Material World

Times Property Mumbai | Saturday March 11, 2006

Materials like glass and mirrors help in extending the visual expanse of any space while steel can be a friendly material, says architect Pushkar Pingle.

Modern Contemporary, Glass, Mirrors, Steel, Wenge, Contrast and Bright Colours - these are the words that come to mind when you think of the latest design styles. ‘Zen-style architecture.’ Or ‘Contemporary interiors’, as this commonly referred to, is imported from Japan; this is conceptualised around some basic materials used in the right proportion. Materials like glass and mirrors help in extending visual expanse any space. Increasingly, modern homes are accepting this change.

A combination of galss, steel and veneer can be used extensively in the living room. Glass can be used in clear or translucent form. Frosted or etched can be used instead of clear glass where visual privacy is a concern. For instance, two small adjoining rooms can be made to look bigger by using translucent glass between the rooms instead of normal brick wall.

A square or a rectangular dining table with glass top and sleek chairs made of steel and leather combination find a place in living room. You may find one that is extendable; a four- seater can be made into an eight-seater when guest walk in.

Translucent glass partition can be used between the bedroom and bathroom. Eventually both the spaces become visually larger and with etched or frosted glass visual privacy is taken care of. Glass shower cubicles separating the dry space from the wet area and mirror are common in contemporary house- holds.

Materials like brushed steel and brushed aluminum go well with mirror and glass. Dark coloured veneers like wenge lend a good contrast to bright and reflective materials glass, mirror and steel and hence wenge can be used to bring that smart, stylish and contemporary look. A few small walls can be in different bright shades to give each room a separate identity.

A couch system is popular and goes very well using veneer finishes on modular and flexible furniture. A blend of steel and wooden furniture upholstered in leather, jute or cotton fabrics fit in this décor. But use only linear, straight-line pattern for upholstery. To avoid traditional heavy curtains or drapery in this modern set-up, straight line, vertical or horizontal blinds are good option.

Lighter tones on the wall go well with this look. Mirrors are also very good tool to increase the visual space of a room. Any small space can easily seem double its size by using a mirror. Mirrors can be used in rooms with small windows; try placing mirror on the wall adjacent to the window. For example, a four feet window will automatically seem like one that is eight feet instead. The key here is to use the mirror from floor to ceiling and without frames. Another idea is to place the mirror in such a way that a person does not see his own reflection in the mirror simply because if a mirror looks like one, then the whole purpose is lost.

Concealed or diffused lighting is in vogue; hence, chandeliers are out of question here. External lights in the form of standing or cylindrical steel lamps placed in corners add atmosphere. Concealed wall washers that emit light are very trendy today.

Kitchen interiors should be simple, yet modern. The well-equipped kitchen can have glass shutters for crockery units and cabinets. Stainless steel chip tiles in matt finish on the kitchen walls open doors to innovation and beauty. Steel is good for Indian homes, as it requires zero maintenance and brings a clean and contemporary look to the kitchen.

While all this will cost as much as wood, it is visually appealing and less cumbersome.