This blending of old traditions as well as incorporating our own contemporary tastes has been an essential part of why the home has become so special to us. ALCOVE was, in short, taken apart and rebuilt entirely from the ground up. With such a refreshing blank canvas, we were able to pour in so many different aesthetics with the generous expertise of our friends and collaborators, both new and old.

WALPA Japan provided the paint for the home, specially selected from the Japan-exclusive paint range created by YSD London. Velvety midnight blue was paired with soft off whites against ALCOVE’s beautiful hardwood floors, creating a sense of romanticism without feeling too oppressive.

The house itself has a storied past; like many properties in Onomichi, it had stood for a long time (a recent look into archives dated the original having been built in 1892!) and so came with its own history. A notable point was that the house originally had its own wellspring, and so the decision was made to carefully restore and maintain this area in honour of the water gods that had protected the land for hundreds of years. With the blessing of the home undertaken by a shrine priest from neighboring Ushitora Jinja, a traditional Shinto ‘kamidana’ has been installed on the first floor to ensure the home will be protected and looked after for many years to come.

Atelier Architree is a renowned architecture firm known for its eco friendly and sustainable building practices. The wooden beams that run on the top floor are original to the house itself, and the kitchen unit is built with bricks that have been preserved for hundreds of years. A skilled local builder and his team of craftspeople undertook the construction with careful respect to the daily life of our neighbours and the surrounding businesses.

Every single item, from bowls and plates, cushions and blinds to bed frames and chairs, has been hand selected by us to give a sense of charm and personality to our wonderful home.

It has become the perfect place for not just our own story to flourish, but as a palette for many others to draw from.

Since its construction, ALCOVE has been host to many adventures- it has created a space for workshops, universtity seminars and pop up events by many wonderful teams, both local and national. Guests from all over the world have stayed in our home and found their own place in this fabulous little city on the shores of the inland sea.

We are so proud and happy that our little home has had so many stories unfold within it over the years, and we hope you look forward to your very own adventures beginning here, too.