I love modern, although neither my house nor decor is modern.

If I were you, I'd just start clearing out and selling all the pieces you don't think will work. Keep the special ones as the accent pieces you want and fit them in as your rooms develop. I love the eclectic look!

Antique and vintage items from the Art Deco era --- right to the Mid-Century Modern era can really set off a modern-contemporary room. For example -- JUST an example -- add a MCM sunburst mirror or clock over a fireplace or buffet with contemporary buffet lamps. Look for clean lines in your objects.

Also don't forget about wonderful vintage fabrics too -- which can make wonderful table runners or cushions.

I think contemporary and antique's can go together nicely as long as you know when to stop. Contemporary is clean lines and no clutter.

I'm in the same boat. We just moved and remodeled the kitchen with Ikea. All white with clear acrylic knobs, neutral countertops and a zinc top on the island. Most of my furniture is traditional, so I'm trying to blend the two styles. I have decided to go with more modern lighting and art and limit accessories to bold large pieces that make an impact. Some of those large bold pieces are antique or traditional, but showcasing them by themselves makes them seem more modern. I also think using natural elements helps to blend the styles- example, an interesting branch mounted as art.
In addition, I painted the walls tones of grey which I think is a bit more modern.

Oh my goodness, a post after my own heart! I too, am in the same boat up the same creek. I love modern furniture, however, my thing is that I like it in a flea market sense, not the sparse penthouse look. I cannot get over my love of stuff.

One book that has helped me come to terms with my "style" is by Emily Chalmers, "Flea Market Style". She...gets me. For some reason, I cannot abide shopping like a normal person for furniture in a normal furniture store. I go comatose with boredom around regular shopping. And I'm very attracted to retro 60's - 70's furniture. I have a pair of Milo Baughman bucket chairs with chrome legs, in the original brown velvet upholstery, which is looking a bit worn. I also have a Milo Baughman case sofa and loveseat, made of rosewood. A lot of people think they are fugly. I heart them. The upholstery is an offwhite oatmeal, sort of nubby. I would very much like to get them reupholstered, but I can't decide on a fabric.

I still don't have a coffee table. I can't find one I like. Well, OK, I HAVE one, but it's only there for visitors to put their feet up on, and I hope they ignore it. It's an 80's-trying-to-be-art-deco thing that I got for $10, and I painted it black so it would disappear. Which is better than the 80's oak parquet-over-particle board finish it had before.

The wall behind the sofa is COVERED with oil portraits dating from the '20's through the 70's. I love painted portraits. Every day that I sit in my living room, I feel like I am at my own private cocktail party. However, I have a very specific taste in art, and I find my visitors sometimes looking a bit weirded out by all my peeps on the wall. Ha.

My curtains are bird-of-paradise print barkcloth. Very vintage. Probably 40's? I think they may be...too much. I love them dearly, however, nearly every day I contemplate swapping them out for some modern plain silk curtains in a flax or linen color. I strive to find the balance in loving color and print, and yet combining it with streamlined furniture.

My "focal point" for the room is some old printing letters that came from my FIL's garage. He worked at a printing press that shut down in the 70's, and can't understand why I like these old letters hanging in my living room. They look industrial, which is a look I am very attracted too, but doesn't really work in a 70's split entry:-)

I am still looking for a gorgeous console or low buffet to replace the cheesy one I have right now. It was free, and...it looks free. A curb find that screams, hey, I'm a curb find! What else can I say.

The walls are Ellen Kennon Rainbow Fog, except for the portrait wall, which is Ellen Kennon Chartreuse. For a ceiling light I bought a George Nelson cigar lamp, 33 inches long. Other than that, I have lots of table lamps...I have a serious lamp addiction, especially with regards to tacky or over-the-top. I should just bit the bullet and buy some Muranos, but with three dogs with big happy tails, I just can't see investing $3k in something that sits on a low table.

I hope to get to the point where it all works. I'm still learning and trying. It's hard when one's taste is not the norm. I like stuff that other people wish to get rid of and get new. Heh.

Joanna

Me, me! But I went sort of the other way. We came from a series of great 1920s homes, the last a large Spanish bungalow. We had lots of wonderful antiques, mostly American and English Arts & Crafts and other '20s era things (barley twist, etc.).

