classy modern

Over the last crazy couple of months, I've had little time to enjoy purely recreational reading. But the few minutes I did steal recently were spent with last month's copy of Dwell magazine, which was entirely devoted to the topic of small homes. It's an interesting issue and worth checking out to see some thoughtful approaches to using space economically.

But small spaces is not my topic here. I want to focus instead on just one of the small spaces featured in the issue: Tom Bayley's "Sky Ranch" home that he built atop a (pre-existing) warehouse he owns. What enchants me most about it is not the ingenious use of space, the innovative location, or the great views -- although those things are all cool. Instead, I fell for the look of the interior design. Take a peek at Bayley's central living space, pictured below. Isn't it classic? In a very clean, modern way. (Note: If you're as charmed as I am, head over Dwell, where you can see a slideshow of images of the house.)

 

My love affair with this look is actually a longstanding one. Although I've never had enough restraint to replicate it in my house (I love playing with color too much), many of the pictures I've been clipping and saving from magazines over the years share a number of elements in common with Bayley's decor: A neutral color palette, with a splash of color added by a red Oriental rug. Modern furniture with clean lines. Walls of books. Lots of windows and natural light. And wonderful art.

I don't have it in me this morning to go digging through my clippings to find and scan the photos I'm talking about, but here are several I found online that share a similar kind of look.

 

By Feldman Architecture, via Houzz

 

By Kanner Architects, via Houzz

 

By Griffin Enright Architects, via Houzz

 

By Hammer Architects, via Houzz

By Stephan Jaklitsch, via The Contemporist

Like me, do you find yourself drawn to a certain look again and again? How would you describe it? I've dubbed this one "classy modern".