Interior courtyardd

Floorplan of House in Senkawa by Mikio Tai

The third-floor loft, with its ceiling of interlocking wood beams, is George’s preferred hangout. “I can stay up there for hours,” he says.

A Ptolomeo vertical bookcase by Bruno Rainaldi stands outside the couple’s bedroom, which features a John-John bed from Poltrona Frau and Awa side tables from B&B Italia. The tatami mats are original to the house, which was designed in 2002 by architect Mikio Tai, who worked with George and Mika on updates.

The three-story structure has a pair of external staircases set between the floor-to-ceiling windows and the shutters. A Chinese lacquer chest sits at the center of the ground-floor tatami room, which is used as a tearoom, a yoga space, and a guest room. Untitled 20-10, by Julia Ritson, an Australian artist from George’s hometown, hangs in the entryway. “Her kaleidoscopic painting prepares you for the world outside,” says George.

George and Mika Kougiadis downsized when they moved from a spacious apartment in Melbourne to a 925-square-foot townhouse in Tokyo. Yet the couple find their new home—with its facade of light-controlling shutters and warm, wood-lined interior—the perfect intimate setting for George’s art collection and their favorite furnishings.

The permanently open kitchen connects to a patio. A banana tree, planted by Marcos just two and a half years ago, looms over an Amador dining table and benches by Ries.

In the living room, a modular sofa from Helmut joins a Tori stool made of sand-cast aluminum and an Orno wood chair, both by Ries.

In the listening room, which is carpeted and lined in drapes for soundproofing, custom floor cushions by Luna/Oks invite lounging. “I was looking for sophistication without pretension,” says Marcos of the project.

A small backyard camper makes for a fun hideaway when friends and family come to visit.

A series of “stacked boxes” laid the foundation for this Sea Ranch–inspired home on a narrow site set on two flood zones and filled with protected redwoods.

Laminam countertops.

“The owners were especially disciplined in maintaining calmness in all material and product choices,

Instead of the separated space for living, dining, and cooking, the renovation has instead connected spaces that open up to the outdoors.

The property, with its dormered upper floor, is walkable to grocery, the gym, and restaurants, not to mention the subway system.

The home, originally constructed in the 1930s, is located in the desirable Silver Spring, Maryland neighborhood along the Washington, DC border. The area is known for its vibrant arts and entertainment scene, along with its proximity to the DC Metro system and good schools.