Japanese and Scandinavian Design Elements Combine in Wales

Artist Richard Zinon learned pottery in Japan, and carpentry, painting and sculpture in Italy; he’s also a trained chef who has worked in restaurants in different countries. Is it any wonder then that his little bungalow, nestled deep in Snowdonia National Park in Wales, would be a paean to artfulness and craftsmanship?

Zinon and his partner, Nuria Maria, a fellow painter, treated the 1929 structure like a blank canvas, deftly filling it in with design references to their travels while showcasing the beauty of natural materials. At 689 square feet, the two-bedroom home is small, but it feels open and airy thanks to high ceilings and new picture windows that frame the verdant views.

Inspired by his time in Japan, Zinon chose to clad the exterior with shou sugi ban Japanese cypress planks. Inside, the couple opted for a mix of Japanese wabi-sabi style and clean-lined Scandi design.