Ask a Designer: How to Craft a Calming Home Inspired by Japanese Minimalism

Dennis Cheok, creative director of Upstairs_, shows you how to craft a home with Japanese influences

Calming, simple and timeless—these words are frequently associated with Japanese design. It’s no wonder it continues to hold sway in the interior realm, drawing admiration from architects, designers and homeowners alike.

“The Japanese design language is unique in that it celebrates the negative space, shadows and imperfections,” shares Dennis Cheok, creative director of Upstairs_. “These are rare traits in an industry that is obsessed with perfection and building fast, and I think it can have a very profound influence on the way we envision our projects.

Above Creative director of Upstairs_, Dennis Cheok

Cheok was the lead designer of The Ryokan Modern, an apartment filled with Japanese influences. The project received the Best Living Room accolade at the Tatler Design Awards 2020 and was celebrated for being a beautiful tribute to Japanese culture.

“When designing with a nuanced aesthetic in mind, we begin to pay more attention to textures and forms, and lean towards materials and objects that lend a sense of artistry and poetry to spaces,” explains Cheok.

You can weave in subtle Japanese references by selecting organic materials and raw finishes to reinforce its pared-back appeal. “The most wonderful thing about the Japanese aesthetic is that the natural, ageing patina is celebrated and revered,” shares Cheok. “Bare concrete can be ‘Japanese’, simply by working with its unfinished brutality and elegance in purity.”

Above 101 Copenhagen Sculpt stool, from P5 Studio

Above 101 Copenhagen Brutus chair, from P5 Studio

1. Raw Beauty

Above Vessels by Paola Paronetto, from paola-paronetto.com

Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates natural imperfections, Cheok suggests designs such as the 101 Copenhagen Brutus chair and Sculpt Stool, and the paper clay sculptures crafted by Italian ceramicist Paola Paronetto.

“I have recently become acquainted with 101 Copenhagen, and was immediately drawn to its raw, brutalist forms and material nuances,” says Cheok. “I also admire Paronetto's vessels, which are distinctively crafted with their unfinished edges. I love how they appear almost paper-like in their fragility and their visual lightness.”

2. Washi Time

Above Classicon Plissée lamp by Sebastian Herkner, from Space Furniture

Above Serax Chan lamp by Ann Demeulemeester, from serax.com

Paper is another material typically associated with Japanese design. It is applied to lanterns as well as on the shoji sliding doors and walls in traditional Japanese homes. For a more subtle application, consider the Classicon Plissée floor lamp. “The Plissée evokes the silhouette and glow of Japanese lanterns in a simple, modern way,” shares Cheok.

If you’re looking for a bold centrepiece, Cheok recommends the Serax Chan 1 pendant lamp, whose form is reminiscent of noren cord curtains. “There is so much primitive beauty to it,” he says.

3. Artistic Flourish

Above Presence/Absence by Wyn-Lyn Tan, from Fost Gallery

Complete the look with an abstract art piece that can serve as the focal point of an elegant, Japanese-influenced interior. Cheok highlights Presence/Absence, a work by local artist Wyn-Lyn Tan, who is represented by Fost Gallery.

“Tan’s brushstrokes are always powerful and transportive,” says Cheok. “I also love the way this piece is arranged. The negative spaces between the elements become something to participate in, much like the landscaping in a Japanese garden.”

4. Clean Slate

Above Arflex Botolo armchair by Cini Boeri, from Space Furniture

A light and off-white palette generally works well when going for a Japanese-inspired scheme. “Neutral hues and timber tones achieve a timeless look. On the other extreme, many experiential Japanstyle spaces can also be composed of dark textures and shadows,” says Cheok. “It’s the way these colours and textures are orchestrated that defines the way it is perceived, be it Japanese-influenced or otherwise.”

For this reason, he suggests tactile pieces such as the Arflex Botolo chair designed by Cini Boeri. “It’s both outrageous and incredibly humble at the same time. I am obsessed.”

5. Down to Earth

Above Poliform Westside sofa by Jean-Marie Massaud, from Space Furniture

Above SP01 Yee sideboard by Metrica, from Space Furniture

Japanese interiors favour furniture of a low height especially if the room features tatami-style flooring, which means guests will be seated directly on the floor. As such, Cheok recommends the SP01 Yee sideboard by Metrica and the Poliform Westside sofa by Jean-Marie Massaud. “This piece creates an elegant storage solution, yet with so much restraint,” says Cheok. “The Poliform Westside sofa is a modern interpretation of tatami seating best utilised within a well-proportioned lounge.”

This story was first published in the April issue of Tatler Homes Singapore; the issue is available with our compliments on Magzter until 31 May 2021.

Topics

interior design home decor japanese design minimalism upstairs_ dennis cheok