Owner's Voice Vol. 43: Creating a Carefully Curated Space That Began with a Kitchen Found by Chance—"Mr. K's Home in Tokyo"

All your home-building inspiration comes from Toyo Kitchen Style

The K Residence stands in a quiet residential neighborhood.
When you open the brand-new front door and step into the living-dining-kitchen area, the first thing that catches your eye is the kitchen, which flows seamlessly into the dining table.
The imposing island kitchen is truly the focal point of this spacious area.
The “Splash Black” cabinetry adorning the sides shifts in appearance depending on the angle of the light, creating a sophisticated impression.

“It was my encounter with this kitchen that kicked off our home-building journey,” says Mrs. K.
Around the time they began planning their new home, they casually visited the Sekisui Heim website (Model house) and came across Toyo Kitchen Style’s “iNO I-LAND.”
Captivated by the beautiful texture and design, they decided on Sekisui Heim because they thought, “We want to live in a house with a kitchen like this.”

Later, the couple visited the Toyo Kitchen Style showroom in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, where they saw the “Splash Black” cabinet door design.
The design, which projects a dynamic, water-splash-like quality onto the stark stainless steel, had a presence unlike any other, and the wife said it instantly captured her heart.
“We also visited showrooms from other manufacturers, but they mainly featured marble- or wood-grain finishes, and we didn’t find a material with this kind of texture anywhere else.”

So they immediately decided on the “iNO I-LAND” model in “Splash Black.”
She says she began to envision the space with the kitchen as its centerpiece.

With the "Dining Block" kitchen next to the main kitchen and the built-in storage behind it, both serving meals and cleaning up are a breeze—Zero flow.

I love not just the kitchen, but also the sparkling bathroom.

The finished kitchen isn't just beautiful—it's a space where you can truly appreciate its practicality in your daily life.
“PARALLELO Sink is incredibly easy to use.
“Besides cooking, I can quickly wash my hands from the living room when I get home, and thanks to the spacious sink, cooking is easier—I’ve even started eating salads more often, which I never used to do,”
She also says she loves the practicality of the stylish “Zero flow Faucet,” which features a spring-loaded hose.
“It really lives up to its name.
It’s convenient to be able to extend the faucet toward the stove while standing at the sink to fill a pot with water.
I don’t have to lift heavy pots, which alone makes cooking more efficient.”

Every single piece of equipment is thoughtfully designed with daily life in mind.
One example is the “Miele” dishwasher.
“At first, I was thinking of getting a ‘Gaggenau,’ but a stylist from Toyo Kitchen Style told me that ‘Miele’ has a feature where the door opens automatically after the drying cycle to let the moisture escape.
I thought that was a great feature, so I decided on it,” says the wife.

From left to right: a countertop with a “Titanium tone polish” finish, featuring a delicate vibrated texture that minimizes the appearance of scratches and smudges; a stylish faucet that delivers “Zero flow”; and the “UFO” (Range Hood), which quickly captures smoke spreading into the room.

The kitchen isn't her only favorite spot.
The bathroom, which features a crystal glass sink, is another space my wife took great care to design.
“I saw this at the showroom and fell in love with it at first sight.
It sparkles beautifully when the light hits it.
We actually designed the bathroom around this basin.”

Precisely because it’s a place used every day, we focus not only on functionality but also on visual beauty.
It’s these little details that transform the ordinary moments of daily life into something a little more enriching.

From left to right, the pendant lights—which resemble planets—are masterpieces by Moi. The restrooms on each floor, each with its own unique style, feature crystal glass sinks.

Our way of life will continue to evolve.

"I've come to enjoy spending time at home more than I used to."
The wife who said this adds that looking at furniture and Interior has become one of her hobbies.

“I wasn’t interested in Interior at all to begin with.
But now, I’m intrigued by the ‘Moii’ lighting and rugs I saw at the showroom, and I’ve started thinking that once the kids grow up, I’d like to let them each choose a chair they like and place them in the dining room.
Until then, I want to keep the kitchen as clean as possible and make sure it remains the heart of our home.”

It looks like we’ll be hosting more guests in the future.
“The other day, 16 relatives gathered for my son’s first birthday party.
Everyone’s first comment is, ‘Wow, that kitchen is amazing!’
Since it’s the first thing you see when you walk in, it really seems to make a lasting impression.”

On such occasions, my wife serves dishes prepared using the sous-vide method.
“Since the countertop is stainless steel, I can place hot pots directly on it, which is really handy.
I use it without any fuss.”

Centered around a kitchen that combines functionality and beauty, we enjoy meals and conversations together.
Interior As they gradually savor these moments, they’re nurturing a home that truly reflects who they are—

The couple’s life will surely continue to deepen and evolve at its own gentle pace.

Right: On the shelf in the living room sits an adorable Pikachu figurine by Lladró. I found this one at the showroom, too.

(photo: Kentaro Isibashi / text: Shihoko Tomibe)

Previous "Owner's Voice" is here.

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