In Modernist Math, Geometrics Rule

September always finds me back-to-school (if only in my mind).  Probably a DNA thing since both of my parents were teachers (Mom-first grade, Dad-American history).  But I also liked going to class, especially for geometry.  All those shapes were fun to draw, plus, they made a lot more sense to me for real life than algorithms.

Think about it.  Touch all points of a baseball diamond and win (home run, yippee!).  Avoid love triangles, avoid heartbreak.  Succeed by thinking outside the box and walking the straight and narrow line.

And sometimes, it’s hip to be square as designers are showing us now with interiors and home furnishings that put geometric shapes in the spotlight in too-cool-for-school ways.

One of the most prevalent trends in furniture, textiles, home décor and architecture today is the use of graphic geometric patterns and shapes

This boxy great room by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill is anything but boring.

To break up the squareness of his main living area and create architectural interest, Ricard Bofill designed a sharply angled staircase that takes the eye up and away to the dining deck above.

The sky’s the limit in this New York bedroom with a dramatic ceiling.

 

Designer Noel Jeffrey’s ribbed tray ceiling is space age spectacular.  Its’ unexpected pairing with a traditional crystal chandelier works because both are in the same shape–a circle.

While architecture may pave the way, geometric flair on upholstery, chairs, accents, coffee tables and end tables can add pop and pizzazz to any room. Geometrics can be used on pillows or a chair, a rug or on tiles in the kitchen or bath. Styles can be retro-inspired, contemporary or globally influenced.

Sized right for smaller spaces like apartments, media rooms or master suites, the Eaton loveseat sectional from Sam Moore Furniture is a stylish lesson in how two straight lines form a right angle.

And to show how accent furniture can get into the game, check out the unique shape of the Mélange Hexagonal Table.

With its Moroccan-inspired silhouette, the Mélange Hexagonal table adds an exotic, airy feel wherever it goes (by the bed, next to a reading chair or even in the bathroom as a display for bath salts and decorative soaps) .

The rectangular cut-out on this dining arm chair is unexpected.

The dining chair is an example of how geometric designs can go sleek, architectural and stylish—making this chair a dramatic addition to dining room sets or a stand-alone accent chair in the family room or living room.

The Kinsey entertainment console and coffee table takes math to a new level with its masterful mix of shapes.

 

Circles, squares, rectangles, right angles, straight lines and level planes–Kinsey has them all.  That’s what makes this collection both intriguing and a good pick for traditional and modern settings.