How One Shelf Changed Everything

This interior tells a love story with a country — a journey that changed the course of everything that followed. What began as an interior project became a declaration of love for Japan. Any remaining doubt dissolved during a chance moment in Amsterdam, when our clients wandered into the showroom of a Japanese furniture maker. Surrounded by ancient tradition, craftsmanship, and timeless heritage, there was nothing left to question. And so a delicate Heian-era shelf, inspired by the bamboo groves of Kyoto, became the foundation for a creative process that would unfold in the South of France. At the same time, it became the benchmark for everything else in the interior. Every piece of furniture, every light fixture, every detail had to meet the same standard: crafted by hand, with exceptional quality. This interior is neither Wabi Sabi, nor authentic Japanese minimalism. Its story is about something else — how tradition and heritage can lay the foundation for a space built for contemporary living.  

At the very start of a project, choosing an interior style can be a tricky thing. Even with a clear style in mind, the creative process inevitably leads somewhere else. That outcome is shaped by the place itself — its surrounding nature, the architecture around it, even the weather. That is exactly what happened here. A brief for Wabi Sabi with touches of Japanese interior elements became something far more personal. 

The defining challenge was reconciling two seemingly opposing forces: the oversized, sculptural lighting of Wabi Sabi, and the delicate Heian-era shelf inspired by Kyoto's bamboo groves. Both the lighting and the shelf had to sit within the space in a way that felt neither foreign nor overpowering. What emerged was an interpretation where natural materials, muted earthy tones, and richly visible textures were brought together through symmetry and fluidity. Why fluidity? Because the architecture that defines the South of France is Art Deco — and a raw, organic Wabi Sabi would have looked entirely out of place here. So this interior resists being assigned to any single style. What defines it instead is a devotion to detail and refinement, creating a considered atmosphere full of character and calm. And with time, it will only grow more charming. 

Looking back, it's impossible to single out any one decision that defined this interior. The exceptional nature of the property itself demanded exceptional standards for everything — from the interior finishes to the selection of every single piece of furniture. Behind every decision stands a specialist with deep experience in their field. The design choices behind this project bring together countries including Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Japan, and even the United States.

Every specialist involved in bringing this project to life carried a task of real importance. Its success rests entirely on teamwork — each expert responsible for their own part of the whole. Our studio's task was not only to fulfil the vision within its defining constraints, but to bring something exceptional to it. That is precisely why our studio designs beyond trends. This interior features pieces from renowned Italian and Japanese manufacturers that you won't find in any showroom catalogue. The privilege of shaping high-end design isn't extended to everyone. On this project, we were granted exactly that privilege, working alongside a Japanese manufacturer — and one of the most moving moments of the entire process was when their designers agreed to modify their furniture to the scale this project required. The bookshelf in the reception room, reminiscent of a bamboo grove and the very piece that sparked the whole concept, is in reality twice the size of the original design. It was reworked specifically for this project, as were other pieces — the living room's TV console, the dining sideboards, and the dining table. This wasn't a matter of adapting finishes; it meant modifying the construction itself, since the manufacturer's standard dimensions simply didn't match the scale of the space. The bedroom furniture was custom-adapted in the same way. One of the most important — and successfully executed — challenges was matching furniture makers from different countries to one another. The living and dining areas, for instance, feature Japanese furniture, while the bedrooms are furnished by an Italian maker. Look closely at the bedheads, and you'll notice their lines echo the design of the living room's bookshelf — a form conceived over 1,300 years ago, regarded as the oldest surviving Japanese furniture piece and the prototype for shelving in Japan. Every piece of furniture and every light fixture in this interior is connected, each one echoing elements of the other's design — much like the handmade Swedish rugs throughout. Each rug is unique in its shape, composition, and colour, tailored specifically to its space, echoing either the stone pattern of the bathroom or the hanging light fixtures in the living and kitchen areas. And yet, together, they all read as organic, carrying a quiet nod to Wabi Sabi. Even the outdoor furniture beyond the window — sourced from yet another Italian maker — doesn't feel out of place; look closely, and you'll notice it echoes the interior within. Matching all of this together was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Every piece for this project was sourced from the far corners of the world, drawing on some of the most experienced specialists in their fields. The process took four years to become a beautiful reality. 

The real challenge of this interior was logistics — moving materials and craftsmen across borders. We arranged accommodation and ensured proper working conditions for every specialist arriving from Lithuania and beyond. It was a slow process, full of complications, but worth every effort. 

Added to that was the property's location — high in the mountains, reached only by narrow, winding roads. Every delivery of materials and furniture, and every unloading on site, had to be planned in advance and coordinated with freight companies, their drivers, our own crew, and the neighbours. France holds strict regulations around any renovation work, requiring approval from both local authorities and surrounding neighbours. We were closely watched throughout the project, which meant every step had to be carefully considered — every task carried out quietly and cleanly.
But the greatest challenge of all — the very thing that also gives this home its exceptional front-line sea views — was that it is a penthouse. Works at this scale had never been carried out before. Trucks had to be received successfully and on schedule, and everything then had to be lifted by crane onto the apartment's terrace. We were constrained by the site itself, by permitted working hours, and by access to labour. Every single delivery required hiring separate carriers, loaders, and furniture assemblers, along with arranging for packaging removal. I remember how, every single time, my heart stopped as pallets of fragile furniture — arrived all the way from Japan — were lifted into the air. And it was, throughout, teamwork among people who didn't even share a common language.

Perhaps the most essential piece of advice is this: find within yourself the feeling you would want to return to again and again. Our studio's philosophy is to create beauty as a lasting value — one that endures. 

Building an interior in this style demands a genuine commitment to the process, and this interior's character was born from exactly that kind of commitment. It brings together makers from different countries and continents, all connected by a single feeling — the feeling of touching ancient tradition and timeless aesthetics, every time you come home. In an age when we feel pressure to make quick decisions, it matters to see the desired outcome clearly and stay the course throughout execution. Our second piece of advice, then, is to have support that keeps you from straying from your goals and your vision. Achieving an interior of this calibre takes time — our third piece of advice. The fourth: find the maker essential to your interior, one whose work brings you genuine pleasure, even a sense of pride. Choose manufacturers whose production is built on strong values and uncompromising quality. And finally, ask yourself — what do I want my home to say to others? An interior speaks about us louder than words ever could. Every decision, fully realised, speaks for itself. 

 Written by a human, not by artificial intelligence.