Do you have a question?

Funny u should ask this since I was just looking at kitchens on houzz that were called modern n some called contemporary- to me they looked the same. Lol.

I had the same question a few years ago so did some reading. If my memory holds, consensus was contemporary should be used as an adjective meaning "current" and that modern is a style. but, yes, often I think they are used interchangeably.

Sophie, why is "contemporary" bad? If a client of yours happens to like contemporary, does that mean they have "bad" taste?

Twana, here's a good explanation: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN?

Modern with a capital M especially refers to a specific period of the 20th century and there are shorter periods or types of modernism during that period.

Contemporary refers to whatever is happening right now. However "soft contemporary " is sometimes used to refer to designs that are from the late modern period.

However the terms can be used generically and correctly interchangeably because whatever is current is modern, essentially.

Some sources are starting to differentiate the 20 th century Modern from generic modern my calling the historic style ModernIST.

I like the explanation above but honestly real people often use the terms interchangably. I happen to like both and often use them together in a home and I happen to love minimalism and streamlined design in fact I do not actually do traditional for clients I refer them to another designer who loves that style, my heart is just not into that particular design.

Not all current design is bad. But a whole lot is, because it’s based on mass marketing rather than authenticity of design. And combining all of the fads into one room usually does mean Bad Taste. Or, more specifically, no actual individual taste other than to feel vaguely comfortable with commonly seen choices and to feel vaguely uncomfortable with something out of the pop style norm.

Shiplap, Gray microfiber sectionals, and ikat drapes is Contemporary. It comes from whatever the marketers pick up and think will be the Next Big Thing to sell you. It’s fake shiplap, out of scale upholstery, and the “mix of whimsy” made in China traditional prints.

An Adrian Pearsall sectional in citron tweed with gray grass cloth walls, and slub silk pinch pleated wall to wall draperies is Modern. It comes from a tradition and a viewpoint. It’s based in authenticity and quality.

Modern describes a static (era-specific) design style and is typically referred to that of the 1920s-1950s (although some make the case that modern design refers to anything from the 20th Century). Contemporary design is dynamic, meaning it’s constantly changing and isn't tied down to one specific style – it’s of the moment and borrows bits and pieces from a variety of styles and eras.

This was Contemporary at one time. Some hints of Modern, but much too much Fad to be called Modern.

These are Modern, and although vintage, are pretty ageless except for a couple of touches here and there.

Overall, the current design shift is towards Modern design principals, which is why it can be confusing. And there are a lot of good interpretations of Modern classic designs being redone to be placed in Contemporary spaces.

But, overall, good design isn’t going to be WalMartable. Sure, with the right discernment and design sensibility, you can pluck out a few cheepchinesecrapola piec s to mix in with good quality. That’s true of any design style.

But if you buy 100% of your room from mass market sources, you are not investing in things that will be considered classic or valuable in 50 years time. You’re buying Contemporary, which generally has an element of kitsch creeping into it rather than being a faithful copy of a more expensive quality piece.

And some people don’t care about design to that level one single bit. But they usualky don’t post here. They buy the $30 gallon of blue paint and black blobby leather sofa and a 60” TV and call the room done.

I think of Modern as a particular period of 20th Century design. As for contemporary, when well done it can be fabulous, but most of what we think of as contemporary is really, as my architect friend calls it, "contempo." And that's not a compliment.