Design with Japanese Obi

In Design with Japanese Obi, the authors present the obi as it is being used in interiors today, demonstrating simple yet striking techniques for making these exquisite kimono sashes the centerpiece of any room's decor. The focus is on seven key uses for obi that are applicable to nearly any setting imaginable: artistic table arrangements, dining room accents, framing enhancements, and fabric coverings. These and other dramatic and innovative uses of obi in interior design are presented along with such essentials as color coordination, fabric shaping, and accessories for hanging obi. The vivid photographs in this book present some of the most elegant interiors the authors have found, from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., and show the obi being used in today's homes to create a sumptuous, refined, and modern ambiance.

Diane Wiltshire has been a prominent member of the Tokyo foreign community for many years. She pens the Japan for Kids column for a biweekly magazine and has published a book by the same title. Together with her mother, Ann Wiltshire, who directs the U.S. side of the business, she is the co-owner of a thriving business importing and exporting obi and acting as a design consultant.