Focusing on the principal aspects of the home - walls, floors, windows and doors, furniture, storage and display - the authors show how a contemporary look can be achieved without calling in the professionals. They open our eyes to an inspiring variety of materials not traditionally considered for the home such as glass brick for walls, concrete and rubber for floors, and metal for doors. They encourage us to experiment with colors, fabrics and lighting, and to seek out effective storage alternatives to achieve a sense of vitality and clarity. Full of ideas on how to create simple, contemporary interiors, each chapter features practical projects which epitomize the look: Chic folding window shutters, inexpensive streamlined flooring created from squares of hardwood, and a colorful painted filing cabinet fitted with casters for mobility, just to name a few.