How to Bring the Organic Modern Style Into Your Home
See how designers use a mix of clean lines and natural materials to create warm, pleasing spaces
Becky Harris
13 October 2018
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
“Organic modern” is a style term bouncing around in today’s design lexicon, so it’s a good time to look at exactly what it means. The term refers to an overall design style – a balanced mix of modern lines and often crisp white surfaces contrasted with natural forms and materials, and neutral colours. Here’s a look at what the style means to designers and how to achieve it.
Modern architecture and natural materials
One way architects and designers accomplish the look is to start with the framework of a modern house and use natural materials throughout the interiors. For example, the architecture of this kitchen is a simple clean-lined space, but architect Nils Finne filled it with highly crafted furnishings made of natural materials that include bamboo, stained elm, woven cattail and sea grass.
One way architects and designers accomplish the look is to start with the framework of a modern house and use natural materials throughout the interiors. For example, the architecture of this kitchen is a simple clean-lined space, but architect Nils Finne filled it with highly crafted furnishings made of natural materials that include bamboo, stained elm, woven cattail and sea grass.
The architecture of this house in Sonoma County, California, is contemporary with nods to modern style, while the colour palette and the majority of the materials used by designers Dawn Carlson and Carol Perry of MAS Design came from nature. Here in the living room, they covered the long fireplace wall with a rustic-cut limestone and used natural textiles. And the coffee tables resemble giant rocks that have been smoothed by a river.
Architectural elements
The look is by no means limited to modern or contemporary homes – it is possible to add modern elements to a transitional or traditional home through the furnishings and the colour and material palettes. In this transitional home, designer Ginger Curtis creates the style by blending rugged elements with minimalist, modern lines. She balances the two together until the results feel fresh and welcoming. One way she likes to accomplish the look is by using architectural elements like worn wood beams contrasted by crisp white walls. The wood of the bed has an organic feel, but its simple blocky shape is minimalist and modern.
See how wooden ceiling beams make a statement
The look is by no means limited to modern or contemporary homes – it is possible to add modern elements to a transitional or traditional home through the furnishings and the colour and material palettes. In this transitional home, designer Ginger Curtis creates the style by blending rugged elements with minimalist, modern lines. She balances the two together until the results feel fresh and welcoming. One way she likes to accomplish the look is by using architectural elements like worn wood beams contrasted by crisp white walls. The wood of the bed has an organic feel, but its simple blocky shape is minimalist and modern.
See how wooden ceiling beams make a statement
Connection to immediate surroundings
For this coastal home on British Columbia’s Pender Island, designers Ian McLeod and Kerry Johnson looked to the surrounding water and beaches to come up with their palette. Here the pebbles from the nearby coast inspired the colours. “I often tell the visually overwhelmed to pick up a handful of pebbles to take to the paint store for guaranteed colour harmony,” McLeod says.
For this coastal home on British Columbia’s Pender Island, designers Ian McLeod and Kerry Johnson looked to the surrounding water and beaches to come up with their palette. Here the pebbles from the nearby coast inspired the colours. “I often tell the visually overwhelmed to pick up a handful of pebbles to take to the paint store for guaranteed colour harmony,” McLeod says.
Starla and Scott Campbell’s beautiful North Carolina forest and mountain surroundings inspired the organic modern style of their Asheville home. Large beams and dashes of green complement the trees outside the large windows, while the grey tones in the paint nod to the colours of the mountains. An example of the organic modern mix is the island countertop. It is made of natural stone with a leathered finish, while at the same time its profile provides thick, sharp, substantial lines.
Here’s how a kitchen island can be more than just an island
Here’s how a kitchen island can be more than just an island
Handcrafted pieces
“We wanted to incorporate as many natural materials as possible because we wanted to bring nature indoors and because modern can get sterile. And we love to be surrounded by things that are handcrafted,” Starla says. In fact, an important part of the Campbells’ home is Scott’s workshop in the basement. This is an example of his handiwork. Starla designed this live-edge walnut shelf, and Scott made it. A bronze planter that looks like a piece of abstract art provides a spot for plants above it.
