The latest influx of Asian-inspired designs is a study in counter-trends.

Cherry blossoms, bonsai and bamboo, along with traditional chinoiserie and kimono patterns is contemporized when played out in fashion-forward colors. At the opposite end of the spectrum, accent furnishings are antique-looking, with rough-hewn surfaces and black finishes with subtle red rub-through effects.

Mixing antique Oriental accents into rooms dominated by clean-lined modern furnishings is a fresh way to bring balance and harmony to interior design.

At the forefront? A resurgence in the use of bamboo - both natural and imitation. Bamboo and rattan are at home in every environment, and in today's increasingly eco-conscience marketplace, the materials are renewable resources.