We live along the Pacific Rim so it makes sense to find homes that reflect Asian styles instead of European ones. Just after World War II, someone designed and built a blend of modern American with traditional Asian style. Only one owner means a steady influence on maintaining that fusion. This is much more than a 3 bedroom, 1.75 bath, 1,720 square foot house asking $560,000. This is a piece of art that some won't care for, but that others will love. Shoji screens are simple, and change the character of a room without intruding. They soften light and sound, and can be rolled aside when you want a change. Add them as an accent to conventional walls and windows and they survive because something else is doing the hard work. The formal dining room has a different kind of screen, a Coromandel screen: lacquered, carved, and painted wood that is far more stout and ornate. The bones of the house are contemporary America, for 1954, with lofted ceilings, exposed beams, open spaces, and a built-in library that resides on a dais. There may be an appliance or two that could use some updating, but evidently it has all been working for a long time.
· 4008 SW Arroyo Ct [Estately]
Written by Tom Trimbath