In Discussion with Steph & Gian | Discovering Japandi Estate

Born organically from their season on The Block, Steph and Gian founded Japandi Estate from their love of what the iconic interior design style represents. We’re sure you’ve heard all about this inspiring style which encompasses a blend of Japanese and Scandinavian elements to create spaces that are so much more than just aesthetics but are also a way of life. We’re sitting down with Steph and Gian to discover how Japandi Estate came to be, what Japandi means to them, and their top tips for mastering this style.

Being set the task of renovating the largest home on their season of The Block, Steph and Gian leaned on Steph's architectural expertise to determine how the exterior render of the home was going to inform the interiors and floor plan layout. "The exterior of the home featured a sleek, dark James Hardie board and batten cladding, which we really took inspiration from the Japandi style - juxtaposed with really moody and neutral colours on the interior," Steph says. She added “As an architect, I lean more towards Scandinavian designs, as this style is conscious of how space is used and prioritises comfort within the home, plus, Japandi interiors also allow me to lean into my own personal style.” 

As their build progressed, choosing Japandi became about so much more than just opting for the right materials and palette. Steph and Gian were designing spaces that would become sanctuaries for the homeowners. As this focus shifted to creating a feeling through interiors and design, the couple began seeing the importance of illustrating this to others. “Our build became about helping people understand just what Japandi is because they still weren’t aware of its purpose. It became about helping them create their own personal warm and cosy atmosphere to enjoy their lives in”, explains Steph and Gian. 

Based on this, Japandi Estate was born.

“Less is more with more of the right”

- Steph & Gian | Founders of Japandi Estate

Japandi Estate is an architecture, homewares, and lifestyle company that seeks to inform people about the fusion of the best of both Japanese and Scandinavian design styles. These categories go hand-in-hand, each adding an essential element to achieving a quintessential Japandi-style space. The architecture aspect focuses on creating homes that are timeless and multifunctional. The homewares consist of classic pieces made from raw materials in earthy tones, and the lifestyle aspect is centered around educating on the Japandi way of life.

Their first drop, labelled the Fluidity range, includes bedheads, bed bases, artworks, rugs, and timber pieces all of which have been crafted by Australian family-owned businesses. Steph and Gian’s vision was to curate collections that would work together in cohesion, rather than just having hero pieces. These pieces would be timeless and interchangeable, embodying that evergreen aspect of Japandi.

No detail has been overlooked with even some products taking inspiration from traditional Japanese craftsmanship by featuring the 'Sashimono' technique, which is where the joins have been assembled without the use of nails, creating a seamless connection with a nod to Japanese innovation. 

So, with all these gorgeous products and inspiring concepts, what are Steph and Gian’s top tips for achieving a Japandi-style home?

• Less is more. Think bigger pieces with less in the room so you’re able to prioritise products that are timeless and interchangeable.
• A neutral palette. Japandi is heavily influenced by the outdoors and one way you can create this connection within your home is through a neutral palette. We’re not just talking beige (even though we share a mutual love for the tone with Steph), the couple also recommends branching out into earthy, muted tones such as browns, reds, greens, and warm whites.
• Lighting. We love this tip so much because lighting can often be overlooked. Steph and Gian emphasised that it’s important to consider the position of the home and where windows are located when designing a space. Different times of the day will cast different shadows, so, don’t forget to include sheer curtains to diffuse the sunlight.

Tip: When it comes to artificial lighting, remember to consider if you're selecting for task, focus, or ambient, as this will play a huge role in the atmosphere, aesthetics, and functionality of your space. 

Mood board created by Japandi Estate on Style Sourcebook.

Mood board created by Shanie Amber on Style Sourcebook.

Steph and Gian's journey from The Block to founding Japandi Estate definitely has us inspired. We’ve also loved seeing how the Style Sourcebook community has created so many incredible mood boards that really bring their Japandi vision to life. If you’re feeling inspired by Steph and Gian, begin creating your dream space using Japandi Estate’s products on our mood board tool.