There’s something compelling about contrasts, particularly between what’s masculine and what’s feminine… dark and messy vs. prim and pink can provide a mesmerizing show. Stevie Nicks and Don Henley famously sang about it in “Leather and Lace,” and a quick review of the most compelling fashion, photography and overall design of the past century reveals the same.

To take a living space and make it completely masculine throughout — strong lines, dark woods, sleek surfaces and gadgetry galore — without softening the edges can seem a little too expected. The same, of course, can be said for a feminine space that’s all “ooh la la” with nothing disturbing all its curve and fluff.

So, this roundup in particular marries femme with homme, aesthetically speaking, in ways that bring the grit of the street indoors and balance it out with cloudy white linens and nubby, squared-off pieces covered in rose-colored fabric.

Throughout this quartet of images, strong and soft enjoy an interplay to gorgeous effect: concrete floors are adorned with soft white rugs, while a black and white fur bedroom shows its effeminate sense of humor with a stocking print on the wall.

Indeed, the dynamic between the sexes can be grand, and these rooms illustrate its complexity with beauty.

Photo credits: Anthropologie, Russell Smith, A Note on Design and Decor8.

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