“We wanted to incorporate as many natural materials as possible because we wanted to bring nature indoors and because modern can get sterile. And we love to be surrounded by things that are handcrafted,” Starla says. In fact, an important part of the Campbells’ home is Scott’s workshop in the basement. This is an example of his handiwork. Starla designed this live-edge walnut shelf, and Scott made it. A bronze planter that looks like a piece of abstract art provides a spot for plants above it.
Finne dubs many of his projects “crafted modernism.” Whenever clients allow, the architect designs not only the architecture, but also as much of the furnishings as he can, blending handcrafted style inspired by nature with modern technology. For example, the light fixtures and table here highlight hand-drawn organic forms that resemble a river or a topographical line, but they were crafted on a modern piece of machinery, a CNC (computer numerical control) water-jet cutter. And the wooden bar stools he designed were milled using a CNC router.
Learn how to add a touch of artistry with CNC cut materials
Learn how to add a touch of artistry with CNC cut materials
Straight lines and striking contrasts
Curtis likes to achieve the look by combining iconic modern pieces with elements “that feel like they were carved out of the earth.” The rustic farm table, hide rug and woven pendant lights warm this room with an earthy feel, while iconic mid-century modern Eames Shell chairs and the emphasis on strong horizontal lines maintain a modern vibe. “The result is something that lures you in for its comfort, style and creativity,” she says.
Curtis likes to achieve the look by combining iconic modern pieces with elements “that feel like they were carved out of the earth.” The rustic farm table, hide rug and woven pendant lights warm this room with an earthy feel, while iconic mid-century modern Eames Shell chairs and the emphasis on strong horizontal lines maintain a modern vibe. “The result is something that lures you in for its comfort, style and creativity,” she says.
Meaning and story
In this project, Carlson added pieces that also had a deeper significance within their context, telling Houzz that achieving organic modern design meant “softening up the minimalist modern aesthetic with pieces that have a meaning and a story.” For example these pendant lights have a history – they are repurposed Indonesian fishing nets lined in rice paper.
And the designers nodded to one of the homeowners’ Japanese heritage by designing a custom bed and nightstand piece inspired by Japanese platform beds. While we’re talking organic, think of Mother Earth when creating organic modern style – this bed is made of sustainably harvested ash, and the walnut stain is water-based.
In this project, Carlson added pieces that also had a deeper significance within their context, telling Houzz that achieving organic modern design meant “softening up the minimalist modern aesthetic with pieces that have a meaning and a story.” For example these pendant lights have a history – they are repurposed Indonesian fishing nets lined in rice paper.
And the designers nodded to one of the homeowners’ Japanese heritage by designing a custom bed and nightstand piece inspired by Japanese platform beds. While we’re talking organic, think of Mother Earth when creating organic modern style – this bed is made of sustainably harvested ash, and the walnut stain is water-based.
Organic textures and sleek surfaces
This condo in Vancouver, British Columbia, had spectacular 52nd-floor views, but its expanses of glass and modern bones left the space feeling cold. While the homeowners wanted to keep a modern aesthetic, they also wanted their home to feel welcoming. “These potentially cold, high-end high rises benefit hugely by walls of either wood or organic-textured wall coverings. All add reassuring, natural warmth, which takes the edge off concrete, glass and steel construction,” McLeod says. Here he and his partner covered the plain drywall with a cork silver-backed birch bark wall covering.
This condo in Vancouver, British Columbia, had spectacular 52nd-floor views, but its expanses of glass and modern bones left the space feeling cold. While the homeowners wanted to keep a modern aesthetic, they also wanted their home to feel welcoming. “These potentially cold, high-end high rises benefit hugely by walls of either wood or organic-textured wall coverings. All add reassuring, natural warmth, which takes the edge off concrete, glass and steel construction,” McLeod says. Here he and his partner covered the plain drywall with a cork silver-backed birch bark wall covering.
Organic shapes
Like that gnarled tree trunk, the not-perfectly-round shapes of these sculptures break up the strict straight lines in this contemporary Miami house. “These sculptures were chosen to relate back to the organic elements throughout the space,” Ivonne Ronderos of DKOR Interiors told Houzz. “The general concept was to bring the outdoors inside through the use of natural materials and textures. And the organic textures of the sculptures soften the starkness of the stair design.”
