This contemporary take on retro decor features a neon sign cityscape:

Comic book pop art hangs in this modern living room:

This minimalist modern look is enhanced with huge botanical photographs that flank the fireplace:

And perhaps sometimes you need to be more literal in your interpretation of art:

I love Nolen Niu’s use of bold colots and interesting shapes.  The Zero chaise lounge reminds me of something out of the Jetsons with its futuristic style and beauty; all reliant on a single piece of metal.  I also love the XO sofa that stands out not only because of its fuschia hue, but its dynamic shape.

All Modern has a host of wall art that utilizes retro color schemes but still evokes a modern, sleek feeling.  Inhabit captures this perfectly in their screen printed art, all available online ($107-140).

Always a source of inspiration and envy, the architecture of New York is clearly defined as some of the world’s best. Whether in the heart of Manhattan or tucked away in the rural upstate, New York modern architecture is the in a league of its own.

The Box House from Messana O’Rorke Architects

From the Web site:

The Box House is a simple weekend retreat, akin to a cabin at the beach, with minimal accommodation. Located on Shelter Island overlooking Gardiners Bay and the North Folk of Long Island.

Conceived a glass box, the houses developed as a shaped structure. The glass box is cradled within the roof and base extended above and below, with a massive black wall. Lined with the same Ipe wood the delineation of interior and exterior becomes obscured. The base floats above the landscape and the whole structure turns its back to the road, and exposes its naked interior to the bay.

The interior is shaded from the solar gain during the summer months, but open to its advantages when the sun travels closer to the horizon in the winter. Photovoltaic cells on the roof generate back up the electrical power and a passive geothermal system enhances the air heating and cooling system. The accommodations of the house are a living room with kitchen and a bedroom separated by a block interior architecture, containing a bathroom and storage.

DC is buzzing with confidence and enthusiasm. As the new president is ushered in, the city is experiencing a surge of creative swagger. Some of that has resulted in wonderful modern architecture, contemporary DC homes, and evocative design.

One group with its hands in seemingly everything modern is Core Architecture and Design Firm.

The Morganstein Residence:

The generous yet formal plan of this home in an established neighborhood was limiting and didn’t offer ample room to entertain. The empty nesters wanted a master suite that was easily accessible yet private. CORE designed a two-story contemporary-minded addition that paid homage to the home’s original style yet was distinct in character and design. A steel and glass ‘hyphen’ merges the two sections, opening and connecting the different areas of the house with light-filled spaces. The final design was lauded by the community’s review board for being distinctly different without creating obtrusive architecture.

San Diego, more than many cities, has a predisposition that’s ripe for modern architecture. This southern California city exudes charm and elegance, blending urban sophistication with a gorgeous environment. It’s no wonder that it’s one of America’s most coveted places to live.

Adding to that elegance is M+C Architects. These modern designers contribute to the overall efficiency and stature of San Diego’s contemporary homes.

From the Web site:

This mixed-use development covers a full city block at the core of a grid shift in the Little Italy District. Its configuration and location along a major connector created a unique building opportunity. The design parti was to promote a downtown connector – Kettner Boulevard – with a well-defined, pedestrian-friendly street wall while incorporating the restoration of an early 20th century art deco building and clock tower. Additionally, the dichotomy of the project’s massing captured the eclectic aesthetics of the context and produced a variety of housing types (lofts, shopkeeper units, carriage units and townhomes). The resulting architecture is urbane in its timeless character and devoid of clichés.

About M+C Architects:

Martinez + Cutri Corporation is a multi-disciplinary firm whose practice of Architecture and Urban Design is based on the simple concept that the design of forms in space should be generated by the context of their surroundings, while the principles of design should enhance our culture.

Our intent as a firm is to create good design; that is, to create spaces and structures which exhibit a timeless quality inherent in spirituality. We design environments that are inviting regardless of typology and locale. It is our contentions that the vitality and beauty of the built environment play a crucial role in creating a productive and healthy community and, as design professionals, we must assume responsibility for this role.

Phoenix is a dry and expansive place with lots of room to build. Without significantly altering the natural landscape, architects and designers are able to mirror the environment’s character while fostering the city’s inclination to improve its standing as one of the southwest’s best modern cities.

Doria Architects are prime examples of quality Phoenix modern architecture. Their work consistently reflects an innovative aesthetic and settles into the surrounding landscape with charm, ingenuity and grace.

Modern Carefree Kitchen by Doria:

About Doria Architects:

Doria Architecture, Inc. is a full service architecture firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. We’re dedicated to innovative design and provide focused client service to deliver the best solution for every project. Our firm has completed a wide range of projects since its inception and we continue to expand our capabilities year after year. Our experience ranges from commercial structures and custom homes to modern interpretations and intitutional builds.

Lavish condos may be a sign of the subprime mortgage crisis, but they also represent some of the more interesting architecture to be designed in recent years. Condos — and lofts, new apartments — are an opportunity for architects to challenge contemporary themes with innovative styles. In Tampa, Rojo Architecture in known as a creative group willing to test the status quo. The result is modern Tampa lofts that are dynamic, modern, and unique.

3405 City Homes

From the Rojo Newsletter:

ROJO recently completed an exhibit hall expansion that allowed MOSI to open its new Body Worlds exhibit. The traveling show opened last month and has received much press as one of the largest shows of its kind. The exhibit deadline required an amazingly fast-paced process for design and construction. The entire 6,000 sf project was completed in less than 60 days! ROJO is proud to have been able to have served MOSI quickly and cost effectively. A special congratulations to Flores & Harper Construction, who coordinated and constructed the project in lightning time.

Long known as an ambassador of style, sophistication and design, San Francisco maintains its vibrant outpouring of architecture and urban planning by working closely with hundreds of local and talented architects. Whether it is in Berkeley, Oakland, or downtown, San Francisco’s contemporary architecture is a widely considered some of the best in the country.

200 Second Street in Oakland by David Baker + Partners Architects

About 200 Second Street:

Innovative planning and artisan touches define 200 Second Street, a high-density urban mixed-use building in Oakland’s Jack London Square neighborhood. Seventy condominiums and four lofty live+work spaces elegantly interlace throughout this six-story building, which is filled with imaginative details.

A custom-crafted steel gate and glass rain awning flank the feng shui-inspired entry court, whose colored exterior pavement carries into the lobby in a terrazzo-style design. The towering lobby is paneled with articulated bamboo and illuminated by colored energy-efficient LED lighting.

Toronto is becoming a global destination. It has an eclectic culture and an array of museums, restaurants, parks, churches and architecture. The city’s center is a hub of activity, but you can walk ten minutes outside of the center and find eyefuls of Toronto modern architecture at its very best.

The 40R Laneway House by superkul architects:

About the home:

Located on a 40’x18’ lot, it is built to the property lines on 3 sides, with 2’ to spare on the fourth. Current zoning regulations don’t allow for additional openings in any of the walls, so the design strategy was to draw additional light, air and views from above. A light shaft topped by skylights runs the length of the west wall of the building, broken only by a courtyard on the second floor. The shaft brings light to the ground floor, and provides passive ventilation. On the second floor, a glass and wood wrapped courtyard separates the two bedrooms. From the courtyard, with its primary view to the sky, there is a small stair up to a roof garden.

Once a blacksmith’s shop, then a horse shed and later an artist’s apartment and studio, this laneway building in Toronto was purchased by its current owners in 2006. Interested both in the character of the building and smaller footprint living, they wanted to convert it into single-family residence—while retaining as much of the character of the existing building as possible.