Japanese lawyer and lifestyle blogger Mariko Kuo blends Japandi interior styles at her London home
The lifestyle blog and Instagram run by corporate London-based lawyer Mariko Kuo inspires modern professional women to express themselves through fashion. Covering everything from outfit ideas, luxury travel and home decor, the Japanese-born content creator offers insights into her personal style and journey through motherhood, all whilst harnessing a successful law career in the City.
We spoke to the blogger about the Japandi design influences behind the minimal interior style of her recently renovated southwest London home.
Your home is beautiful. How would you describe your interior style?
Thank you! My interior style has changed a lot since I first started getting into home decor, but at the moment, I’d say Japandi sums up my aesthetic look. I’ve always loved Scandinavian functionality and being Japanese, the idea of ‘wabi sabi’ and rustic minimalism have always resonated with me.
What’s your most loved piece of furniture or art?
My Lübke 1960s Mid-Century chairs that I found for my dining table. Since I started renovating our current home, I really got into finding antique gems as they are more sustainable and also incredible to think that they come with unique stories.
You’ve been documenting the renovation of your house. What are your favourite areas that have been transformed?
I love my master bedroom and the family bathroom. I tried to design both of these rooms as my personal sanctuaries and so whenever I go to these rooms, I feel like I’ve escaped to a spa hotel. They are both my ultimate relaxation spaces.
Where do you source most of the furniture and artwork featured in your home from?
My furniture and artwork are both mixtures of modern and antique so I find them all around the place. Due to Covid, I’ve had to find a lot of things online in the last year and so I particularly enjoy looking at Vinterior and 1stDibs for some amazing antique finds.
For artwork, art fairs have been a great source of discovering incredible artists and new galleries I didn’t know before.
You’ve recently started a ceramics collection and we’re so pleased you’ve included Noe Kuremoto’s Kumo Vase – which complements the rest of your pieces so well. What attracted you to her work?
I’m drawn to any kind of artwork which is one-of-a-kind that resonates with me in some way.
I was attracted to Noe Kuremoto’s Japanese essence that can be seen in her vases. I think her ceramic pieces are both bold and subtle, yet at the same time imperfect and beautiful. They all remind me of Japanese wabi sabi and how stunning asymmetry can be.
Explore more ceramics by Noe Kuremoto here.