I think many Americans not having these architectural styles will generally find little inspiration. It is a book to borrow from the library rather than to own.

[Alejandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I keep next to my dining table and browse at least once a week. I absolutely love it...