At Implements Shop, Furniture that Will Change Your Life

Mikiya Kobayashi, an interior designer based in Tokyo and Valencia, opened a shop for an original brand launched by Kobayashi himself, called Implements, in July.

The brand name is conceived as an English translation of Japanese dogu (tools), but actualized according to the Latin root implementum, meaning ‘things that fill up’ a house, for instance. The interior, divided into three floors, from 1st to 3rd, offers not only furniture but order-made kitchens, custom-made television stands and cabinets, and even tableware and plants. The store was organized by Kobayashi with the help of long-standing creative collaborators, among whom is Masanori Oji. Oji incorporates traditional techniques rooted in folkways from around Japan, and created original tableware for Implements. Don’t miss the potted plants thriving in odd places, courtesy of Moku.

Particularly remarkable are the wooden, order-made kitchens crafted by Karimoku Furniture, Inc. Capitalizing on wisdom acquired through long years of cabinetmaking, the sophisticated designs omit nothing, such as drawers with guide rails that are perfectly hidden from view. Unlike most kitchens, a sense of unity is achieved throughout the whole room, with a warmth and sense of presence that seems to be an extension of the tools. The store also offers competent advice on renovation and built-in furniture. If you like getting your hands on ‘tools’ that will round out your lifestyle, here is a place you ought to visit.