Alyson's intricate fireplace adds character and dimension to her otherwise contemporary living area, featuring a modern vase ...

Wake up a room with black-and-white interior design, ... tone brown wood floor or adding vibrant flowers to a beautiful vase. ... Dorothy Draper looks is a black-and-white checkered floor.

She cited Ettore Sottsass’s postmodern designs as “a great example of vases that represent a time, a movement and a consumer.” Ditto for Dutch Delftware and Native American black-ware pottery.