Zen and the Art of Excellence: the Japandi Style

Much more than just a growing trend in the world of interior design, the Japandi style represents an enduring aesthetic ideal that transcends fashion. But more than that, for those who choose it in their home, it’s a true philosophy of life. Architects and interior designers have skilfully integrated two living concepts typical of the Japanese and Nordic cultures, finding common ground in their shared principles.

From this perspective, designing a space translates into a careful choice of the most functional solutions for those who inhabit it, thus successfully integrating the highest quality materials and surfaces with striking aesthetic appeal.

But what is the Japandi style and what makes it so special? Ultimately, the Japandi style is a perfect blend of the elegant simplicity of Japanese homes and the minimalist comfort of Nordic décor. Its spirit, therefore, is that of a Japanese minimalism that also manages to feel warm and inviting.

This approach is reflected in the flooring and cladding as well. Here stone-look porcelain stoneware stands out as a key element in capturing the essence of the Japandi lifestyle.

In fact, stone-look porcelain stoneware surfaces offer a new, sophisticated, and even enhanced interpretation of nature itself. Thanks expertly handled production processes and continuous research and development, the flooring and cladding products designed by Cotto d’Este surpass all technical and aesthetic expectations.

The stone-look has been perfected to an outstandingly high level, leaving no room for compromise. The result is simply the best ceramic products possible.

These exclusive surfaces, eclipsing the beauty and quality of other solutions present on the market, perfectly embody the ideals of the Japandi philosophy. Simple elements designed and intended to surpass the limits of time, unaffected and unhindered by fleeting trends.

What Are the Dominant Colours and Materials of the Japandi Style?

The shades which dominate the colour palette of this style are neutral and natural tones like grey, beige, and brown, which convey tranquillity and a connection to nature.
In addition to the surfaces, other materials used in Japanese décor are also carefully selected to give interior spaces a natural feel; materials like linen, wicker, ceramic, and even paper. Stone, combined with wood, plays a pivotal role in this style, embodying the very essence of elegant minimalism.

The fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian styles, seamlessly integrated in stone-look porcelain stoneware surfaces, represents an exceptionally modern and well-balanced aesthetic union; a sophisticated interior design language that pursues a paradigm of visual and functional excellence, which exceeds all limits and constraints.

The Timeless Elegance of a Japanese-Style Bedroom

The Japandi-style bedroom stands as an emblem of wellness and tranquillity, masterfully combining traditional Japanese simplicity with Scandinavian functionality.

This room, once the uncontested realm of natural materials, like wood, has now discovered an ally of incomparable aesthetic and technical value in porcelain stoneware.

Stoneware surfaces are the ultimate ceramic solution to the demand for aesthetically and technically high-performance cladding.

On the one hand, porcelain stoneware enhances the features of the material it mimics, like natural stone, creating a unique blend that captures the same look and feel as the original.

On the other hand, the increased thickness of 14mm, achieved through special pressing and firing processes, results in a product that is denser and more compact than any other. Furthermore, Cotto d’Este’s innovative production process and the fibreglass mesh applied to the underside of the slab, make this an extraordinarily durable surface for Kerlite as well, available in thinner versions (3.5mm, 5.5mm, and 6.5mm).

An example of this is the Pura collection, which encapsulates and exalts the look of limestone, one of the most seductive and versatile stones in the world. An award-winning collection, Pura boasts a wide range of options: 4 colours, 4 surfaces, and 6 formats. These products are available in Kerlite and in 14mm or 20mm, specifically for exterior floors (thanks also to Safetouch anti-slip technology). This added value becomes a pivotal design element in the creation of a stylistic continuum between indoor and outdoor spaces.

In the bedroom of a Japandi-style house, dominated by natural colours, natural light plays a crucial role, enhanced by white elements and light fabrics.

Japanese-style décor features furniture with a simple and linear design, perfectly blending Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetic visions. The result is an environment inspired by the wabi sabi philosophy: a tribute to the beauty inherent in the simplest elements, in which even imperfections are embraced and valued.

Surfaces That Exceed All Expectations: the Japanese-Style Living Room

A space dedicated to hospitality and relaxation, the Japandi-style living room must strike a precise balance between the furniture and the colours of the cladding. The first element to consider when designing a Japandi-style living room is colour. The shades that best embody this trend are neutral and welcoming tones: beige, dove grey, cream, ivory, and, more in general, neutral tones that pair well with white.

In this space, stone-look is the cladding choice that best embodies the Zen aesthetic and the philosophy of the modern Japanese or Japandi-style home.

Simple and minimalist, with no decorations other than what nature provides, stone-look surfaces instantly evoke a sense of nature and serenity.

Among the finest expressions of this aesthetic concept, Blend Stone is a stone-look flooring and cladding collection that transcends the very idea of realism. With mineral fragments and textures throughout the depth of the slab, Blend Stone offers various graphic textures depending on the needs of the environment.

Furniture in the living room follows the same aesthetic rules: clean and simple lines, but with an inviting texture. Low sofas and armchairs, typical of Japanese homes, but with the comfort of Scandinavian style, complete the look. Suspended furniture, this too positioned low to the floor, further strengthens the connection to the earth, that is a fundamental element in the Japandi philosophy.

The Japandi-Style Kitchen: a Pinnacle of Aesthetic and Technical Excellence

In the context of a Japandi-style kitchen, stone-look porcelain stoneware surfaces play a fundamental role, serving as a neutral base for the entire environment. This creates the perfect backdrop to exalt the purity of the lines and the authentic, yet understated, elegance of the space.

The nuances of stone-look porcelain stoneware can vary from warm, welcoming tones to colder and more minimalist ones. This makes it possible to experiment with sophisticated contrasts, like black and ochre-yellow, while maintaining visual balance.

Porcelain stoneware’s resistance to impact, liquids, and changes in temperature make it the perfect material for kitchen, guaranteeing a superior level of hygiene, something which is fundamental in this space.  Specifically, Cotto d’Este’s exclusive Protect® technology, permanently integrated into the ceramic slabs, ensures total and enduring antibacterial protection. Among the collections featuring this technology is Limestone, a stone-look surface by Cotto d’Este featuring a new, elegant, and modern guise that exalts beauty inspired by marine environments, shaped by the passage of time.   Thanks to its technical characteristics, this product also ensures a healthy, safe, and protected living space.

The integration of sliding or pocket doors, which conceal appliances, reinforces the concept of simplicity and visual order, the pillars of Japandi style. Hand crafted decorative elements, such as rice paper lampshades, clay vases, and wicker chairs, help to create an inviting and harmonious atmosphere.

The presence of natural ingredients, like fruit and vegetables, enriches the environment, making it become not only a place where food is prepared, but also a focal point of domestic life.

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