Designer Charles Jacobson's home is a study in Asian design, integrating Chinese and Japanese furnishings with elegant, simple pieces that combine well with those looks. The formal architecture of the high-ceilinged living room suggested the use of Chinese furnishings, which are more vertical and formal than Japanese pieces. The balanced, symmetrical arrangement of furnishings reflects Chinese styling as well. A pair of chaise longues is arranged symmetrically around a tall coffee table, which is actually an old Chinese bed. The Japanese influence is evident in the soft lighting, with light coming through rice- or mulberry-paper shades. Lampshades of sugar-pine veneer also impart a warm glow. In the dining room, pillows made of embroidered-silk obi sashes are the only truly Asian elements in the room, but pieces such as a burl-wood dining table and woven reed chairs exhibit a quiet simplicity reminiscent of Asian design. In the small bedroom a wonderfully restful Japanese screen features a scene of fish and waves. The portable screen may be moved from room to room, as can many of the furnishings of this aesthetic if they become tiring in one setting.
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