Reading you post, it doesn't sound like you know quite what you want; something in the minimalist or modern vein. This is fine, of course, but I strongly urge that you research your available options extensivly before purchasing pricy pieces.
Iconic designers and movements can be easily studied on the internet through Wikipedia, museum sites, and design sites. I don't intend for this to be tedious process, its more so that you can familiarize yourself with what you would like to buy. If you need a place to start, I recommend looking at the Bauhaus school and branching off from there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus
I believe that buying furniture is not simply buying a piece of furniture, but rather it is buying aesthetic philosophies, identities of a time, and the lifetime contributions of great minds.