At Home With Japanese Design: Accents, Structure and Spirit

Rating:
Summary: Faux Japanese
Review: I ordered this thinking it would be a good collection of Japanese design elements and ideas. I have no problem with mixing different cultural elements and using traditional elements creatively. However, most of what is featured is a sort of faux-Japanese design for yuppies. Items are completely out of place (i.e. a footwarmer used to keep flowrs; clothes hung on walls as decor) and rooms often cluttered. Further, many rooms were cluttered or not very Japanese at all. That said, a few featured houses were nice, and one in particular -- built in rustic Japanese fashion with dark wood -- was beautiful. Overall, unless this is your type of thing, I'd say look elsewhere for design ideas ...