The book starts with a discussion of the theory of contrast and then presents a number of case studies to illustrate those principles. The authors claim that emphasizing the natural contrasts in a home can make it more interesting, comfortable, and compelling. Areas of contrast that are common in the home are the contrast between inside and outside, exposed and tempered, up and down, something and nothing, light and dark, and order and mystery.

Perhaps counter-intuitively, the authors suggest that the best way to emphasize contrast is to connect the contrasting elements rather than, for example, making each contrasting element more extreme. The book contains many examples, but a couple stuck with me.

To emphasize the contrast between inside and outside, connect them with a covered porch. The covered porch allows one to partially observe and experience both inside and outside without being a part of either. On a more practical level, the contrast between light and dark can be improved by adding a transition from light to dark. Without such a transition, the contrast can be overwhelming (e.g., by making it so you cannot see).

This book presented concepts I came back to many times as I designed my own home. ( )