Living room cum office. I want to make it a comfortable space.

Meow. My cat Maron, lying on the sofa, is meowing in a good mood.
He is occupying the sand-beige sofa. I purchased that couch at an interior design store in Aoyama the other day. The purpose of replacing was to redecorate the living room.

I have been living in his current apartment for about 15 years. I had just started to feel stuck in a rut with the interior design and layout. Also, since I use here as my private office, I have more and more opportunities to have meetings with my work friends and clients at home every year. I wanted to make the space more comfortable both as a private living room and as an office where people gather, so I decided to redecorate it.

Along with the sofa, there was one other new purchase.
It is the “Hyakka Design Art Panel, Kiku Karakusa” by Haibara. Before, I decorated my living room with framed art posters obtained from art exhibitions in Japan and abroad. This is the first time I have purchased an art panel. I am a little excited by the undiscovered world.

Moderately thick three-dimensional art accents the interior.

Why did I decide to purchase art panels this time?
I heard from a friend who works as an interior design media company’s editor that art panels are the best way to display art on the wall.

When I think of art to display on the wall, paintings, posters, and photographs come to mind, but most are flat and framed. On the other hand, art panels are thick, three-dimensional boards with art attached to them and can create a pleasant accent in a space.

“The basis of interior design is a sense of unity throughout the room. You can create an overwhelmingly comfortable space by displaying art that blends with the color of the walls and the atmosphere of the furniture.”
These words from my friend made me feel a little sad, as I realized that there was not a shred of unity” in my chaotic living room until now.

Anyway, I decided that the “Hyakka Design Art Panel Chrysanthemum Arabesque” would be the best match for the atmosphere of the new room after the redecoration.

Veteran artisans used traditional techniques to create “Japanese” art using patterns painted on Japanese paper.

The redecorating process has made me rethink the way I deal with things. In the past, I tended to choose things from appearance, such as “cute” or “cool.” Recently, however, I have started to select items that I find endearing, including the background of the manufacturing process, the people involved, and the worldview of the product.

Haibara’s “Hyakka Design Art Panels” are “Japanese” art created through the connections and careful handiwork of many people. First, artisans create the designs on Japanese paper using traditional techniques such as Nassenzuri (printing) and Katazome (stencil dyeing) to digitize the colored designs on washi paper. The data is then reproduced on special matte-coated photographic paper by a laboratory directly managed by Fujifilm. The delicate lines, wavering colors, and gentle texture of the washi paper are then made into art panels so that you can enjoy them as they are.

By the way, the “Hyakka Design Art Panel Chrysanthemum Arabesque” I purchased uses designs colored by Nassenzuri. It is a coloring technique in which the printing plate is changed for each color, and the colors are dyed one by one to express gorgeous multicolor.

Western-style rooms, conference rooms, hospitals, and coffee shops – It fits in with any room naturally and comfortably.

It is fun to think about how to display art panels. The impression of a room can change dramatically depending on the number of panels displayed.
For example, a single art panel displayed on a wall can be an eye-catcher that creates a sense of unity throughout the room. Two or three panels of the same size, side by side or two panels above and below each other, can create a rhythm in the space and an unordinary feeling of displaying a collection.

I displayed one art panel on the wall in my home as a living room cum office. Recently, I noticed that the look of the art changes depending on the use of the room. During private time, it becomes a space that brings a sense of peace and relaxation, and when it is used as an office, the entire room takes on a crisp, tight look.

Just by displaying a single piece of art on the wall, an ordinary, familiar room becomes a comfortable, sophisticated space.
Although it is a “Japanese” artwork, the design is also attractive because it can fit comfortably in any room, such as a Western-style room, bedroom, or study. I am planning to get two of the Katazome types for the entrance.