Growing up in the business of Scandinavian and European design, it was easy to take for granted that the world was a contemporary oyster. Living in Manhattan did nothing to dissuade my assumptions. However, a dozen years in New Jersey clued me in: once you are outside of a major metro (or your family's business) looking for contemporary elements is like looking for the Holy Grail. Virtually everyone I spoke with from New England to Southern California concurred: The average person is at the mercy of what a few chains might stock locally, which typically means compromising on style, color or material. Or, we could Google all day, and still not be able to sift through the hundreds of thousands of products out there to find those contemporary gems.
Be you hunter or nester, use the Product Guide, PC's fast-growing library of contemporary design products, to discover the perfect style elements for every room in your home. If you happen to chance upon a "gem" that is not in our database, please don't hesitate to drop us a line.
In addition to the Product Guide, our writers debated about the type of content the site would offer. As a departure from typical magazine publishing, the editorial team decided to subvert our voice and present the unique voices, and breathtaking images and ideas of the design community. After all, our goal is not to tell you what you should do but rather to inspire you to discover your own ways of expressing personal style.
Not certain what contemporary is? Well you aren't alone. We posed the question to nearly 100 different designers -- and we received nearly 100 different responses. Some stressed form, some stressed function. Some said minimalism, some said dazzling colors. If there is a thread that weaves their answers together it is this: Contemporary is about creating a space that is uniquely you; that fits your personality, your style. Not convinced? Take a peek at our Home Makeover section and you’ll see designs ranging from functional suburban to fantasy urban.
If contemporary is in the eye of the beholder, then Pure Contemporary provides you with the tools that will help you realize your vision. Although, once you start choosing and arranging contemporary elements for specific rooms in your home, you'll consider our Interactive Room Planner more of a playground than a tool. And, with our Home Decor Organizer, a personalized web-based design notebook, you'll keep all of your design jobs ultra organized.
So whether you are in a major metropolis or a rural hideaway, when you have a yen for contemporary, the world is now truly your oyster.
Editor's Update, April 14, 2009:
Shortly after launch of Pure Contemporary, we started our blog "Behind the Curtains" where we do offer our opinion on products and trends. There is only one hard and fast rule that we abide by: honesty. If we have not sat on a sofa, we can not address it's comfort. We think the combo of our blog and editorial presents the most comprehensive coverage in the industry.