There’s more to modern these days than hard edges, chrome and crisp leather upholstery. Taking cues from consumer demand for livability, functionality and form, designers Victoria Hagan, Kelly Hoppen and Liz Claiborne, among others, blur the line between traditional and contemporary styles, creating modern furniture with a soft touch.

For example, recent additions to Victoria Hagan’s Home collection mix classical elements with modern sophistication. Traditional wood finishes, soft fabrics and feminine curves intermingle with clean lines and metal detailing. New pieces within the Ralph Lauren Home collection include similar juxtapositions — such as heavy, dark woods with metal accents, and sleek surfaces coupled with comfortable fabrics. The classic upholstery and streamlined wood frames of Liz Claiborne Home’s Modern Elegance line for Lexington Home Brands convey true transitional style.

Thomas Pheasant’s line for McGuire and Kelly Hoppen’s collection for Century Furniture apply slightly different techniques. Here, the designers incorporate varying surface textures and edges to temper the stark lines. Pheasant uses rattan, soft linen fabrics and metal textured to mimic wood, while Hoppen integrates Far Eastern flair and fabric detailing.

Jonathan Adler’s furniture collection and Celerie Kemble’s line for Laneventure each take a more practical approach. At first glance, Adler’s pieces seem to embrace formal modernism, but subtle details, such as button tufting and bolsters, soften their look, giving them everyday functionality. While Kemble’s straightforward designs impart modernity, they also speak to her sensible side with thick upholstery and earth tones.

Modern design — in its many forms and moods — never fails to surprise with innovative ways to combine classic comfort, streamlined warmth and elegant pragmatism. u