The postmodern movement of the 1980s threw classic design theories out the window: why abide by “less is more” when color, pattern, materials, and motifs carry meaning and expression? During this time, architects and designers began adding decoration purely for aesthetic effect while blending high and low materials, bucking the “form follows function” trend of the early twentieth century. But, like any craze, the often-misunderstood postmodern style isn’t for everyone. The 21 contemporary interiors featured in Rebecca L. Gross’s Ornament Is Not a Crime (Thames and Hudson, 2024) were not designed for the average homebuyer or resale; rather, each project features playful postmodern elements that speak to the client’s unique identity, lifestyle, and personality. 

In this Victorian-era apartment in Edinburgh, interior designer Sam Buckley (founder of Studio Sam Buckley) drew inspiration from the client’s job as a game designer to create what he calls a chromatic minimalism approach. Channeling the bold Supergraphics movement of the 1960s and 1970s, Buckley played with color and geometry to turn a relatively pared-back space into a harmonious and cheerful home. Beginning with the striped velvet sofa, Buckley developed a color palette of blue, green, turquoise, and yellow that he balanced throughout the apartment with shades of pink, deep coral, and maroon. A bespoke rug designed in partnership with contemporary Italian rug maker CC-Tapis covers the living room floor while a golden yellow Danish pendant lamp by Verner Panton dangles from the ceiling. Metal, glass, and ceramic vases line the mantel underneath a framed silkscreen print by London-based artist Will Martyr; on the adjacent wall, Florence Blanchard’s Wintergreen hangs above a cozy velvet chair-and-a-half. Add a touch of postmodern design to your own home with these nine finds.