Help! I need advice on how to mix contemporary with african cultural? My Fiance is contempoary and likes clean lines, however I love the dark rich boldness of african elements-what is a good way to merry these 2 styles???

Get pieces with clean lines also. dont overdo it, get only a few Good pieces.. Contemporary style is clean lines, and minimalism, but not neccessarily about colour, so you can decorate contemporary with dark colours, but remember, pieces with clean lines and only a few really significant pieces. If all that fails, have a room just for you where you can put all your favourite stuff, if your house has enough space for that. it will be your haven, you get-away space, your "happy place"

Well, if you look at the picture I put in from the West Elm catalog online, you can see that the furniture is contemporary with clean lines. However, if you look at that fireplace wall, the element above it has an artistic look to it (I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a mantel), which would be similar to say your african elements.

I would utilize an accent wall, and put your african elements on that using some type of ledge shelving for pieces that would require shelves, as ledge shelving gives a clean-lined look as well. I think your african accessories will have more of an impact this way too, rather than spread out throughout your home.

You can go bold with the colors that you use on the walls , your fabrics and in your accessories. Keep the clean lines of contemporary in your furniture. Use just a few of your favorite pieces so that you don't end up with a cluttered look.

if you have a museum with an african wing near you you should pay it a visit. museums usually use contemporary style. good luck i think it will work out beautifully