When you’re planning your home, you may think that your taste is simply defined as traditional, modern or some other standard title.

But often if you look past these labels, you may find that your modern preferences really sing when you introduce some older elements.

The unusual dark brown lattice bases to the two chairs pull the brown from the collection of small hand tools to help the room feel more congruent. In the same way, the sculptural small tables in a light gold by those chairs echo the gold and brown of the old doors on the wall.

This room demonstrates the power of combining a very contemporary approach to furniture with art from another time and place. The clean lines and soft colors of the upholstered pieces allow room for the drama presented by the antique doors and simple tools in this room.

The room’s design choices allow the art to come into total focus. This is a comfortable room, but still designed to draw the eye toward the really important elements – the homeowner’s interest in unique pieces from long ago and far away.

Notice in the second photo that this room actually contains a fairly large flat-screen television and speakers. The choice to install these in the wall, along with the neutral aspect of everything except the screen, keeps this interruption in the room to a minimum. By limiting accessories, the L-shaped room maximizes the power of its art and keeps everything else in proportion.