Clean, minimalistic design shines in the Japandi home trend, which blends Japanese and Scandinavian elements.
By Ashley Breeding
At a time when the outside world is especially chaotic, restore calm by curating a restful home sanctuary. Enter the Japandi philosophy, defined as “a marriage between Japanese principles and Scandinavian design,” notes Vieve Interiors founder Genevieve Chambliss. Since 2018, her full-service design studio has helped reimagine luxury spaces throughout Newport Beach, including those favoring Japandi elements.
Think “simple, clean lines and a minimalistic [approach],” explains Chambliss, noting the Japanese “wabi-sabi” philosophy, which embraces the idea of finding beauty in imperfection while also accepting transience. For Chambliss’ projects, this translates to clutter-free spaces; light oak furnishings, sometimes mixed with darker woods; white walls and neutral textiles; the use of organic materials, like stone, linen and rough or refined woods; warm lighting; solid craftsmanship; handmade, textural pieces like earthenware, tiles and textiles; and plants.
“Clients who don’t necessarily have the [lexicon] to request the ‘Japandi’ style ask for these things,” Chambliss says. “The designer assigns the word to it.”
If all-white feels too frigid, she suggests an accent wall in an earthy hue—like terra cotta or sage—to create warmth. Displaying vibrant art or a pop of color through side chairs or bedding, is another way to infuse personality into an otherwise simplistic space.
Have objets d’art you can’t part with? Be purposeful, Chambliss says: “Learn how to display them like a collection.” (But before that, hire a professional organizer to help you pare down, she advises.)
Occasionally, Chambliss partners with a firm to customize furniture; Vieve designs and the other firm builds the piece. “In one [home], my client needed a desk but wanted to keep things throughout the space minimalistic. … They also wanted to hide away work clutter.” A white oak Parsons-style desk with a storage tower and mitered drawer edges “maintained the minimalist look,” she says, while tucking unsightly items out of view.
For ground-up builds or bigger renovations, Chambliss focuses on increasing natural light by expanding windows and “that indoor-outdoor connection,” she says. To simplify a more ornate style, she might also build a flush baseboard or install flush casings around doorways. “A lot of these details that look simple actually take a lot more planning and craftsmanship to execute,” she points out. In a kitchen, a homeowner could replace upper cabinets with floating shelves or install slab-front doors.
Dig this style but also desire a splash of a coastal vibe? “A dining room table or kitchen island is a great place to incorporate big, asymmetrical branches or a few large conch shells. … For my ‘coastal modern’ clients, a main difference is that we use a lot of blues—which don’t read in my mind as ‘Japandi,’ but still mix well with these other elements.”
Sleek Simplicity
Find these furniture and decor items that complement Japandi style, all at local stores.
