Design Shoji panel over a French door lite

Design Shoji photographer

Happy New Year!

Bright colors + bold graphics + shoji = “Wow!”

A Design Shoji door in a contemporary setting

A dark finish with curved gridwork alongside antiques…

Design Shoji screens in a traditional setting

Close off an archway and columns? No problem…

Design Shoji panels add privacy to this dramatic entry

Cheerful colors and light walls…

Design Shoji panels help anchor this colorful room

So have fun trying shoji in your space — they’re more versatile than you think!

Design Shoji celadon lacquered frames with lavender flowers dyed into the insert

Moreover, the hand-dyed colors become more brilliant when backlit, complementing the natural translucence of a shoji screen. Although hand-applied batiks are highly labor intensive, this “stained glass” effect cannot be replicated with surface painted or printed patterns. We like how using custom batik inserts enhances the light, airy ambience shoji are noted for.

A tropical scene

Horses at play

"Who's who?"

The other day I got some e-mails from a prospective client who was unhappy  BUT here is the problem -  he was unhappy with another company’s quote, not mine!    It was simply a case of mistaken identity, but I didn’t succeed in convincing him I wasn’t who he thought I was.

Yes, the words Design Shoji are frequently incorporated into other websites, but I am not affiliated with any others.    I do not make stock sizes, kits, or sell imports.   Nor do I profess that I know everything there is to know about making shoji;  after 28 years I think quite the opposite.

So at the risk of sounding redundant, this is what we do at Design Shoji –  we make individualized shoji doors, custom-sized and built for the long haul, to the best of our ability.  You don’t buy ready-made doors from us;  first we try to figure out what you want and then we build it from scratch.

I realize that is a pretty small niche market.  But that’s what Wren and I concentrate on.

(They) keep going...and going...and going...

On the flip side, I just replaced the inserts in 2 dozen shoji that were approximately 40 years old.   Even though I didn’t make these originally,  it was so satisfying to work on these shoji;  the homeowners loved living with them, and they were beautifully crafted.   I sincerely hope someone else writes that about the shoji I build for you decades from now.

"You have our word"

And after nearly 3 decades of supporting our installed client base,  I’m confident that our shoji will serve you well, in all likelihood for generations to come.   I’m committed to building shoji panels worthy of your trust, so you’ll call me years from now when you need more.   It’s an unexpected perk of doing our job right!

Just for the fun of it, I’ve put together a tongue-in-cheek list of a “typical” client:

1)  Loves art and music.  Is a creative individual who likes timeless design.

2)  Appreciates fine workmanship details; has exacting, discriminating taste.

3)  Wants practical, durable, maintenance-free solutions.

4)  Measures  “dependable service” in terms of years, not months;  is  looking for a life-long purchase; invests in lasting quality and service.

5)  Has been patiently looking for their shoji for a long time and not been able to find the right source.

6)  Knows exactly what they don’t want;  may need some help defining exactly what they do want as it doesn’t exist “ready-made.”

7)  Has unusual requirements, like you see here:

Three tiers of shoji panels: Fixed, sliding and hinged

Design Shoji - white on white shoji

The client needed simple panels to dress up an air conditioner and a small window; we designed 3 tiers to broaden the space;  one fixed top panel, 2 sliders in the middle, and one hinged unit at the bottom that matched the overlap of the sliders, with white COM fabric and custom-matched lacquer frames . . . well, you get the idea.

Just as every shop is different, so is their clientele;  we appreciate every single one of our clients who find their way to our doorstep.  If you’ve been researching shoji but can’t find anyone who can build what you need, take heart, at Design Shoji, we’re at your service.

I’ll admit it.   I love the simplicity and elegance of great design.  Creative solutions inspire us at Design Shoji, and this seemingly simple project by architect David Leubkeman, AIA is a great example.    David designed an extra wide shoji panel to create an elegant backdrop for this office, while concealing a small doorway behind it.  Custom stainless steel exposed track gives this installation an understated elegance and makes this interior feel very special.   This 5′ wide x 8′ tall oversized shoji panel looks right at home in this interior, just the right size for this area.   No floor track is used to keep the installation as clean and simple as possible.

It’s much harder than it seems to design a shoji door that balances the space so perfectly;  our hats off to David for such an unusual solution for this tight space.   Your vision makes our work look good:)

Probably the most obvious reason is for color matching with the room’s interior.   I often do an ebonywash finish to mimic ebony inlay in furnishings, or to coordinate with darker pieces in the room that are almost black, but not jet black.  I love this finish!  It is subtle and understated, just like a shoji screen.

For those rooms requiring a true black finish,  satin black lacquer is a popular finish.   Black is such a dramatic color and makes the shoji “pop” into the room.   If you want your shoji to be a focal point, specify black lacquer.

Clients often would like their shoji to match the color of existing woodwork, flooring or furniture.   It is a nice way to create an ensemble look to a room, and allow the shoji to fit in easily with the rest of the decor.   One of our more unusual finishes I like to use is our graywash stain;   it’s a great complement for hi-tech interiors, and absolutely beautiful alongside stainless steel or chrome accents.

Sometimes practical considerations require us to put a finish on the shoji to protect them from the elements.   We will apply a marine finish for shoji doors that will be used in a bathroom, a yacht, or even installed in an outdoor spa surround or tea house.

Contrasting hipboards  are another way clients like their shoji customized.   In this photo, the hipboards were made of walnut to match the dining room set.

A contrasting walnut hipboard

Or gridwork may be specified a different color from the shoji frame.   Subtle details like these can make your shoji shine.

