Modern homes absolutely belong in suburbia and where ever else modernists want to live!  Eichlers were built in the suburbs.  I agree that you should use an architect and have that person design your house from the inside out.  Make the interior your MOD haven and then work with the exterior as best as you can.  My husband designs all his houses from the inside out to meet the needs of the family that will live there.  Then the exterior naturally evolves. 

When I saw this house http://homes.realtor.com/prop/1080028828 today, I thought about this thread.

Take a look at the virtual tour. You don't need to like the choices the owners made, but I think everyone agrees that inside it is a very modern home.

I'd always prefer to build a truly modern house with an architect. But if, for whatever reason, you have to build in a subdivision with lots of restrictions, you can still make your home as modern as possible inside and avoid "decorative" exterior stuff like arches, columns and fake shutters.

Connie