Owner's Voice Vol.5 Okimoto Residence

This time we visited Karuizawa. Surrounded by lush greenery, this is the vacation home of Kazutaka and Yoshiko Okimoto.
Upon their husband's retirement, the couple decided to renovate their beloved vacation home, and with their future life in mind, they planned to build a house centered around the kitchen "so that we can cook our favorite dishes and enjoy them with friends. What were their hopes for "iNO Q-LAND," with its bright passion orange body and high functionality?

Looking for a kitchen suitable for "a house to enjoy the extraordinary

Passing through the green grove of trees, you enter the entranceway.

After opening the door and passing through the hall, the Toyo Kitchen Style "iNO Q-LAND" appears. The vivid passion orange coloring of the room stands out against the white base color, giving the room a vivid impression as if the sun had descended on the room. Yes, it's true. We also get a lot of energy from this kitchen," says the wife, Yoshiko, with a smile.

When renovating their old vacation home, Mr. and Mrs. Okimoto's goal was to create a home where they could "enjoy the extraordinary. Since both Mr. and Mrs. Okimoto love to cook, they wanted the kitchen to be open style, with a layout that would allow everyone to enjoy the lively atmosphere while cooking.

The kitchen, which was previously located in the back of the house, was moved to a larger space, and the windows were renovated so that the kitchen could overlook the greenery of the garden through the terrace. Once the floor plan for the renovation was roughly decided, they started touring showrooms in the spring of 2022 to find the ideal kitchen that would fit in the space. Issei says that one of those that caught his interest was Toyo Kitchen Style.
At first I was attracted by the gorgeousness of the CD-LAND, but unfortunately it didn't fit," he says. My wife and I both took one look at it and said, 'This is it! I was thinking about what to do, but then Q-LAND came on the market.

Q-LAND" has a surprisingly wide range of furniture that can be harmonized

Issei says there were two main reasons for the sudden switch to iNO Q-LAND.
First, the fit. First, it was a better fit for our villa because of the casual nature of Q-LAND, and second, it was the right size to fit without the frame pillars on either side of the kitchen. And most of all, I felt the orange coloring had a powerful energy that would 'cheer us up.

The iNO Q-LAND, with its spacious counter space and the ability to be used from any direction, fit the couple's ideal of a "home to enjoy the unusual," including its coloring and design.
However, a kitchen that was completely different from what I had previously imagined appeared out of nowhere, so while I found it appealing, at the same time I had to reexamine it in my mind, wondering what this kitchen would look like in a vacation home (laughs). (Laughs.) It was like I was inspired by something I thought was good, and then added logic to it later. Issei added, "I also created 3D data using CAD software on my computer. I've always liked this kind of work, so I enjoyed the simulation.

The "iNO Q-LAND" was installed after all these efforts, and it blends in beautifully with the open villa space leading to the terrace.
The result was a great decision. I was surprised at how well it blended in with the Art Nouveau style sculptures we had on hand," laughs the wife.

Every time I look at it, it brings back a sense of excitement "Dress Core"

There is one more place in Mr. Okimoto's villa that "gives you energy just by looking at it. That is the powder room where the Toyo Kitchen Style "Dress Core" is installed. When Kako first saw the "Dress Core" in the showroom, she thought, "This is exactly the kind of powder room I've been looking for! She thought, "This is exactly the kind of powder room I've been looking for!

When I saw it, my current age and reality flew away and I felt like I was a college student who was always excited. I was instantly drawn into the world of Dress Core.
For Kako, the powder room with "Dress Core" is a special place where she can recharge her energy, just like the kitchen.
I don't use the room as a mirror," she says. I'm thinking about how to make the most of the charm of the space and what interior accessories I can put in there. I'm enjoying thinking about that right now.

A cheerful and beautiful kitchen at the heart of the community

After the renovation was completed in January 2023, Mr. and Mrs. Okimoto say that they started moving their belongings in around March, when the winter chill in Karuizawa eased, and that recently they have finally reached a state where they can invite people over. The coming warmer weather will make it the perfect time to invite people over.

If you have a small number of people, you can have them around the kitchen, and if you have eight or so people, you can have a low table with extendable legs out by the kitchen. If you have more than eight people, you can enjoy the kitchen, the terrace, the garden, and the living room.
Issei is having a lot of fun thinking about the style of hospitality.
Next to him, Kako nodded and said, "If we master the use of PARALLELO, it should be easy for us to cook together as a couple. We've put the dishes for our guests in the wall storage, and I'd like to buy more items that will enhance this kitchen.

The orange sun at the center of the villa continues to shine in the couple's hearts today.