ZenZa – An Irish Design Experience

A contemporary Asian furnishings store in Longford, Ireland, ZenZa was launched by two young Irish couples who wanted to bring the concept of Zen into home décor.  When the owners purchased the 3,500 square foot building, they knew the project would require flexibility and affordability in the allocation of space.

American designer Lee Tripi was challenged to design a space that allowed the flexibility to reconfigure the floor as new merchandise was added. The owners also wanted to create separate rooms in the space, each with their own design and style.

Tripi has a long history with Cherry Tree Design. He has specified Cherry Tree lighting, custom doors and stock shoji for various projects.

“The quality of the workmanship is apparent in Cherry Tree products,” says Tripi. “The meticulous approach to construction and materials is evident. I always have complete confidence specifying Cherry Tree because I know that there will never be a problem with the products themselves.”

He continues, “Cherry Tree customer service is a dream to work with. Questions and challenges are always met with thoughtful and creative solutions. They certainly make it easy to collaborate and maintain a satisfied client.”

Photos courtesy of Lee Tripi Design

Tripi determined that Cherry Tree Design stock shoji would be a perfect solution to delineate the space. He designed a track and rod system on which the screens would hang. The shoji could be removed and repositioned easily – like puzzle pieces – to change the configuration of the shop as necessary.

Stock shoji helped Tripi meet several criteria. The Asian look of shoji created an environment akin to a Japanese tearoom, a perfect fit for ZenZa’s style. Also, the screens could be reconfigured quickly to keep the space fresh and allow flexibility in the store’s arrangement. Finally, the affordability of stock shoji fit well within Tripi’s project budget.