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The Nishieda Residence is an approximately 100-year old renovated home located in the northern region of Kyoto, near Kamigamo Shrine, It is a 2-floor wooden house with an area of 184.2m2. The tearoom was kept the same aside from some repair work. The kitchen and western style room which was renovated by the old owner located on the Eastern side of the home with a total of 59.27m2 will be renovated again. The purpose of the renovation is to create an exhibition and communication space for an art gallery for the owner's son. Yuuki Fukumoto and Tasuku Kishida from FHAMS has designed the home. They created a large living space where exhibitions or dinners could take place by removing partitions, walls and pillars. The kitchen, which had dirt flooring, was changed to the same flooring material as the living room. An island kitchen with just enough appliances to hold a reception party was installed. The kitchen is placed one step down from the living room to create an image like an inner court. The island-style granite countertop is the main attraction and was influenced from a Japanese outdoor stone washbasin. The shelves behind the island kitchen is imaged from the Japanese kitchen range and is now used as storage and air-conditioner duct space. While using only natural materials such as granite and dirt walls, harmony with modern and existing materials was created. Artwork can be hung on the shelf walls and still be balanced.

The owner has renovated a 70-year-old Japanese home. As we pull down the house, parts of pillars and base were rotten but we noticed that most pillars and beams were reusable. For earthquake protection, we have installed an additional layer on top of the original base and changed pillars that were rotten and added diagonal process to add strength. Before the repair, the main living spaces were the small areas of kitchen with 13m2 and chanoma (tea room) with 11m2, very small. Watanabe who designed the home wanted to create a spacious space within the boundaries of earthquake-safe limits. Without much change in the layout of the house, he has first removed the partition between the hall and kitchen and created a spacious 22m2 dining kitchen. The Northern wall of the room that was used as a reception room was removed, and a sliding door was added. If you remove the sliding door the dining and kitchen will be one space with a staircase in the middle. We kept the pine beam in the ceiling of the old kitchen and implemented it as a design feature. We changed the next-door chanoma to wood-flooring and changed Washitsu (Japanese room) that was not used to chanoma (tearoom). Bringing the best of Japanese traditional homes, and removing the cramped and dark negative points he has flexibly accomplished a change in accordance with his age and lifestyle.

Milano salone, a traditional interior trade fair, started in 1961 is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. Titled "50 years young." this year will be a memorable one in spite of the turmoil around the world and the massive earthquake in Japan, attendees were skeptical that the event would be successful, but were pleased with the turnout.
The design trends we saw were of a round form, simple-shaped, with either detail or texture, creating change with print. DIESEL × MOROSO introduced a cabinet with graphical print on its drawers, a sofa with a different form created by using a belt, a unique chair printed with wood design on thin material was also introduced at MAGIS. MOROSO, a chaise longue designed by Patricia Urquiola was characterized by a coarse weave. As for color trend, cerulean blue and brownish orange stood out this year especially the blue sofa with a geometrical design by alfrex, and lighting by DEDON. Two-tone color usage of Orange x Black by Poltrona Frau was impressive. Also, many makers have implemented Japanese influences into their products. Foscarini had a lantern with a paper lantern motif, Kimono pattern used in a MOROSO sofa, bamboo used in exhibition of ARMANI / CASA, all examples of a new trend with a Japanese influence.

Since established in 1920, Pierantonio Bonacina and its history has continued to develop skill (workmanship) in Brianza, Italy. Outdoor furniture made from wood, soft rush, manila and malacca rattan, leather, and steel are long-time favorites of many. They have worked with many famous architects and designers, and with their vast experiences have created comfortable, (cozy) spatial designs. In 2011 they have merged with matteograssi, an indoor furniture company based also in Italy. They have also invited Piero Lissoni, a world famous Italian designer commenting “to create rebirth of Bonacina, need to go back to the basics” Therefore focusing on simple design showing natural effects; A Bonacina style. Bonacina adds modernism to traditional Rattan by arranging colors and shapes and differentiating itself from other designs. Their new line of rattan chairs “CASSIS” and “WILD” uses skillful curving techniques, and is beautiful form from any angle. Their sofa “MAINE” is a simple design with a wooden frame and cushions, and the exquisite angle of the legs and details of the arm exemplify its character. In addition, “Pallet” is modular furniture where cushion quantity and layout can be customized. Both function and design have been implemented into one’s daily lifestyle. The five-year design reform with Lissoni will is sure to bring attention from all over the world.