Contemporary spaces that have minimal ornamentation and decorative flourishes rely heavily on the beauty of the materials used within them. This living room is a beautiful example of using stone in a contemporary space. Stone is a good choice for contemporary style that puts an emphasis on green and natural materials with clean lines and surfaces.

The largest area of stone in the space is the stone floor.  The warm hued stone covers both the living area and the step up to the hallway.  Continuing the material throughout both spaces helps the areas flow together into one large space. Placing the same tiles on the steps leading down into the living room makes the steps blend into the floor, enhancing the seamless flow between spaces. Using a tile that is a foot square adds enough variety to create a pattern while maintaining a uniform look. Larger size tiles could also work on this floor.

More stone is used on the fireplace wall. Extending the tiles beyond the fireplace surround gives this focal wall more presence in the room.  The stone on the wall is different than the stone tiles on the floor, but both are in the same color group so work together well.

Carrying the stone from the floor up onto the wall wraps the room in the natural material. Despite its cool surface, the natural stone color warms the space and gives it character. For a room that has neutral, light furnishings, the stone adds color and subtle pattern too.