Rising to the challenge of simplicity is harder than it seems. Every thing counts,” writes Sara Ruffin Costello in Jeffrey Bilhuber: American Master. Like a poem where every stanza, line, and word holds pointed meaning, a simplified design scheme lets a room really shine. To get a similar look, try an antique rattan chair and bonsai trees to add an indoor- outdoor note. A pair of pedestal tables pulled up to a sinuous sofa adds a tavern-like feel and is perfect for entertaining. Keeping in line with the home’s asceticism, deep gray paint grounds the space, while eclectic accessories—an antique drum, a faceted glass bowl— give the room its personality. The overall look is refined yet relaxed—proof that sometimes, less really is more.