Over the years I had made many shelves, adjusting thickness here, softening edges there, always giving each one its own expression.
But this time, the theme was to do nothing. A piece that someone could simply walk past without noticing, and that was enough. I kept having to remind myself not to add, not to alter. Holding to “do nothing” carried its own tension. Even in the workshop, I could feel the atmosphere of, “Really? Are we leaving it just like this?”
When the shelf was finally finished and placed in the shop space, I was filled with a quiet joy. It was wonderful—clear, refreshing. Beautiful when left empty, yet just as good when holding one or two things. Even a branch picked up on the roadside, or a stray stone, suddenly looked like a work of art in a gallery. That was the kind of enjoyment it brought.
Its presence is nearly zero, yet something undeniable seeps out of it. It does not insist, it simply receives. When a form is this plain, the act of deciding what to place and how to place it becomes its own kind of freedom.
The word place carries many meanings: a location, a situation, and the simple act of putting something down. What you choose to place, and with what feeling—through that, you can create your own space you love. I hope these shelves let you enjoy those moments.
1. Many favorite things on the Place Shelf
2. Arrangement of books and objects
3. Welcoming the shelf in the dining area
4. Ambient music at night
Embracing simplicity with Japanese Oak