Occasionally, clients need the shoji panel to be a different color on each side.   This is most common when the shoji screens are used over a window, and must appear “neutral to the street.”   High rises and condominiums often have this requirement.  So your shoji  screen may be our honey-colored light brown stain on the room side, and white on the window side. The two separate colors are carefully applied, so the change in color is precise and consistent with the clean lines of a shoji.

Dual-color shoji frame

Shoji used between rooms can also get this dual color treatment.   I must say, they stand out on the shop floor!   One project we did years ago required aqua lacquer on one side, with apricot on the other.   It’s been so long I think those bold colors may be in style again.   The inserts were also different on each side of the door – C.O.M. wallpaper to match the wallpaper in each room.   Although traditional Japanese joinery techniques were used in the making of these doors, they did not look like traditional Japanese shoji when completed!   The client, located in the Midwest, loved her doors.   When closed, the bold colors of the adjoining rooms were successfully separated, but beautifully enhanced.

Even though I made those shoji myself, it was hard for me to visualize how they would look in the home.   But it’s important to us to build doors that please you.

What about unusual finishes — remember when faux finishes were so popular? Yes, we have done unusual ones:  glazes, crackled or speckled frames to look like crushed stone, and even a high build automotive finish.

Shoji panels with faux stone finish to match walls

Sometimes clients want a high build glossy finish;  others want a natural matte finish that protects the wood but looks like nothing is there.

Whatever we use, it’s our aim to provide you with a quality finish second to none.   To that end, we hand sand every piece – even all the gridwork – several times.   We apply successive coats of finish to achieve the look requested.   We send you custom finish strike-offs so you can approve the finish before the panels are coated.   We ease the edges to give the shoji a refined look and feel.

As any woodworker will attest to, finishing is an art.   A great finish enhances the beauty of the piece and should accentuate the quality of the woodworking and material used.   At Design Shoji, we do not use a finish to cover flawed stock, fill in gapped joints, or smooth over inferior joinery.   Regardless of the thickness of the finish, our half-lap joints are planned so the grid joinery fits tightly together when the panel is assembled.

After all is said and done, my preference is still for clear, hand-rubbed finishes that bring out the natural beauty of the wood.   I just like how this finish feels;  you touch a shoji screen often, and I like the warmth of hand-rubbed finishes.

But don’t be shy if you have something else in mind.   Finishing is a critical element of how we work to customize your shoji doors here at Design Shoji.

Even after all these years, there I was, standing at the job site thinking, “How are we going to do that?”   As the designer can tell you, at first sight, I was rather skeptical.   But after some deliberation and sketching, Wren and I came up with four possibilities.   And “voila” the shoji screens are now  installed, hard-at-work doing their job.  The final solution?   We revisited an old friend, our telescoping track.

This unique system allows shoji panels to slide out from the end pocket by pulling on the lead shoji panel.  Remaining shoji screens follow as all are linked together.  To close, the process is reversed; push lead shoji panel back and the rest of the unit slides back to stack neatly one of top of the other.   Sounds familiar, right?  But here is the cool part — there is no installed track top or bottom that obstructs the view.  The entire shoji installation, sliding hardware and all, disappears into the wall pocket.

The fact that everything fit well into that small pre-existing pocket is a small miracle.   My point?  Sometimes the most impossible situations work out well.   Thanks Cindy, for believing in us.

As for today, yes I am looking at another unusual project with high angled ceilings, a tight budget, and wildly different design criteria from the parties involved.    Another day, another design puzzle.   But I wouldn’t want it any other way; this is what I like to do.

Whatever you’re up to, enjoy your day!

Distinctive hinges in solid brass, stainless steel, chrome

When we first started out, I was dissatisfied with the standard two-way hinges made.   Although they were quite functional, I didn’t like their appearance or size.   They seemed to stand out too much and lacked the fine finish I was after.    One afternoon, a colleague at McGuire Furniture suggested, “Why don’t you design your own?”   (Thank you Frank!)

Having never considered it, I was a bit intimidated.   But after a few sketches, our double-acting loose pin hinge was born.   Fashioned from solid brass, it allows you to order multiple hinged panels, and easily separate them as needed  (ie a 6-panel becomes two 3-panel units, or  split into a 4-panel and a 2-panel, etc.)

So, that’s where my search for the perfect hardware began and continues to this day.

Traditional Japanese pulls we like to use at Design Shoji

Most of the time I like to route hand pulls directly into the stile of the shoji for the cleanest look.   However, I would be remiss not to include some of the beautiful Japanese wrought iron and wood pulls available when a more decorative look is desired.   There are many sizes and finishes;  these are some of my favorite.   Appropriate for custom tansu or shoji screens, these add a classic touch to our Design Shoji projects.

As you know, it doesn’t take much hardware to overpower the delicate design balance of a shoji panel.  But sometimes,  you may want to “dress up” a shoji screen;  I like looking for the perfect accent hardware your doors may require.

I’m sure you can tell I don’t like to build the same thing twice.   I like customizing each project, all they way down to the tiniest hardware details.  I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but it’s how I approach each shoji screen I make.  If you are going to put the energy and time into ordering a custom shoji door, it’s up to me,  the woodworker, to build you something functional, beautiful and unique to your space.   Your shoji should stand out as custom-made for you, just as any custom-designed piece of furniture would not be confused for a mass-produced stock piece.

Little details make a big difference in the shibui-style of Japanese design.   For me, hardware is one of those critical elements that go into a successful shoji installation — whether you see it or not!