East Meets West in This Zen-Minimalist Makeover

From admin on April 19th, 2010 in Washington DC

As seasoned travelers with a good portion of their married life spent in Japan, Peggy and Bill Breer had a plethora of inspiration to pull from when designing their Washington, DC Forest Hills home.  Pairing their love for Japanese culture with their Cape Cod-style house, they were able to successfully bring the east to the west.

Stephen Muse of Muse Architects and Peterson and Collins Builders adhered to the traditional minimalist design and open layout that most oriental homes are famous for. To help the interior, local designer Valerie Brandt of Bethesda was able to track down Japanese art and furniture that made each room feel contemporary yet comfortable. Clean lines and simplicity fill each space with a quiet subtly.

Carrying the style all the way to the outdoors, Osamu Shimizu of Shimizu Landscape Design created a wonderful Japanese garden for the backyard.

With the exterior of the home remaining virtually the same, this remodel just goes to show that looks can be deceiving. And of course, that sometimes the best design ideas come from thousands of miles away.