Houzz Tours
Hokkaido Houzz Tour: A Farmhouse With International Flair
Japanese actress and voice talent Chieko Higuchi used her love of international architecture to make her ideal retreat
The place is central Hokkaido. On a farm atop a little hill overlooking the sea is the house owned by actress Chieko Higuchi. It is a delightful retreat where her family and friends can spend a few weeks of the year and try their hand at farming.
“My father, who bought this farmland, told me to build whatever I wanted, and I was so excited to try my hand at it,” Higuchi says. Working with Hokkaido-based firm Atelier O2, she handpicked every detail of her home, from door hinges to light switches. Drawing on inspiration from around the world, she created a home that reflects her love of international design.
“My father, who bought this farmland, told me to build whatever I wanted, and I was so excited to try my hand at it,” Higuchi says. Working with Hokkaido-based firm Atelier O2, she handpicked every detail of her home, from door hinges to light switches. Drawing on inspiration from around the world, she created a home that reflects her love of international design.
To accomplish this and other design goals, Higuchi chose to work with architecture firm Atelier O2. “I looked at their profile and saw that they had a lot of experience with insulation. Also, I had a clear vision of the house I wanted to build, and I believed Mr. Osugi would be able to successfully reproduce this vision.”
Higuchi lives primarily in Tokyo, but of course Osugi is based in Hokkaido. So, they had their numerous discussions over Skype. “First, I sent him lots of pictures and reference materials from the shops and brands and colours and textures I like, so that he could have an idea of my tastes and preferences. This step was also necessary because we had to see whether these materials were available in Japan.”
She also maintained frequent communication with the designer during the construction phase. “For example, for even a single switch cover I’d make detailed requests such as which brand and design to use. The discussion would occasionally become a bit heated. I would sometimes even make sketches and place them in front of the webcam,” she says with a laugh.
Higuchi lives primarily in Tokyo, but of course Osugi is based in Hokkaido. So, they had their numerous discussions over Skype. “First, I sent him lots of pictures and reference materials from the shops and brands and colours and textures I like, so that he could have an idea of my tastes and preferences. This step was also necessary because we had to see whether these materials were available in Japan.”
She also maintained frequent communication with the designer during the construction phase. “For example, for even a single switch cover I’d make detailed requests such as which brand and design to use. The discussion would occasionally become a bit heated. I would sometimes even make sketches and place them in front of the webcam,” she says with a laugh.
Higuchi decided on all the interior details, from the wall colour to the lighting, tables, ornaments, switches, door handles and hinges. Accordingly, she can answer, without hesitation, what was purchased, where and why – even for the tiniest interior element.
Her ideas for the interior design of this farmhouse were inspired by interiors shops and renovated hotels in Paris or small villages in the south of France, as well as by Zetas Trädgård and Leva Kungslador in Sweden.
Her ideas for the interior design of this farmhouse were inspired by interiors shops and renovated hotels in Paris or small villages in the south of France, as well as by Zetas Trädgård and Leva Kungslador in Sweden.
We started our tour in the living room. This armchair by the famous Scandinavian mid-century designer Finn Juhl accentuates the appeal of the living room with its light-blue fabric. Higuchi bought a chair and ottoman by Ercol at Transista (not pictured), in Kichijoji. The solid cherry dining table is from Brunch, in Tokyo. Higuchi went all the way to Ashiya, 1600 kilometres from Hokkaido and 522 kilometres from Tokyo, to select the lights, which are by Flame. Other furniture she bought in shops such as Actus, in Tokyo.
Fish bones figure prominently in Osugi’s design, as here in the ceiling beams, which were exposed in order to highlight the pattern. The white colour emphasises the shadows they cast, creating a sense of depth and making the space seem larger.
The oak floor also features a herringbone pattern. It was stained only once for a more natural look: with multiple coats it would have been sleek and wet-looking, but this way the grain stands out. There is floor heating in all areas other than the pantry and entrance.
Higuchi’s collection of pictures and figures of horses (not shown) is also thoughtfully displayed. The collection was inspired by her father, who owns racehorses in Japan and France.
The area in which the house sits gets less snow than the rest of Hokkaido, but nevertheless the winters are cold. However, floor heating and double-paned windows provide excellent heat insulation and make the family feel that inside the house, it’s warmer than in Tokyo. The wall-mounted electric heaters have never been needed for additional warmth.
“I wanted the living room to be a warm, sunny room facing the southwest, where I can see the ocean in the distance … [and] where family and friends can get together,” Higuchi says, reiterating that for her this is the very definition of a living room, and that this social aspect is what drove her design aims in this space. She particularly likes being here at sunset, as she can watch the spectacle from the expansive window.
