Thingz Contemporary Interior Design Blog

There are literally thousands of contemporary occasional chairs out there to choose from. Some are simple and clean, while others are whimsical and bold. This is not a post about simple and clean. If you’re looking for wild statement chairs to awe your friends and family then you’ve got to check these out! We searched high and low for the funkiest, contemporary occasional chairs we could find. Enjoy!

We love modern and contemporary design, so naturally we notice it wherever we go – the lighting at that swanky new restaurant, the fabulous lounge chair on that celebrity house tour on MTV, and of course, at the movies. If you happen to be the significant other of a “Thingz-ite” (or is it Thingzian?), then you’ve no doubt been completely absorbed in a movie right at the peak of some dramatic, climactic moment when you hear a little whisper in your ear – “See that lamp? We have that at Thingz. Cool, huh?”.

Glass and contemporary design are very compatible terms. Glass is sleek, shiny and open. It can be bent or cut into countless cool shapes and be used with an infinite variety of finishes in a space. Since it reflects light, it can brighten a room. When it is clear, it allows light to pass through, giving the space a feeling of expansiveness.

If you’ve ever been to a lighting store, you know it can be tricky to find the perfect fixture in the sea of boring, traditional chandeliers. So with today’s top 10 list we’ll help you weed through the blah and get right to wow. So check out these super cool contemporary lights (all available at Thingz). We hope you’ll find them illuminating… get it?

Here at Thingz we LOVE all things contemporary and modern. We go crazy for contemporary furniture, lighting, art and accessories. But what is great contemporary design without a beautiful, modern space where it can come to life? Luckily for Arizonans, we have one of the world’s most talented modern architects right here in the Valley. For nearly forty years, Milwaukee born Architect, Will Bruder has been designing fabulous, modern structures in Arizona and beyond.

You can do a lot to pull together a look with carefully chosen furniture and accessories. Maybe you’ve even been brave enough to paint your walls with something other than white or neutrals. Still, your space may be feeling a little barren. Thankfully, there are lots of fun options at Thingz to fill that niche or empty expanse of wall.

Natural cowhides are clearly a staple of Southwest style design. What says “wild west” better than a cowhide rug on the floor? But what about using cowhides in contemporary design? It’s actually more common than you might think. In fact, cowhides have been popular since the early days of modern furniture design. Take the LC1 chair designed by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret in the 1920s. It is a beautiful example of cowhide on a piece of classic modern furniture.

More and more homes now feature a pool table in one of the rooms. Of course, the quintessential game room would not be complete without one. Playing pool is a favorite pastime for many and having the equipment to do so in one’s own home allows for better home recreation.

Many houses are adorned with at least one ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are immensely practical. They are used not only for cooling purposes, but to serve as decorative pieces as well. In fact, many ceiling fan/lighting fixture combinations can function as a focal point in a room.

When modern décor is mentioned, the ordinary layperson usually envisions lots of chrome perhaps partnered with black or white leather. It looks very streamlined, rather minimalist, perhaps a little futuristic… We know that is not always the case for modern or contemporary interiors. All sorts of materials are possible elements in contemporary décor. A favorite and very tasteful feature in many a contemporary interior is an exotic wood finish.
Wood can be very stylish. It adds the suggestion of nature in a decorative setup. Of course, in picking wood furniture, you have to be mindful of practical things such as durability, style associations, staining, finishing, etc. Nowadays, wood finishes figure prominently in contemporary design. The choices for wood finish are more than ever now. Many like the appeal of a wood finish and the organic touch it brings. In the past, exotic wood was ordinarily used for such things as musical instruments, jewelry and decorative accents, but now entire furniture sets can be made of it. Naturally, it takes an expert furniture builder to be cognizant of such things as natural oils and resins to know how to properly finish an exotic wood.
Two of the primary factors to consider when choosing what type of wood finish to go for are the purpose of the furniture and the environment it will be in. You have to know how and for what the furniture is going to be used. For instance, you may want to use a non-toxic oil finish for something like a butcher’s block, an easy to clean glossy paint finish for a kitchen work surface, or a finish with fungicide for something that may be exposed to the elements. Exotic wood is preferably finished with oil as an oil finish brings out the natural beauty and the grain details of the wood.
Some popular exotic wood finishes are dark mahogany, macassar ebony, natural walnut and zebrawood. Of course, you have to realize that color is also an important element in choosing a wood finish. Dark colors such as those on mahogany and macassar ebony tend to be more transitional, complementing both traditional and contemporary settings. Lighter colors blend in better in a casual setup.
Mahogany is exceptionally popular as it is both practical and attractive, not to mention highly versatile. Dark mahogany furniture makes a smart investment as it is easy to find separate pieces in the same material or finish. Dark mahogany, as is typical in dark wood colors, never goes out of style.