​Modern & Contemporary Style: Understanding The Differences Through A Florence Knoll Sofa & Designs

If you're a fan or just a follower of the interior design world, you've probably come across layouts that include elements like the Florence Knoll sofa or the Shell chair. These two are iconic pieces that make up one of the greatest styles frequently exposed in different blogs, magazines, and media. These two styles are no more and no less than modernist and contemporary.

Due to the similarities between modernist and contemporary styles are very similar but not the same, they tend to be constantly confused. This is why we have decided that today we are going to explain each style separately and mention some key differences so that you understand how to easily differentiate them. Let´s start!

What is modern style & how to recognize it

Modern is a style that refers to a period in time, specifically from the beginning to the middle of the 20th century.

It is easy to recognize it through the exposure to pieces of influential figures such as the famous Charles, the incomparable Florence Knoll, and the considered father of modernism: Le Corbusier.

One of the causes of the birth of this movement and it is important to mention is that it was created thanks to the fact that young people were tired of not very functional and expensive styles since they lived in a post-war era and needs evolve. Due to these new needs, it could be seen that their greatest influences were the Scandinavian and German Bauhaus designs since they fulfill functionality rather than ornamentation.

Plus! The modernism movement also includes the mid-century modern style, which is a kind of version of it burn in the middle of the ‘50s.

So, how can you recognize a modern layout?

Well, it's pretty simple! First, check the furniture. The furniture must be functional over ornamental. They usually include earth tones, natural elements, very neutral and calm accessories. Let's look at an example of a mid-century layout to fully understand it.

As you can see in this design, the wooden details are very noticeable, almost acting as the material that covers most of the space. The key to this design is the Florence Knoll sofa and coffee table. This particular sofa has a very functional frame that shows straight lines and good lumbar support. And the coffee table is entirely made of wood, which shows that although modern designs are metal, it is always combined with abundant wooden details.

What is contemporary style & how to recognize it

Contemporary design was born in the 1970s when postmodernism was on the rise. This style has a particular appearance that is recognized by its color palette which is made up of black, white, and gray. The color palette also has touches of more eccentric colors such as red or orange.

You can easily recognize contemporary style as it has a combination of materials such as steel and glass.

So how can you differentiate the contemporary from the modern style?

• The modern one has more natural accents like wood, unlike the contemporary one that exhibits pieces made of metal and glass.
• The modern style is based on functionality as opposed to contemporary where the ornamentation is valid.
• The modern style shows an earthy and clear palette, unlike the contemporary one that has darker and more opaque colors.