Sushi and shinto screens.

For those of you who don't know, a group of us girls get together each Wednesday (in this case Thursday) to lunch somewhere new. Which kind of pertains to this blog because it's a way to force ourselves to get a change of scenery. Today's lunch was at The Painted Fish in Northside and OMG YUM. The miso soup was fresh, the rolls were fried and adorably garnished and the ambience was quaint and cozy. If I were better at this, I would have taken a picture of the delicious (although pricey) feast. I highly encourage people to check it out - make sure to get the crunchy shrimp roll.

After the delicious lunch, I got to thinking about asian influence on design. The clean lines, bold reds and blacks, bamboo accents and large screens create an atmosphere that can be very calming while at the same time heighten the drama. Like everything else, moderation is key - too many additions will start to make your space look less like a home and more like a chinese takeout restaurant. Stick with the rule of three pieces per room and make sure to spread across the entire space to keep a good balance. Here are a few things that I've got my eye on.

DIY: Low on cash? Sand down an old side table with clean lines and paint it a rich, antique red. Find a textile pattern you like and replicate it on a canvas. Or even make an origami mobile to fill an empty corner.

 

top to bottom: world market, pier1imports, WillaSkyeHome on etsy (both pillows)