Cool and crisp, this great room is inspired by the desert adobe whites and vibrant reds of the American Southwest.

Two distinct seating areas — one with four, red leather armchairs, the other with a contemporary sectional sofa — create separate spaces within a single room yet can easily be combined when entertaining. Opposing fabric textures — one sleek and urban, the other rougher with a casual, more laid-back feeling — add a pleasing sense of contrast without causing visual distraction.

Sensuously curved earthenware pots and vases displayed in rectangular art niches provide most of the art components here. However, a large area rug with traditional Native American geometric patterns and red accents ties the room’s uncomplicated shapes and colors together into a dramatic whole and creates a visual focal point that invites people to pause, relax and visit.

A contemporary, gas fireplace that’s eye-level when seated is transformed into a piece of artwork for the surround. Staggering the line where these two materials meet subtly enhances the desert theme by mimicking a mountain in a distance.

Best of all, when the doors to the spacious outdoor patio are open, indoor and outdoor living merge together seamlessly.

GetDecorating.com (Clockwise from right) Geometric patterns tie together rug and furnishings. A spacious patio merges indoor and outdoor living into a single space. Four red leather chairs invite conversation and relaxation.

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