Zen gardens are often thought of as the epitome of minimalist design. These gardens were first created in Japan to encourage Buddhist monks to meditate. The idea of Japanese Zen garden design is to invoke serenity and beauty. In today’s modern society, having enough room on one’s property to create a full Zen garden is becoming increasingly rare; however, design [...]

Although this photo might simply appear to be one of a beautiful garden, it can be used as an example of the placement of an outdoor water feature in feng shui. The placement of a water feature in any garden is going to be governed by the interaction of the five essential feng shui elements. A water feature in a [...]

The simple and elegant design of this room is quite conducive to relaxation. This dining area is commonly referred to as a washitsu. In its most basic definition, a washitsu is a room that is characterized by its tatami flooring and sliding doors. Most washitsus are measured by the size of their tatami mats, and although this room is larger [...]