Steal This Look: A Restaurant Supply Kitchen in Tokyo

by Alexa Hotz

One of our all-time favorite projects at Remodelista is the Setagaya Tokyo Apartment, designed by Naruse Inokuma Architects. The deconstructed industrial kitchen is made from concrete blocks, larch plywood, and stainless steel and outfitted with an eclectic mix of Japanese kitchenware. Here, we’ve dissected the dining room/kitchen for a list to borrow from.

Above: The apartment is characterized by accidental beauty: After stripping wallpaper the architects discovered the gray wall marking but left the patina as a feature rather than covering it up.

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Above: A larch plywood countertop and open shelves surround the stainless steel sink. On the far end of the kitchen sits a cooktop, vent, and undercounter refrigerators from a restaurant supply store.

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Above: A few small appliances and Japanese ceramic dishes fill the open shelving. setagaya apartment kitchen by naruse inokuma architects 9

Above: A view into the living area, with tatami matting.

Furniture

Above: From Ohio Design in San Francisco, the streamlined Parsons style Noi Table has a metal base and the option of different plywood tops; from $1400 (est.), custom made. Another option is Room & Board’s Parsons Tables from $1,739.

arne jacobsen series 7 chair in black ash 11

Above: The Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen, shown in black-colored ash, is $659 at Design Within Reach.

Above: The Jacobsen Dot Stool in walnut veneer is $429 at Hive Modern. tatami mat from the futon shop 13

Above: Tatami Mats are made from compressed straw by traditional tatami craftspeople; $269.95 for the twin size from The Futon Shop,

Kitchen Sink and Appliances

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Above: Something similar to the custom stainless sink and counter at the apartment is the Lustertone Stainless Single Bowl Sink Top with Drainboard from Elkay; $3,116 at Elkay.

universal reh standard exhaust hood 48 inches 15

Above: Designed for use in commercial kitchens, the Universal Standard Exhaust Hood is made of stainless steel and is available in a wide variety of sizes. This one is measures 48 inches wide, 36 inches deep, and 24 inches high; $1,526.85 at Elite Restaurant Equipment.

Above: The True (TUC-72) 72-Inch Undercounter Refrigerator is $2,449 at Webstaurant Store.

Fixtures and Fittings

wac lighting 104led line voltage track head 17

Above: Part of the WAC track lighting system is the 104LED Line Voltage Track Head (shown); $84.51 each at Lumens. For more on WAC systems, see Lumens.

Above: The Grohe Starlight Pull-Down Faucet is $710.50 from Bed Bath & Beyond.

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Above: The Leviton Standard Size Stainless Steel Wallplate is $4.50 on Amazon.

Countertop Appliances

Above: The Japanese Balmuda Toaster is $309.95 from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: For a non-glamorous microwave, the GE White Countertop Microwave Oven is currently on sale for $116.10 at Agren.

Above: Source a vintage Braun (KMM30) Coffee/Espresso Mill in white, now discontinued, on eBay or Etsy.

Accessories

Above: Kaikado Tea Canisters are available in copper, brass, and tin (shown) at Tortoise General Store.

Above: The Donabe Fukkura-San is made from special clay from Iga in the Mie Prefecture known for its ability to withstand high heat and rapid temperature change without cracking; $200 at Toiro.