Veiled, half hidden, slightly mysterious, layered, glimp sedare all very influential design concepts. A 'now you see me, now you don't' approach to patterning is apparent - sheer fabrics whose design only comes into focus as they catch the light, ceramic swith embossed decoration that comes and goes, cut-outs and fret work that come to life as light penetrates them, objects that are wrapped in stretch, gauze-like fabrics or membranes.

Our fascination with sexual ambiguity is being reflected in a design language that mixes opposites and creates a natural balance between masculine and feminine. A subtle and discreet marriage of masculine materials and feminine forms creates a sensual design ethos that is both ornamental and contemporary.

The expression of this theme is refined and restrained, respecting natural forms and materials butalways imbued with an allure of feminine beauty. This creates a look that is sensual and intriguing - afar cry from much of today's brutal design and architecture. Designers Karim Raschid and Arik Levy and architects Zaha Hadid and Hasan Fathy have a good understanding of this marriage of sensuality and innovation.

Naturally inspired formations, such as sculpted sanddunes and desert landscapes, influence furniture and fabrics alike; the hidden beauty of the inside of an agate orgemstone reflects a mood of sensual surprise. Hard edges and strident colour are banned infavour of more fluid forms in cosmetic tones.

The palette combines the rich and sensuous desert reds, brick and corals with the delicate shades of sand, pearl, chiffon and shell. Overwhelmingly warm these colours nevertheless retain a sense of refinement and sophistication - used in layers or in subtle combination, they create a look of softexoticism.

Skintones, nude pinks and rich browns give a new take on the neutral palette that can be enlivened and enriched by the use of beading, braiding and embossing. Animal skins and leathers take on a luxurious pearlescent shimmer while wood comes alive in sinuous sculptural shapes. A feminine feast for all the senses.