Designing a luxury interior is a constant balance between two seemingly exclusive forces. On one side we strive for classical symmetry – the order that gives our mind a sense of safety and control over the surroundings. On the other, sterile, perfect spaces often begin to lack life. Here the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi comes to the rescue, finding authentic beauty in natural matter, its texture and a free, asymmetrical arrangement. Consciously joining these two currents allows a domestic haven to be made that breathes in the rhythm of quiet luxury.

Understanding where and how to display art is crucial to keeping that delicate balance. An empty wall or an elegant chest of drawers are spaces that, arranged appropriately, become the central points of a room. The wrong display, however, can introduce unwanted unease, which we write about in detail in the article Arranging an empty living-room wall.

Source: Leonard Koren. Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers. The influence of natural materials and asymmetry on the perception of interior aesthetics.

The truth of material in the spirit of Wabi-Sabi

The essence of Wabi-Sabi is accepting that natural materials age with dignity and that their unique features constitute the highest value. It is a radical departure from mass, plastic smoothness in favor of craft. Our main frame was created on the basis of precisely that philosophy. Made of solid oak and finished with natural oil, it displays with pride the arrangement of the grain and the natural structure of the wood.

So that nothing disturbs contact with that matter, the frame deliberately has no glass. This move eliminates reflections and allows direct experience of the texture of the archival cotton paper on which the professional fine art print is prepared. You will read more on the merits of this solution in the text Picture frames without glass. Placing such a crafted object at the central point of a living room brings organic warmth into it, breaking the chill of raw, modern interiors.

Classical symmetry on an empty wall

If you care about calming a resting space, hanging the main oak frame at a central, symmetrical point is the optimal solution. The best place is the free space directly above the axis of the sofa, the bed in the bedroom, or centrally above the fireplace. Such placement builds an invisible axis in the room, around which the whole rest of the arrangement is organized.

Care for harmony is also helped by the mounting process itself, which needs no invasive work. With the welcome set we supply mounting hook-and-loop strips, which allows the frame to be hung on the wall without drilling holes, dust and noise. Thanks to this, keeping symmetry becomes effortless, and the quarterly change of work, consisting in smoothly sliding in a mini-frame, does not disturb the visual order achieved.

Asymmetrical charm on a desktop

Not every space, however, requires strict axiality. In home offices, controlled asymmetry works considerably better, a nod toward the freer aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi. Setting art on a surface, leaning it against the wall or using free-standing solutions gives an interior an intimate, studio character.

With the main frame and with every new mini-frame we include an elegant magnetic base. The neodymium magnets hidden inside it mean the frame stands stably upright, and seen from the front, the base remains invisible. The work seems to “float in the air”, which is an extraordinarily refined detail in an office space. We write about the role of such accents in building authority in the article A prestigious home office.

In the subscription model of Odoardo Art™, your display never becomes outdated. With every following quarter, as you slide a new Chapter into the main frame, the previous work begins its own life in your home. Mounted in an oak mini-frame, it can be hung on the wall with the tape included or set on a smaller magnetic stand.

Harmony that invites closeness

Making an interior in which classical symmetry discreetly interpenetrates with the nobility of natural oak allows deep psychological comfort to be achieved. Such a harmonized space, free of visual chaos and cheap decoration, is the ideal setting for something far more valuable – time spent with those close to you.

Wood finished with natural oil resonates splendidly with other crafted objects. In such a quieted living room, beside your personal gallery, the luxury casket of Odoardo Alibi™ will find its place perfectly. Made of the same material, closed with hidden neodymium magnets, it holds a hundred cards: fifty with illustrations and fifty with questions – its construction is described by the text The engineering of an oak box. By caring for a wise choice of art and its right display, you prepare your home for the most beautiful, undisturbed moments of building a relationship.

The foundations of this philosophy are gathered in the Odoardo™ manifesto.