“I wanted the living room to be a warm, sunny room facing the southwest, where I can see the ocean in the distance … [and] where family and friends can get together,” Higuchi says, reiterating that for her this is the very definition of a living room, and that this social aspect is what drove her design aims in this space. She particularly likes being here at sunset, as she can watch the spectacle from the expansive window.
The home is full of special touches. Custom-made lamps by glass artist Naho Iino brighten the foyer and welcome guests.
The dishes in the kitchen are by Astier de Villatte, of France, and Kyoko Hitotsuyanagi’s collection, which was ordered specially from Outbound, in Kichijoji. The gas stove is by AEG, of Germany. The Staub pots are her favourites.
There is a pantry behind the door at the end of the room. It is directly connected to the entrance, so it is not necessary to carry groceries through the living room. Since Higuchi uses the house only occasionally and therefore tends to buy non-perishable items in large and heavy bulk packages, this is a huge advantage.
There is a pantry behind the door at the end of the room. It is directly connected to the entrance, so it is not necessary to carry groceries through the living room. Since Higuchi uses the house only occasionally and therefore tends to buy non-perishable items in large and heavy bulk packages, this is a huge advantage.
Higuchi says that what she likes about the lamps she bought at Orne de Feuilles, which hang over the dining table, is that they’re height-adjustable.
The stove opposite the cherry dining table (on the left in the photo) not only provides warmth, but is also used for slow cooking on cold winter days.
The stove opposite the cherry dining table (on the left in the photo) not only provides warmth, but is also used for slow cooking on cold winter days.
Higuchi has been active as a stage actress since she was little. That influence is evident in the bathroom vanity, which resembles a dressing room right down to the mirror. “The warm light makes me remember the backstage area I’m so familiar with and, strangely, I feel relaxed when I put on my make-up here.”
One unique touch is Higuchi’s alcove: “I’ve always loved small places, and I thought I needed one for working and reading. I didn’t think I could concentrate in a wide-open space,” she says. The spot serves very well as a reading nook, but many of her friends find it so comfortable that they fall asleep there.
Plenty of storage space can be found under the seat and in the walls.
Plenty of storage space can be found under the seat and in the walls.
Another of Higuchi’s favourite features is her father’s bedroom, which is a corner room with lots of light. It also serves as the guest room when Higuchi’s friends come up for a visit. The white birch tree, not far from the window, has been there since before the house was built and gives the view a decidedly ‘Hokkaido’ flavour.
The budget was somewhat limited, though, so compromises had to be made here and there. One of them was the size of the bedrooms. “Initially, I told Mr. Osugi that the bedrooms didn’t have to be big,” Higuchi says. What they lack in size is made up in carefully-selected interiors. For example, the lamps placed in each bedroom represent the collaborative effort of textile manufacturer Minä Perhonen and lighting design firm Flame.
Photo provided by Chieko Higuchi
The place is also a working farm, where Higuchi grows seasonal vegetables, berries and edible flowers, among other things. Her young niece comes to join her for the harvest. Higuchi does a lot of DIY projects and even made her niece an ice cream stand.
When asked about her future plans for the farmhouse, Higuchi answered, after thinking for a moment, “I want to give it enough care, like I care for my own face. I hope the house will age together with me.”
Photo provided by Chieko Higuchi
When asked about her future plans for the farmhouse, Higuchi answered, after thinking for a moment, “I want to give it enough care, like I care for my own face. I hope the house will age together with me.”
Photo provided by Chieko Higuchi
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Central Hokkaido, Japan
Structure: Wood frame construction
Property size: About 248,000 square metres
Total floor space: About 175 square metres; 4 bedrooms, 1 kitchen-living-dining room and an alcove
Year built: March 2012
Architect: Takashi Osugi, Atelier O2
Higuchi sought to build the embodiment of a farmhouse. The home’s eye-catching pentagonal shape was inspired by the Belgian barnhaus. Invoking Swedish and Danish designs as well, she requested that the designer combine simple, square surfaces and a triangular roof.
Seen from afar, the exterior walls appear to be covered in bricks or tiles, but they are actually clad in red cedar shingles. Normally, wooden walls must be protected by eaves troughs, but red cedar is weather-resistant and doesn’t require them.
Higuchi says a trip to ABC Carpet and Home, in Manhattan, was the impetus for her love of interiors. Indeed, all of her travels abroad led her to fall in love with houses. She has been a frequent traveller since childhood and has had the opportunity to see many different architectural styles.
“Even when I visit an art museum in France, the architecture catches my attention more than the drawings do. I’ll spend half the day admiring the worn floors and handrails, or watching the workers as they preserve or repair the interiors. I wondered, ‘What grabs my heart so much?’ Eventually, I realised that I loved how things age, how their colours change and deepen. So, when I decided to build my own house, I wanted one that could grow and age together with me.” She therefore sought to use materials that would age gracefully over time.