Our Desert Moon project—a tall Victorian terrace in North London—was designed around the Japanese concept of Yūgen (幽玄), a quiet, mysterious beauty that invites contemplation rather than spectacle. As featured in Livingetc last month (link to the article), this layered transformation balances natural texture, warm tones and light, proving that even compact homes in the city can feel like sanctuaries.
Vertical Space, Reimagined
Slender Victorian homes often feel narrow and disconnected. Here, we made the most of the home’s height by opening a triple-height stairwell beneath a new skylight. Daylight spills across each floor, and an orb-like pendant light hanging down from the middle draws the eye right up to the top. This subtle intervention invites movement, shadow, and curiosity—key principles of yūgen.
Instead of filling rooms with large furniture, we left space to breathe. Every level serves a distinct purpose, but sightlines remain open, allowing the house to feel generous despite its footprint.
The Beauty of Suggestion
Rather than bold decoration, we used restraint to let each feature speak quietly. Soft lime-plastered walls and muted palettes become a canvas for texture, not ornament. In the bedroom, a single forest mural offers contrast—a misty moment of depth in an otherwise calm setting.
These choices reflect yūgen: beauty that unfolds slowly and rewards stillness. By layering light, natural finishes, and just enough detail, the house avoids excess while remaining full of character.
Inspired by Nature, Inside and Out
The clients’ affinity for desert landscapes led us to a palette of warm neutrals and deep greens. In the reception rooms, a terracotta limewash creates the effect of golden hour light on earth walls. In the stairwell, a spherical pendant glows like a sun suspended in space.
This palette continues downstairs in the kitchen, where deep green cabinets and walnut woodwork anchor the home. Green marble worktops echo these tones in more tactile form, creating consistency from floor to floor.
Natural materials—oak, plaster, stone—carry throughout. Bathrooms remain grounded with lime paint and warm finishes, and even the bathtub retains a window to let nature in. These small connections to the outdoors support a sense of shizen (自然): design that flows with the natural world rather than against it.
Less Noise, More Clarity
Storage was carefully built in so that surfaces remain clear. Everything has its place, supporting a sense of flow and ease. In line with taru o shiru (足るを知る)—“knowing what is enough”—we avoided overdesigning, especially on upper floors, where we switched from limewash to matching paint to achieve a similar effect at lower cost.
With fewer materials and better rhythm, the space feels cohesive. Acoustic comfort was improved, and light was introduced where it matters most.
A Quiet Retreat in the City
This Islington home now feels grounded, gentle and spacious—despite its modest size. By leaning into Japanese design principles, we created a layout that balances London living with layers of warmth, light and stillness.
At a time when calm feels essential, this project shows how yūgen can shape not just a home’s look, but its daily experience.
Many of our clients live in London homes with limited space and busy lives. Japanese design is not reserved for grand houses — it thrives in small, flexible, real-world homes.
Start by letting go of what no longer serves. Choose multi-purpose layouts. Select fewer but better materials. A home doesn’t need to be big to feel calm — it needs to be designed with care.
The article closes on a powerful note: Japanese interiors stand the test of time because they are not built on trends, but on human nature.
In Yoko’s words:
“A home that fills every corner becomes rigid. A home that leaves space can grow with its people.”
This principle sits at the heart of everything we do. A Japanese interior isn’t trying to be perfect — it’s trying to be alive.
Read the original AD Spain article here.