Want to create an indoor-outdoor connection in your home?
Like that gnarled tree trunk, the not-perfectly-round shapes of these sculptures break up the strict straight lines in this contemporary Miami house. “These sculptures were chosen to relate back to the organic elements throughout the space,” Ivonne Ronderos of DKOR Interiors told Houzz. “The general concept was to bring the outdoors inside through the use of natural materials and textures. And the organic textures of the sculptures soften the starkness of the stair design.”
Want to create an indoor-outdoor connection in your home?
An outdoor reversal
For the most part, we’ve explored boxy white interior architecture softened by organic elements. But outside, flip the script – because outdoor spaces generally give us a natural base, organic modern design outdoors usually means introducing strong modern elements. Here the straight lines of the pool, tiles and furniture, the simple shapes of the fire pit and oversize planters, and the solid colours and neutral colour palette provide a beautiful contrast to the foliage and planted forms.
For the most part, we’ve explored boxy white interior architecture softened by organic elements. But outside, flip the script – because outdoor spaces generally give us a natural base, organic modern design outdoors usually means introducing strong modern elements. Here the straight lines of the pool, tiles and furniture, the simple shapes of the fire pit and oversize planters, and the solid colours and neutral colour palette provide a beautiful contrast to the foliage and planted forms.
Sustainably renovating
When designing in a way to highlight nature, it’s only fitting to protect it while remodelling. In this project, Burns Organic Modern used salvaged wood including walnut from Goby Walnut, a company that salvages wood from dead and dying trees, and plants five seedlings for every tree it uses. The PaperStone countertops are made of recycled paper and non-petroleum-based resins, and the paint used was zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds). And perhaps even more important, the team prevented as much of the construction waste as possible from ending up in a landfill by reusing the wood; recycling the metal, plastic, carpet and carpet pad; and donating the usable fixtures, cabinets, windows and doors for reuse.
Read more:
What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary?
Tell us:
What style of interiors do you have? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
When designing in a way to highlight nature, it’s only fitting to protect it while remodelling. In this project, Burns Organic Modern used salvaged wood including walnut from Goby Walnut, a company that salvages wood from dead and dying trees, and plants five seedlings for every tree it uses. The PaperStone countertops are made of recycled paper and non-petroleum-based resins, and the paint used was zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds). And perhaps even more important, the team prevented as much of the construction waste as possible from ending up in a landfill by reusing the wood; recycling the metal, plastic, carpet and carpet pad; and donating the usable fixtures, cabinets, windows and doors for reuse.
Read more:
What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary?
Tell us:
What style of interiors do you have? Tell us about it in the Comments below.
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Beautiful examples and explanation. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
It's kind of funny how Modern architecture sometimes suffers from a Modernistic reductionist definition. So much so it requires adding "Organic" as an adjective when really this is not contrary to Modern at all. How can one look at Frank Lloyd Wright and not see this?
Plus, even though Modern utilizes many non-organic materials, one of the main precepts is authenticity in materials—if you want a wood look, use wood, not a fake wood. (which is why I am opposed to "wood" ceramic tile on principle).
The other precept (form follows function) with its ancillary (a rejection of superfluous ornamentation) also gets twisted to mean form over function, which entirely misses the point of Modern design. The point is that there is beauty in the function, there is beauty in what is already there and it doesn't need to be "blinged" with swirly appliqués. Many of these examples illustrate exactly that.
Hey, if it takes adding the "Organic" prefix to get people to appreciate actual Modern instead of some caricature, I say go for it!
Joe
Beautifully done! I don't usually care for modern as it tents to be put forth as highly minimalist and looks un-lived in lacking any warmth. A key to each of these designs was having natural wood and it's warmth in each space. Also, bits of color, pattern, texture. There's just more personality in each than typically shown with "modern". Nice examples for what else modern can be.
Ditto on the quality of this article. One element I would certainly include is the fiber of all the soft surfaces. Flax, linen, cotton, wool, silk, leather all fit in with the natural and modern elements. And I'll include my personal rule: no plastic.