When you visit with a real estate agent as you begin a search for a new home, they may ask you what styles of homes you like. Understanding the differences between various home styles, like Colonials, Cape Cods, and Tudors, can help you communicate your style preferences to your real estate agent, making your search more efficient and successful.
This edition of our Real Estate 101: House Styles Series explores the modern home style and the features that make a modern home unique from any other style. If you appreciate clean lines, incorporating nature into your home design, and neutral colors, a modern home may be just what you’re looking for.
Modern or Contemporary?
When used in everyday language, both “modern” and “contemporary” refer to the current time period or the recent past. But in the world of home design, these are two distinct styles. The modern style references a specific time period, modernism from the 1930s, while the contemporary style reflects current trends.
Both modern and contemporary architectural styles reflect simplicity and clean, smooth lines. You will find similar materials, including wood and reflective surfaces like metal and glass. Other features, like exposed beams, are also common in both modern and contemporary styles of homes.
What you’ll see in contemporary homes that you will see less of in modern homes:
- Non-functional decorative elements
- Curves
- Bright, bold colors accented with black and white
What Makes a Modern Home Unique?
The modern design style is fueled by functional beauty and simplicity. This uncluttered style eliminates all ornate design and only incorporates design elements that serve a functional purpose. For example, you are unlikely to find ornamental features like molding in modern homes.
Modern homes connect outdoors and indoors in an effort to bring nature into the home.
- Unadorned, large windows and doors fill modern homes with natural light.
- Natural materials like wood and leather
- Floor plans incorporate flow from indoors to out
Other design elements common to modern homes include:
- Neutral, monochromatic color palettes
- Reflective materials, including glass, concrete, chrome, and steel
- Open floor plans
- Straight lines with very little use of curves
An Elmhurst Modern Home
If modern homes are your style, you will find many options in Elmhurst and the Chicagoland area, like this modern home at 717 S Washington Street in Elmhurst.
This recently sold modern home features the typical modern home rectangular exterior, unadorned, rectangular windows, and an open floor plan.
