yin & yang
An ancient Eastern philosophy may seem like an unlikely source of design inspiration, but it brings a useful lesson to bear on the subject. You might distill it all down to a kind of balance that has a healthy respect for duality. Sharp, sleek architecture needs a touch of something soft; a sophisticated and heavily ornamented living room gains something from an element of the primitive and handmade; in a pared-down, tightly edited space a decorative flourish can take a starring role. The results are a handsome equilibrium that can beautifully propel a room to a higher plane.
