Design
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The Appeal of a Burnt Wood Finish
This Old House’s Bob Vila addresses the hottest trend in design—which is also an ancient Japanese technique— and offers his list of surprising benefits for siding, furniture, and more. Whether you’re ready to build a new wood deck, furniture, or wood wall paneling—or aim to spruce up existing ones—you’ll ultimately want both beauty and longevity. While chemical preservatives can be applied to untreated wood to prolong its life, and stain or paint can enhance visual appeal, these time-consuming treatments must be undertaken separately. Home improvement guru, Bob Vila, wonders why not consider shou sugi ban (pronounced shoh shoo-gee bahn), a much-buzzed-about technique that allows any DIYer comfortable with using a blowtorch to fortify and beautify…
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Gaijin adds Shou Sugi Ban for Authentic Vibes
Chef Paul Virant is returning to Chicago with the opening of Gaijin—and bringing savory Japanese pancakes with him. Guests at Gaijin will get traditional okonomiyaki batter with the option of a few American ingredients. Where in Japan okonomiyaki mostly uses seafood and pork as protein, Virant will offer chicken and beef as well. The menu will also include other small plates such as yakisoba, a stir-fried noodle dish; a few types of korokke, aka, Japanese croquettes; a miso-based soup with a minestrone influence; a short rib dish; grilled baby bok choy; a grilled steelhead dish with koji; and pickles made with local ingredients. He also imported a shaved ice machine from…
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East meets West in Modern Alabama Farmhouse
What do Japanese architecture and Southern style have in common? The answer is a custom-designed farmhouse tucked among a small forest of tulip poplar and oak trees in Shelby County. And, also, a forward-thinking designer who was allowed to let his creativity run wild with wood, concrete, and flames. Back in 2012, architect Michael Philip Curtis got a call from Birmingham real estate developer Len Shannon. Shannon was in the market for a custom-built home that showcased some of the high-brow design he regularly works with. His vision for the home was simple—a farmhouse that blended traditional and modern elements while also comfortably accommodating his three children. After some brainstorming,…
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Architectural Digest: Top Design Trends of 2020
Experts across the design industry predict what major trends we’ll be seeing in the year ahead As we prepare to enter not only a new year but a fresh decade, you may be wondering what design trends lie on the horizon. To find out, we polled five trend forecasters who are constantly looking at data and analyzing market shifts to identify what’s new and next. According to these experts, if the last few years were defined by sweet pinks and brass fixtures, 2020 will shift into a slightly more subdued gear. But this reinterpretation of minimalism will be anything but boring: The next year will see a return to strong geometric forms (as one…
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Finding a Shou Sugi Ban Retreat in The Hamptons
Perhaps the most cleansing place in The Hamptons, Shou Sugi Ban House is a fully wellness-directed combination of food, instruction, and wabi-sabi aesthetics. Here, Debbie Kropf has fitted the low-lying structures and guest rooms with motifs pointing toward Japan in a fully contemporary Western format. Cedar slatting references both Eastern and Hampton’s architecture, careful landscaping creates a clean break from New York City, and airy, harmonious spaces offer meditation, hydrotherapy, and Noma alum Mads Refslund’s elemental plant-based dishes. About Shou Sugi Ban House Welcome to a place where sea meets sky, and earth embraces ether A space inspired by the principles of wabi-sabi, and wellness traditions that value the simple beauty and healing…
