Houzz Tour: In Japan, Farmhouse Style Inspires an Island Home
Details are everything in Japanese actor Chieko Higuchi’s Hokkaido retreat
On the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, on a farm atop a small hill overlooking the sea, stands a house owned by Japanese actor Chieko Higuchi. It’s a delightful retreat where Higuchi’s family and friends can spend a few weeks of the year with her and experience farming.
“My father, who bought this farmland, told me to build whatever I wanted, and I was so excited to try my hand at it,” Higuchi says. Working with Hokkaido firm Atelier O2, she handpicked every detail as she created a home that reflects her love of international design.
“My father, who bought this farmland, told me to build whatever I wanted, and I was so excited to try my hand at it,” Higuchi says. Working with Hokkaido firm Atelier O2, she handpicked every detail as she created a home that reflects her love of international design.
To achieve this and other design goals, Higuchi chose to work with architecture firm Atelier O2. “I looked at their profile and saw that they had a lot of experience with insulation. Also, I had a clear vision of the house I wanted to build, and I believed Mr. Osugi would be able to reproduce this vision successfully.”
Higuchi lives primarily in Tokyo, while Osugi is based in Hokkaido. That made for many Skype sessions. “First, I sent him lots of pictures and reference materials from the shops, along with brands, colors and textures I like, so he could have an idea of my tastes and preferences. This step also was necessary because we had to see whether these materials were available in Japan.”
Higuchi’s frequent conversations with the designer continued during the construction phase. “For example, even for a single switch cover, I’d make detailed requests as to which brand and design to use. The discussion would occasionally become a bit heated. I would sometimes make sketches and place them in front of the webcam,” she says with a laugh.
Higuchi lives primarily in Tokyo, while Osugi is based in Hokkaido. That made for many Skype sessions. “First, I sent him lots of pictures and reference materials from the shops, along with brands, colors and textures I like, so he could have an idea of my tastes and preferences. This step also was necessary because we had to see whether these materials were available in Japan.”
Higuchi’s frequent conversations with the designer continued during the construction phase. “For example, even for a single switch cover, I’d make detailed requests as to which brand and design to use. The discussion would occasionally become a bit heated. I would sometimes make sketches and place them in front of the webcam,” she says with a laugh.
Higuchi selected every element of the interior, including the wall color, lighting, tables, ornaments and door handles. So she can answer without hesitation what she bought, where and why — down to the smallest detail.
Her ideas for the farmhouse’s living spaces were inspired by interior design shops and renovated hotels in Paris and in small villages in the south of France, as well as by the Zetas Trädgård and Leva Kungslador stores in Sweden.
Her ideas for the farmhouse’s living spaces were inspired by interior design shops and renovated hotels in Paris and in small villages in the south of France, as well as by the Zetas Trädgård and Leva Kungslador stores in Sweden.
We started our tour in the living room. The light-blue fabric of this armchair by midcentury Scandinavian designer Finn Juhl enlivens the space. Higuchi bought a chair and an ottoman by Ercol at Transista (not pictured) in Kichijoji. The solid cherry dining table is from Brunch in Tokyo. Higuchi went all the way to Ashiya — 1,000 miles from Hokkaido and 300 miles from Tokyo — for the lights by Flame. The rest of the furniture she found in shops such as Tokyo’s Actus.
Fish bones figure prominently in Osugi’s design. These ceiling beams, for instance, are exposed to highlight the pattern. The white emphasizes the shadows they cast, creating a sense of depth and making the space seem larger.
The oak floor also features a herringbone pattern. It was stained only once for a more natural look: With multiple coats, it would have been sleek and wet-looking, whereas this way, the grain stands out. All areas, except the pantry and the entrance, are equipped with floor heating.
Higuchi’s collection of pictures and figurines of horses (not pictured) is also on display. It was inspired by the racehorses her father owns in Japan and France.
Though the area where the house is located gets less snow than the rest of Hokkaido, the winters are cold. However, floor heating and double-paned windows provide excellent insulation and make the family feel “warmer inside the house than in Tokyo.” They’ve never had to use the wall-mounted electric heaters.
