In the climate of the current global pandemic and the masses of the population having to stay indoors, it only makes sense that the interest and demand for interior design has skyrocketed. The pandemic has opened a window for change as people are ready to redesign their homes. Insert Ikuhiro Yamagata. A Master of Interior Design, Yamagata’s keen eye for decorating has kept him busy during a time where so many people are looking for something new. What makes Yamagata so popular is his emphasis of the client before the design. Anyone with a degree in design can decorate a space but it takes true skill to design around a client. Taking influences from the style of Japandi, a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalism, Yamagata strives to design any space to the accommodations required of the client’s lifestyle using the fundamentals of his own style.
What Japandi is best known for is its use of nature. Something Japan and Scandinavia have in common is the incorporation of natural elements in its design. Yamagata’s home was one of the first to use Japandi as its main style of décor and now he’s working to bring it into homes all over the world.
Yamagata’s style always looks at function over aesthetic. Before simply decorating a room, Yamagataaims to understand what the client will use the room for and only when he understands that does he begin his design process.
Japandi utilizes the natural space and light of the room into its design. Many of the pieces that will make its way into the design will be made of natural elements like wood, stone, bamboo, among others. The primary color palette revolves again around nature. Clients can expect to see hues of green, brown, and white. Windows are often unobstructed to allow natural light to pour into a room therefore curtains are often discarded in favor of sheer shades and screens. Yamagata might also place plants and sometime even water within a home once again emphasizing the love and respect Japan places upon the natural elements. Yamagata often seeks high-quality pieces to add into his design to ensure a space will be usable and stand the test of time.
For anyone interested in Japandi, Yamagata’s designs, and are hoping to learn more about its features, Yamagata shares his work on social media platforms such as Instagram and HP or visit his website at ikhrymt.com.
