Synthetic materials have merit of their own

I’m from the school of design that regards natural materials as always superior to synthetics. And today’s green ethic has powerfully reinforced that prejudice.

Yes, prejudice — as in a negative opinion based on ill-informed assumptions about an entire grouping. It’s not easy to make such an admission about one’s own views, but candid consideration produces no good answer to the question: What exactly is so bad about materials made with chemicals and by machines? Aren’t many universally celebrated wonders of the modern world produced in the same way?

For designers, there’s also the practical angle: Synthetics are frequently a better choice than natural fibers, which may be more perishable and/or more expensive than their look-alikes.

It’s for good reasons that nylon, polyester and laminate products have become mainstays of daily life — so common that their presence goes unremarked, until challenged by green-minded critics. But perhaps those critics should themselves be challenged.

Q: We want to create an exotic look in a small room next to our bedroom, which is furnished in minimalist style. We envision this hideaway as a place for reading and watching television. Can you suggest a direction for the design?

A: Your plan appeals to me, partly because the minimalist style can start to look painfully plain after a while.

One possibility to consider is the sort of setting that in 1930s Hollywood was referred to as a Turkish Corner. It typically contained a pile of oriental rugs and a mattress barely above floor level covered in paisley shawls and multicolored tasseled pillows. A Turkish Corner would also include a couple of low tables and an ottoman or two.

All that may be a bit much for the tastes of even those grown weary of minimalism. So perhaps the less embellished setting shown in the photo will seem more appropriate.

Here, a Chinese-style teak day bed with black lacquer finish complements flooring of ersatz mahogany. The multicolored silk pillows and mattress cover are akin to the coverings found in a Turkish Corner.

Chinese garden stools can be used as tables in a small space such as this one. An Asian altar table for lighting and accessories would also fit nicely. And in your specific situation, some low bookcases in black finish could be introduced as well.

Let me emphasize that the flooring in this model is not genuine mahogany. A synthetic material was used in response to environmentalists’ concerns about the clearcutting of tropical forests to meet the demands of export markets.

This flooring, manufactured by Pergo, consists of laminate planks that simply snap together without glue or nails. And they certainly do resemble satin-glossed mahogany.

Please note, too, that many far less costly synthetic materials can be substituted for the silk pillows. These alternatives are almost equally attractive as silk. But in some respects, there’s really no substitute for silk, is there?

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