Opaque Glass Panels Function as Japanese Shoji

The designs associated with the Arts and Crafts movement and with architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright have powerfully influenced the look of the modern American interior.

So it's important to realize that Wright's work and the Arts and Crafts style in California were themselves shaped by Japanese design.

Key characteristics of Japanese design -- the refinement of simple lines and the modest scale of spaces -- are also distinguishing features of this influential American motif.

A restrained use of color, reflective of the natural landscape, made its way across the Pacific as well.

We can therefore see that modern American design draws inspiration as much from Asia as from Europe. And that's in keeping, of course, with the multicultural makeup of our society.

QUESTION: Some major cost overruns are forcing us to downscale some of the plans for the house we're building. The interior has a modern design, and we had intended to install custom-made sliding panels between sections of a large open space. That's no longer affordable, so can you tell us where to find factory-made shoji-style panels?

ANSWER: A scan of the Internet will quickly lead you to commercial sources of pocket doors that allow both privacy and light filtration. Many are modeled on the Japanese shoji screens that you mention. The photo shows a particularly elegant set of opaque glass panels that pocket into a wall, creating an effect that's as attractive as it is functional. You'll note that the color of the wood matches what's used throughout the kitchen. By choosing wooden frames, you can stain the sliding panels to complement other finishes in your home's large open space.

However, buying panels of this sort should be in coordination and specification with your architect and or contractor, because it's essential to ensure that the tracking mechanism has been properly constructed and fitted. Otherwise, the panels can jump the header or the flooring or become completely immobile.

And don't be misled by the weight of the materials. If a tracking system is defective, lightweight panels can malfunction just as readily as heavier ones. The panels and hardware shown here are from Johnson Hardware. You can browse a range of models and consult a list of dealer locations throughout the United States by visiting www.johnsonhardware.com.

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(Readers with general interior design questions for Rita St. Clair can e-mail her at rsca(at)ritastclair.com.)

(c) 2009 DESIGN LINE DISTRIBUTED BY Tribune Media Services, Inc.