Emiko Fukuhara, a living & table organizer, on “Interior and well-being”
Our INTERVIEW series ask a variety of professionals for tips on how to enrich our daily lives and naturally participate in sustainable initiatives. In this volume, we talked with Emiko Fukuhara, living & table organizer, on “enriching the well-being through interior designs”.
-Things Emiko felt from living abroad-
Emiko
Since the younger age, I was living abroad in places such as England, United State, Germany, and Singapore, and experienced various lifestyles.
What still gives me a strong impression is the life that I have experienced in Germany. There are always flowers placed by the windows, not only for the families living in the house but also to brighten up the people walking along the streets.
This is an experience that has made me realize how a little ingenuity, in this case placing of flowers, can add beauty and color to our daily lives and enrich the feelings of ourselves and those around us. Through this, I have acknowledged that it is important to spend mindful life every day in your own way, and that will lead to enrichment on our mental well-beings. I work as a living & table organizer consulting around living space and interior designs that suit each individual in order to further lead to giving better enrichment to well-beings.
-How did you become interested in interior design? –
Emiko
I got interested in interior design while I the stationing in Germany. I felt very comfortable to live surrounded by chic and naturally colored German cities, and linens and tableware used on daily which have sense of warmth.
I also realized that this comfort I was feeling was coming from the history that each item held through generations, which was accumulated from repairing and modifications, and that they were carefully passed down through ages to adore and use them for a long time. Not only from products, but I felt this from the entire town including buildings.
Being in contact with such history, I naturally became more conscious of my desire on carefully selecting items and using them for long time for myself and my family. I became more aware on arranging the living environment in a way that was comfortable for me. This was where I started to enjoy coordinating tables and interiors, by matching seasonal or comforting colors, to make my life enriched.
I now look more into “universal and good” items, and “the goods I would really want to use daily” without getting caught up by trends and brand names. I have also started to consider on “how the goods are made” together with its background when selecting.
Now coming back to Japan, we surround ourselves with the goods that we feel comfortable in our house and coordinate them with old interiors inherited from my grandmother, which are still in good condition and in use. We enjoy the living in our own ways.
-What Emiko values the most-
Emiko
I believe that “how we live each day” can make a big difference in the sensitivity of our children and ourselves. I feel that such a sensitivity to enjoy small changes in nature, to enjoy listening to music, or to enjoy exploring little things in daily life is the important key to enrich one’s life.
I try my best to make the living environment to not only a comfortable place but also a place where it stimulates your five senses. This is what I value when arranging on the living spaces and interiors. I would like to always have the feeling that “an ordinary day” is what’s most special in life.
-Arranging a space –
Emiko
“Arranging a space” is not hard as it sounds. It is possible with a little ingenuity.
Take for example, instead of always using the same tableware in routine without thinking, choose the dishes and cutleries according to the food you are serving. It is very simple and is a very first step in setting the table, which leads to an arranging of a table space. Once you get to know “how”, you will understand on the ways to combine tableware, and to make appearances of food neater and more delicious. Dining space will become more appealing, and I believe this will give good small changes to the feelings of a family who will gather around the table.
Although, a space that is too artificially coordinated can feel tensed and uncomfortable. I try to make it a place where people can relax in a natural way by adding things such as seasonal flowers and plants, incorporating them with organic shapes and textures.
-Emiko’s thoughts on eterble –
Emiko
I really sympathized with the concept of eterble. When I picked up the product, it made me to imagine that it was the tablecloths for people with dignity and a good sense of self to use under places with sophistication.
I also feel that eterble’s tablecloths have comfortable “color” and high quality “texture,” which I value in my daily life. I often find it difficult to match tableware and napkins with strong colors and patterns, but I feel that eterble’s tablecloths harmonize well with the tableware, complement the meal, and blend easily into the interior.
While it is difficult to easily change the interior design of a home, I think tablecloths are a useful item that can easily change the atmosphere to suit the mood or occasion of the day. Either by adding or subtracting color, or by changing the texture to give a sense of the season, you can easily enjoy incorporating the tablecloths in daily lives.
An easy care tip is that, in the circumstances when the tablecloths get stains from food, wash the stain parts with dishwashing detergent first then put them in the washing machine. It is important to soak the grease stain first before going into the laundry. Another tip is that ironing them before they are completely dried. By ironing the tablecloths when half-dried, it can decrease the number of wrinkles and will be relatively less noticeable.
It is easier to care for than you might think. I hope that you will find a favorite cloth to start with and enjoy incorporating linen into your life.
Emiko Fukuhara
Living & table organizer, organist
Web https://www.blumen-tablestyling.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emiko.table.lifestyle/