There are furnishings with modern sensibilities. And there are those with an Asian flair. Now, there is Modern Asia Decor, which offers contemporary furniture with an Asian flavor.

Opened late last year at the corner of Buffalo and Alta drives, owners Ron and Alma de Castro said they were inspired to open the store after spotting unique pieces during their many visits to Asia and not finding anything similar in the valley.

"We call it Asian fusion," Ron de Castro said. "It's where East meets West."

Modern Asia Decor's furnishings have a European flair with an Asian accent. Alma de Castro said the modern designs are similar to those coming out of Europe, but the materials are traditionally Asian and indigenous to the areas where they are manufactured.

"A lot of these pieces go straight to Europe. They don't sell these pieces in Asia," said Alfred Antonio, the de Castro's business consultant and Alma's brother.

"The look and feel here is very different," he added.

According to Alma de Castro, the Asian furniture featured in their store incorporates a variety of organic material in nontraditional ways. For example, sugar cane has been crushed and formed into a bed, and abaca, traditionally used to make rope or paper, has been flattened and laminated to create a table top.

Other materials featured in Modern Asia's furnishings and accessories include banana leaves, raffia, bamboo, palm twigs and shells.

Additionally, the majority of the furniture and accessories are handmade.

Ron de Castro said many of their designs are woven, a specialty of Asian furniture makers.

Also featured are woods not typically found in traditional Western décor including ebony, which, according to Ron de Castro, comes strictly from properly licensed loggers.

Because the two travel so often to Asia, between four and six times a year, they have established relationships with many of the area's manufacturers. Ron de Castro said that enables them to get the latest designs at the best prices, which they pass on to their customers.

They also believe these relationships will enable them to create custom furniture -- as long as it falls within their modern style.

Alma de Castro said they feel their unique furnishings fit well with the area's numerous condominiums, lofts and smaller-sized homes.

"People want minimal-type contemporary furniture," she said.

Although the two have no prior experience operating a furniture store, they have been involved with trend watching and creative endeavors for more than a decade.

"Ron has been into art for the past 10 years," Alma de Castro said. "He used to be an art dealer in the Philippines and in Bally's hotel before he went into real estate."

When not at the store, both are involved in the real estate industry: Ron is a real estate agent and Alma handles mortgage loans.

The two also keep up to date on trends with the help of a good friend who is an artist and interior decorator in Asia.

For now, the de Castros are content to offer furniture and accessories in their store. But, they hope to turn Modern Asia into a "brand" that is more affiliated with a style and feel than a home-furnishings store and its products.

Part of that effort began recently when they agreed to turn their showroom into a teaching gallery for students at the Art Institute of Las Vegas.

Nancy Bohnett, academic director at the institute, said students in the commercial design class met with the de Castros both in their classroom and at the store to discuss product presentation.

"The students are currently researching retail design and the psychology of consumers. They are also getting familiar with Paco Underhill, the founder of Envirosell and retail industry's 'first shopping anthropologist.'

"This project has offered students insight into working with clients, retail design solutions (both individually and with the class) and gaining awareness of what makes a shopping experience of today work," Bohnett added.

They presented their findings about interior layout, maximizing sales and increasing drive-by awareness to fellow classmates earlier this week, and then gave the best solutions to the de Castros.

Additional information about the furniture and accessories is available at the store's Web site, >www.modernasia.net