Getting contemporary with pine

It's very easy when trying to create a genuinely contemporary look to get sidetracked into something that's a little less avante garde than originally envisaged. This is a shame because some contemporary pine ranges can work really well in the right setting.

Choose very plain walls and floors - a simple white or off-white for the walls and a fairly plain laminate floor perhaps. Then choose hard shiny surfaces for accessories - glass and chrome for example. This creates a modern minimalist feel but by itself can be very cold and lifeless.

Adding pine furniture introduces a natural element into the mix and the swirls and grain patterns provide a contrast to the smooth lines and uniformity of the glass and chrome. A few 'ethnic' accessories and you've got a fantastic contemporary pine interior.