Additions require sense of continuity

Many Americans have become at least somewhat familiar with feng shui, the set of ancient Chinese principles governing interior design. And now there’s growing awareness in this country of vastu, which is roughly India’s equivalent of feng shui and which has also been described as a sister science to yoga.

A good introduction to vastu can be found in “Space Matters,” a book written by Kathleen Cox and recently published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang. It’s full of photos of inspiring interiors, each accompanied by clear explanations.

With so much being written these days about green design, it’s interesting to come across an interpretation involving not just the use of materials but what Cox sees as the life-sustaining principles underlying vastu. And she relates them to practical considerations, such as how we perceive color and light.

Q: We’d like to build an addition onto our living room that would serve as a family space. The idea is to install lots of windows to take advantage of a lovely view, while at the same time avoiding a glassy look and creating a sense of warmth in this new room.

The style would be contemporary and more informal than the adjoining living room, which has wooden floors, white painted walls and a stone fireplace. How can we establish continuity between the two spaces?

A: My simple suggestion — and it’s not meant facetiously — is that you get a good architect and interior designer. But I also have a few ideas for you to consider, either independently or in consultation with professionals.

Putting a wooden floor in the new family space would establish one element of continuity with the living room. As an informal touch, you could also use wood as paneling on the walls in the addition. And for enhanced consistency, wood trim and architectural details could be installed on the walls in the living room.

The accompanying photo from “Space Matters” shows a generously windowed setting that opens invitingly from an adjoining room. The entrance to the space seen here features contemporary framing, which serves both to unite and to differentiate the two areas.

The colors in the addition should be compatible with those in the living room. You can introduce different fabrics and textures, however, as a way of giving the new space a more informal look. I also recommend defining the seating area with an attractive area rug. It will have a warming and softening effect in a space that might otherwise seem a bit hard-edged.

Unless there’s a problem with glare or a need for privacy, the window coverings would best be kept minimal. Roman shades or sliding panels made of fabric might be a good choice, both for their informality and their softening quality.

How is this design expressive of vastu? I’ll leave that for you to discover in the pages of “Space Matters.”

Rita St. Clair is a syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services Inc. E-mail general interior design questions to her at rsca@ritastclair.com.