“I wanted the living room to be a warm and sunny southwest-facing room, where I can see the ocean in the distance and family and friends can get together,” Higuchi says. For her, this is the definition of a living room, and the social aspect is what drove her design aims for this space. She particularly enjoys being here at sunset and watching the spectacle from the expansive window.
“I wanted the living room to be a warm and sunny southwest-facing room, where I can see the ocean in the distance and family and friends can get together,” Higuchi says. For her, this is the definition of a living room, and the social aspect is what drove her design aims for this space. She particularly enjoys being here at sunset and watching the spectacle from the expansive window.
The home is full of special touches. Custom-made lamps by glass artist Naho Iino brighten the foyer and welcome guests.
The dishes in the kitchen are by Astier de Villatte of France and from Kyoko Hitotsuyanagi’s collection, special-ordered from Outbound in Kichijoji. The gas stove is by AEG of Germany. The Staub pots are her favorite.
The pantry behind the door at the end of the kitchen is connected to the entrance, which eliminates the need to carry groceries through the living room. This is a huge advantage as Higuchi uses the house only occasionally and tends to buy non-perishable items in heavy bulk packages.
The pantry behind the door at the end of the kitchen is connected to the entrance, which eliminates the need to carry groceries through the living room. This is a huge advantage as Higuchi uses the house only occasionally and tends to buy non-perishable items in heavy bulk packages.
Higuchi says what she likes about the lamps she bought at Orne de Feuilles, which hang over the cherry dining table, is they’re height-adjustable.
Higuchi has acted onstage since she was little. Theater’s influence is evident in the bathroom vanity, which resembles a dressing room right down to its mirror. “The warm light reminds me of the backstage area I’m so familiar with and, strangely, I feel relaxed when I put on my makeup here.”
One special touch is Higuchi’s alcove. “I’ve always loved small places, and I thought I needed one for working and reading. I didn’t think I could concentrate in a wide-open space,” she says. The spot serves as a reading nook, but many of her friends find it so comfortable that they fall asleep there.
There’s plenty of storage space under the seat and in the walls.
There’s plenty of storage space under the seat and in the walls.
Another of Higuchi’s favorite features is her father’s corner bedroom, which has lots of light. It doubles as the guest room when Higuchi’s friends visit. The white birch tree near the window has stood there since before the house was built.
The budget was somewhat limited, so Higuchi had to make compromises here and there. One of them was the size of the bedrooms. “At the beginning, I told Mr. Osugi that the bedrooms didn’t have to be big.” Carefully designed interiors make up for the lack of size. For example, the lamps in each bedroom represent a collaboration between textile manufacturer Minä Perhonen and lighting design firm Flame.
Photo from Chieko Higuchi
Photo from Chieko Higuchi
Higuchi’s property is also a working farm, where she grows vegetables, berries and edible flowers, among other plants.
Higuchi’s property is also a working farm, where she grows vegetables, berries and edible flowers, among other plants.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Chieko Higuchi
Location: Central Hokkaido, Japan
Size: 1,884 square feet (175 square meters) on 61 acres (24.7 hectares)
Year built: 2012
Architect: Takashi Osugi of Atelier O2
Higuchi wanted the home to look like a European farmhouse. The eye-catching pentagonal shape of the wood-frame structure was inspired by the Belgian barnhaus. And in a nod to Swedish and Danish designs, she asked the architect to combine simple square surfaces and a triangular roof.
From afar, the exterior walls appear to be covered in brick or tile, but they are actually clad in weather-resistant red cedar shingles.
Higuchi says she fell in love with interior design while visiting ABC Carpet and Home in Manhattan. Indeed, during her trips abroad, she developed a passion for buildings. As a frequent traveler since childhood, she’s had opportunities to take in many architectural styles.
“Even when I’m visiting an art museum in France, the architecture catches my eye more than the paintings do. I’ll spend half the day admiring the worn floors and handrails, or watching the workers as they repair the interior. I have wondered, “Why does this capture my heart?” Eventually, I realized that I love how things age, how their colors change and deepen. So when I decided to build my own house, I wanted one that could grow and age with me.”
That’s why Higuchi sought to use materials that would age gracefully over time.