Table of Contents: Lessons from Japan

Who could use some Zen right now? This week, we channel Kyoto, where they invented gardens to be stress-busting paths towards enlightenment.

With pebble gravel underfoot, we’ll contemplate a few tenets of Japanese design beloved at Gardenista and Remodelista (See previous themes: Japonesque and Wabi-Sabi Week): The beauty in imperfection. The simplicity of everyday rituals. And cohabiting with nature, whether that’s in a private courtyard or on a humble window sill.

Above: Photograph by Andreas Trauttmansdorff from Garden Visit: At Home with Canada’s Favorite Garden Writer.

Monday

• Sold–Mad Man’s Vincent Kartheiser’s home in Hollywood (but not before we got to admire its interior courtyard and Japanese industrial vibe in this week’s Designer Visit).
• Know your fuyus from your hachiyas? Kendra certainly does. See her cheat sheet on persimmon varietals and learn how to grow them in this week’s Field Guide.

Tuesday

• Michelle gets the title zen-master-rama for coming up with Japanese design principles to steal in this week’s installment of 10 Garden Ideas.
• Cheryl prefers her garden sculptures on the abstract side, no buddha statues please. She goes sleuthing for outdoor art inspired by modern master Isamu Noguchi in 10 Easy Pieces.

Wednesday

• Ofuro, which means soaking tub in Japanese, or if-only-we-had-this-our-lives-would-be-perfect item, is traditionally made of hinoki wood, and the subject of Meredith’s dreamy roundup.

Thursday

• Want tips for planting a modern bonsai, using a common plant from a local nursery? Talk to Cheryl in this week’s DIY.

Friday

• We tour a tiny tea house shaped (deliberately!) like a hat in this week’s Outbuilding of the Week.

Wondering what those industrious editors at Remodelista are doing this week? See all their posts on the zen and the art of remodeling over here.