Organic Asian – A Natural Transformation for a Cape Style Home
What began as a small kitchen makeover in a suburban Boston home quickly morphed into a large remodeling project that included a master bedroom and bath overhaul. The family had been living in the home since 1987 and felt the house was long overdue for an upgrade.
Two elements that the homeowners knew they wanted to incorporate into the remodel were an Asian aesthetic and an open floor plan. Enter Cherry Tree Design lighting and shoji, a perfect fit for their two requirements. The homeowner says, “We tried to use materials with an organic feel, such as bamboo flooring. We wanted to maintain that natural impression throughout the house and Cherry Tree products reflect that.“

Shoji was also used to separate the office. Large sliding shoji screens were installed where double French doors originally opened into the hallway. “We can keep the panels open when not in use, and closed for privacy when someone is in there working,” says the homeowner.

The homeowners customized their shoji with two different facing materials. They chose Ocean Mist Laminate for the bedroom shoji for its greater opacity and enhanced privacy. The Jet Stream Encapsulated facing was chosen for the bath divider and office for its transparency, allowing more light to filter through.

An Asian-inspired Kyoto Sconce was installed in the master bath, imparting a serene simplicity to the eastern influenced room. The streamlined Meridian Bath Bars were mounted over the vanity to provide brighter, more uniform lighting for the homeowners’ morning and evening wash basin rituals.

Everyone who visits our home asks where we found the shoji. You don’t see these creations in a big box store. It’s just such a unique look,” says the homeowner. “It’s obvious that Cherry Tree Design products are handcrafted - the wood and paper are beautiful. They’re practical but retain the beauty of their design. We love the products.”

Typical of Cape-style homes, the house has many rooms and even more doors – a feature that doesn’t entirely mesh with an open floor plan. “The cumbersome hinged doors always seemed to get in the way,” says the homeowner. “We like the way shoji work because they are so much more practical for the airiness of an open floor plan.”

Shoji was installed in the master bath to separate the toilet from the shower and vanity area. “Shoji worked well for the bathroom because it wasn’t a practical space to have hinged doors swing out into the hallway or in toward the bath. And all four of our family members use that bathroom.  It’s the master bath, but we have to kick the kids out,” jokes the homeowner