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"VIEW MORE PHOTOS   This home is an example of what happens when you mix homey hacienda-style elements of Asian design and a dab of wabi sabi\u2014the traditional Japanese belief that beauty is found in the simple, modest and age-worn. It&amp;#039;s an eclectic and slightly exotic space that reflects the passions and interests of its owners, Carolyn and Joseph Arcure, former Midwesterners who pulled up stakes and resettled in the historic ranching country of northern New Mexico. &amp;quot;We wanted the room to be beautiful and functional, but we also wanted it to say something about us; who we are and what we are about,&amp;quot; explains Carolyn, a jewelry designer, who embraced the Asian aesthetic when she and her husband lived in Japan. Eager to adapt elements of both cultures, especially the regional adobe vernacular, the couple commissioned Jon Dick, of Archeao Architects in Santa Fe, to spearhead the project. He responded with a sunny 225-square-foot design featuring soaring ceilings punctuated by reclaimed beams, rough-plastered walls, distinctive archways and earthy terra-cotta-tiled floors. A well-designed floor plan divides the space into three distinct areas. A 40-square-foot bump out framed by a dramatic arched openingdefines the casual dining area where a cozy upholstered banquette provides seating for six. &amp;quot;Guests inevitably end up in the kitchen drinking wine and watching the cook stir the risotto,&amp;quot; explains the architect, who varied the ceiling heights and introduced gothic arches to inject drama and architectural interest into the space. &amp;quot;Because it&amp;#039;s a natural gathering spot, we wanted people to be comfortable.&amp;quot; Opposite the banquette, a tiled alcove houses a six-burner pro-style range, replacing the traditional Mexican hearth. A subtle palette of ochre and jade deliberately softens this area&amp;#039;s graphic design. Handmade art tiles depicting Japanese carp enliven the backsplash and provide additional texture. &amp;quot;Since carp swim upriver, the Japanese see them as symbolic of health and endurance, attributes appropriate for a kitchen,&amp;quot; Carolyn explains. The undisputed star of the room is a generous island fashioned from a Japanese tansu\u2014a utilitarian piece of furniture Carolyn discovered while living overseas. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s the Japanese equivalent of a kitchen cupboard, and it&amp;#039;s the one thing I really wanted,&amp;quot; she says, describing her search to locate just the right piece from various San Francisco importers. Topped with a slab of green fireslate and fitted with prep sink and high-arc faucet, the island pinch-hits as a convenient bar when the pair entertains. &amp;quot;We fill the sink with ice, and guests can serve themselves,&amp;quot; says Carolyn. The same San Francisco source also yielded the antique garden gate hanging above the island. Newly electrified and cleverly suspended from the ceiling with ordinary pipe fittings from a plumbing-supply store, it does double duty as a pot rack and storage shelf. &amp;quot;I like the juxtaposition of the old and the new. The gate is actually quite old, but has a modern look to it,&amp;quot; Carolyn says. Throughout the room, knotty alderwood cabinets, sleek green fireslate counters and beeswax-sealed terra-cotta floors unify the understated space. Even the accessories\u2014humble woven baskets, well-used copper pots and pans, the Arcures&amp;#039; collection of Japanese cooking utensils\u2014reflect the simple honesty that is, after all, the heart of the room&amp;#039;s appeal. Although supremely functional and well equipped, &amp;quot;This is definitely not a trophy kitchen,&amp;quot; Carolyn says. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s a space where you take care of people. A place you belong.&amp;quot;  Design Points An artist&amp;#039;s touch from the center island to the walls to the pot rack overhead, many parts of this kitchen demonstrate how some creative thinking can render a room unique\u2014without scaling back on its performance.       Pots, baskets and pans are centrally stored on a one-of-a-kind rack that is suspended over the island. Rather than settle for a stock design, this presses into service an old slatted gate and lengths of common pipe.      A tansu chest offers ample opportunities for beautiful and efficient storage with its combination of drawers and shelves. It&amp;#039;s worth noting that since the cupboard doors slide rather than swing outward, clearance isn&amp;#039;t an issue.      Plain plastered walls become special when inset with a handcrafted decorative tile. One continues the fanciful fish motif that&amp;#039;s found throughout the room.    "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling-renovating/a1164/east-meets-old-west-32961/>