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Home Decorating Remodeling Design Dilemma

Contemporary interior design ideas (kitchen, doors, door handles)

5 years ago

I need design help with a contemporary interior for a Mediterranean style house like below.

Do you think below kitchen would work?

PV Drive North · More Info

I plan to have this exterior door.

For the interior doors, I can't decide among these 3 styles: raised 2 panel, arched panel, or recessed 3 panel

For door handles, I plan to use flat black for handles and hinges and can't decide between these 2 styles.

I would appreciate your advice and I'm open to other suggestions as well. Thank you.

Featured Answer

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I have a mediterranean house with a fairly modern interior. My house was built in the late 1920s and has much simpler lines than what you are showing us. I bought the house from the owners who engage the architect to do the overhaul, so I am not well versed in what it took to achieve the look. Here are a few pictures from the real estate listing (not my furniture- and I have made some tweaks to the interior- nothing much).

With your proposed house, I would stick with the plan and finish things traditionally- but with a light touch. The doors really do have to match the exterior, for example- and you should echo some of the curves. The kitchen need not be some faux mediterranean/Tuscan brown mass, but I don't think two toned, wood grain slab, plus quartz waterfall works well with what is there. IDK what I would do with the kitchen. I have no idea if your kitchen is a part of your living room- probably is- in which case I would think hard about how I wanted the kitchen cabinets to integrate with my regular furniture. I like white kitchens myself. They are not always the best choice in an open concept house. My guess is that a lighter, rift sawn oak cabinet with slab doors with simple hardware would be a good place to start looking.

Think about a furniture plan, not just finishes. I would be sure to use a few substantial pieces of brown furniture with clean modern lines- think of pieces like a Florence Knoll credenza, a walnut Parsons dining table, or an Eames lounge chair. Then sparsely lay on color, furniture and textiles.

PS And find out where to get the door that is shown on the drawing or one substantively like it. The entrance to a house matters. That door is elegant.

PPS Congratulations on the new house. It looks lovely. There are so many things to consider at this stage. I know it can be overwhelming. Do not rush- do not allow yourself to be rushed. Explore tons of mediterranean houses online and see how people manage to blend the old with the new. Slowly you will start to see how you want to manage this mix with your new house.

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Comments (9)

tartanmeup
5 years ago
Why do you want to change the exterior door? The current one looks perfect for the house. The kitchen might work, the doors and hardware less so, especially not the third door. What does the current interior look like?
juliacali
Original Author
5 years ago
It is for a new build. The exterior is just a sample photo so we are trying to get a similar-looking exterior door. If you have other suggestions on interior doors and hardware, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
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When I used the word "contemporary", I meant up-to-date and timely, rather than dated. I didn't mean "modern". I think the square rosette is quite trendy (in a good way) right now, and works well with a variety of styles. For instance, we have similar handles in our 150 year old federal rowhouse. That style does not work well in a modern setting. But you said your house was pretty plain vanilla, so adding a square rosette would be a good way to add some interest and bring the house up to date. That's what I meant when I said "contemporary".
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tartanmeup
5 years ago
Wouldn't your architect be able to advise you?
juliacali
Original Author
5 years ago
I only engaged architect for exterior. I need to pick out the finishes to let my contractor know what I'm looking for.
jmm1837
5 years ago
I think that, if I wanted contemporary style, I'd build a contemporary house. To me, that front door and the exterior are anything but. The exterior seems to me to demand a more traditional interior, and I just have trouble envisaging the kind of doors, windows, staircases and interior trim that would suit the style of the house, blending with that kitchen. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the interior shouldn't fight the exterior, or try to be something the house isn't.
juliacali thanked jmm1837
juliacali
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you. That's what I'm struggling with. I like contemporary interior but not sure if it'll flow with the exterior.
rpwoodard
4 years ago
Rita, your home is STUNNING!
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
If this is anew build why not go comtemporary on the exterior too I don’t get the whole issue.Ritas house is the exact opposite of yours , hers is a simple design so works very well with what she did both outside and in .

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