Then we bought our current home. All wood, glass and organically contemporary. Barley twist wasn't going to cut it. We decided which items we really wanted to keep. The things that were special to us -- not just things that were "nice" and we hated to see go. Then we opened a booth in a local antique mall and sold the bulk of the rest of it.

Nothing we had was "named" (like Stickley, etc.) but all was nice. Even with the steep booth rent ($275/mo.) we cleared about $7,000 in about 8 months. And that is all going toward sprucing up the new house. You'll be surprised how easy it is to part with things once you make the decision to just DO it. And particularly when you have something to look forward to, like a new look for your home.

In fact, I'm now ready to let go of some of the things I held on to. They're lovely, but I really don't have a place for them and I'd love for someone else to get good use out of them. I am keeping an A&C grandfather clock and drop-front desk, but that's about it. As for collections, my Brush New Art Vellum pottery is now on floating IKEA shelves in the guest bedroom. It looks great in there.

Your house sounds wonderful to me.

Me too! The problem is that a lot of people associate modern with abstract/contemporary. I just like modern as in tailored, clean lines - not overstuffed/dark wood/etc. I do like a mix of modern and antiques. I think THAT is modern as well.

I have made the transition into more modern furnishing with my current home. I love the mix of MCM/modern/deco. I've never been a collector so I have never had much clutter.

We are starting to pick out furnishings and fabrics for our LR and DR and hope to have it completed by October. I will be using a some older pieces with more modern pieces. I love breaking up sleek lines with antiques.

I have posted pics of my FR and Breakfast area many times so for those who have seen it I apologize. It's the only rooms that are almost finished. Still looking for art that I like. Seems to be the hardest part of decorating for me.

Reading your posts has been so much fun! Thank you for all your great comments and ideas. I'm feeling better already :)

slowly replacing and decorating with function, clean lines and contemporary accents
I do need to learn to be more patient and accept that this will take time.

just start clearing out and selling all the pieces you don't think will work
Yes! There is certainly no room for my new uncluttered look with all these dubious turn of the century (no not this century, the last century) taking up every square inch of room space!

Antique and vintage items from the Art Deco era --- right to the Mid-Century Modern era can really set off a modern-contemporary room.
Balance is appealing, besides I just cannot commit to a single style or period!

contemporary and antique's can go together nicely as long as you know when to stop
Stopping - that pinpoints a skill I need to acquire. Just one or three or probably five or nine, things too many RUINS the sense of calm

I painted the walls tones of grey which I think is a bit more modern
I agree. The use of color and light makes a huge difference and getting that right (especially the lighting) is a little intimidating.

I have a very specific taste in art, and I find my visitors sometimes looking a bit weirded out by all my peeps on the wall. Ha.
Im LOL. How wonderful to feel pleasure each time you look at your paintings.

I should just bit the bullet and buy some Muranos, but with three dogs with big happy tails, I just can't see investing $3k in something that sits on a low table.
Im ROTFLOL. Seriously, there has to be functionality or what is the point!

Then we bought our current home. All wood, glass and organically contemporary.
I felt green with envy for a moment . . . moving on . . .

I'm now ready to let go of some of the things I held on to
Me too! And it is such a feeling of relief!

I do like a mix of modern and antiques. I think THAT is modern as well
Validation! Thank you.

I've never been a collector so I have never had much clutter.
You are fortunate! In my family collecting was always taken for granted, as in "so what are you collecting now?" And of course clutter was the result. I only recently discovered that collecting is not compulsorily! I started my children with collections before they could walk, but luckily they seem to be in recovery from this ailment!

Elizabeth

Me too! I get a little discouraged reading so many of the posts here that have, um, "fussy" furniture. I recently updated the kitchen to a modern minimal look and bought a lovely simple couch. I am slowly acquiring other furniture, and found some nice stuff on Craigslist. I am currenty on the hunt for a living room rug and some kind of tv/bookshelves wall unit. My decor is "public library". I love terrazzo floors, light wood, and stainless steel.

Good luck, and post pics so other modern lovers can get ideas!

lightlystarched - I love terrazzo too! One of my priorities when I remodeled my kitchen was to restore the abused terrazzo in my 1962 ranch. It was a huge drama finding someone to do the work and the results were less than hoped for, but I still am glad I kept it rather than tiling over or installing a wood floor, even though that would look more pristine.

"Public Library" I like that! Its a friendly version of modern minimalism :)

Elizabeth