Zen Interiors

Two major tenets of Zen--simplicity and serenity--lend themselves perfectly to today's quest for tranquility and balance in the home. Espousing restrained, uncluttered rooms documented here in soothing, neutral-toned interiors, Vinny Lee's Zen Interiors outlines the philosophy and the practicalities of streamlining your home and your life to achieve such an environment. The results are a soft modernist look, a pared-down contemporary styling of minimal architectural detailing, limited color palette, and absolutely no clutter. But, as Lee cautions, you don't want to add to the burdens of an already busy lifestyle, so you must find the degree of minimalism that suits you. In other words, if you're merely daydreaming of less cluttered surroundings yet know in your heart that you can't live in a sparse environment--no matter how elegant--then the Zen interior is probably not for you. But if you're truly seeking to streamline your life in search of that harmonious balance, you'll find plenty of good advice here. --Amy Handy