Ornament is Not a Crime: Contemporary interiors with a postmodern twist

An escape from minimalism, celebrating bold colour, curves, patterns and the unconventional in contemporary interiors.

In the 1970s and 1980s, postmodernism followed hot on the heels of modernism, as designers challenged the formality and seriousness of architecture and design. Favouring expression and eclecticism, they created fresh, surprising and provocative designs using a distinctive visual language that combined bright colours, unexpected materials and a good dose of humour and irony.

Today a new wave of interior designers are once again turning to postmodernism for inspiration. These contemporary rebels are challenging the Modernist gospel of 'ornament is crime'. Breaking free of the minimalism of mid-century modern and the neutrals of Scandinavian design to inject homes with pop and personality.

These twenty-one homes from around the world transform the ordinary and everyday with joyful colours and patterns, the celebration of surfaces and the juxtaposition of materials. There are twists and plays on shape, scale and form, and expressive and symbolic references, as well as a healthy dose of wit and whimsy. Whether you're a design enthusiast or simply looking to infuse your home with some fresh inspiration, this book is sure to spark your imagination.

About the Author

Rebecca L Gross is a design historian (accredited by the Professional Historians Association) who studies the past and present through the lens of architecture and visual culture. With a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons School of Design in New York, Rebecca's folio is academic as well as culturally engaged and topical, documenting popular design spaces and concepts from the past decade. She regularly writes for Australian Architecture Media's publications, including Houses, Artichoke, Sanctuary Green and Design Anthology, as well as working closely with designers and architects within the industry.