Contemporary House Plans | Modern Contemporary Home Plans (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between modern and contemporary house plans? ›

Modern homes are structured and balanced, while contemporary homes offer more flexibility and allow architects to take greater artistic liberties in adopting a freeform approach. Although modern designs can be innovative, contemporary homes tend to be more unique in terms of their shape and aesthetic appeal.

These homes typically have an asymmetrical or otherwise irregular geometrical layout and use mixed materials on the exterior. Most often, on a contemporary house, you will see natural materials like wood, concrete, and metal used with a sleek approach.

“If you were comparing them side by side, contemporary design is much more stark and sleek, extremely minimalist, and has a more streamlined, sterile vibe,” Curtis says. “A modern home will have a much warmer feel, with more layers, more organic elements, and a slightly earthier, cozier vibe.”

Contemporary is, by definition, what's happening in design at this very moment in time. This definition makes it more fluid and hard to pin down. Modern design, on the other hand, has a distinguishable aesthetic that emphasizes crisp lines, warm neutrals, and balance.

What Is A Contemporary-Style Home? A contemporary home is a house with design elements and features that reflect today's architecture style. Although similar to a modern home, contemporary houses come with common characteristics such as clean lines, natural lighting and a minimalist feel.

The cost to build a contemporary home varies depending on the location of your home, the cost of labor where you live, the quality of the materials you choose, and your desired square footage. But one thing is certain: building a contemporary home is more expensive than building a traditional one.

In both cases, the materials and finishes used for a Contemporary home are many times commercial-grade, which is naturally more costly than traditional home building materials. Another defining characteristic of Contemporary homes is the low roofline - most typically either flat, very low gables, or hipped roofs.

While contemporary design is of the current moment, modern design is inspired by the early to mid-20th century, right around the 1920s – 1970s. A very popular subset of this design style is called midcentury modern, which is inspired by the 1950s and 1960s.

Cons Of Contemporary Houses

High price: Contemporary homes typically use sustainable materials and features, which are sometimes more expensive.

What is a soft contemporary house? ›

Developed in the latter half of the 20th century, soft contemporary interiors contain neutral elements accentuated by bold color, the overall focus being the basics of line, shape and form. The typical contemporary color palette relies heavily on brown, taupe, cream and pure white.

Defined by clean lines, decorated minimalism, and current trends, contemporary interiors are distinctly of-the-moment—even when the moment changes. Found throughout homes, offices, and retail settings, below AD dives into just what makes this versatile style and how you can bring it into your space.

This type is the most common home in just four states, but one – California – is the nation's largest housing market. The modern style is marked by geometric but asymmetrical silhouettes, large windows and open floor plans. In addition to California, contemporary homes are common in Hawaii.

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest challenges modern architects face is environmental sustainability. With climate change's stark realities, sustainable and eco-friendly building design is crucial. Architects must create green buildings that minimize carbon footprints and reduce environmental impact.

The cost to build a contemporary home varies depending on the location of your home, the cost of labor where you live, the quality of the materials you choose, and your desired square footage. But one thing is certain: building a contemporary home is more expensive than building a traditional one.

Modernism is a 20th-century style defined by clean lines and minimalism. Contemporary architecture refers to structures built from the late 20th century to the present that are marked by unconventional forms, asymmetry, open floor plans, and innovations like smart home technology.