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East Meets West
03/14/2008 - By Michael Berman
When offered the opportunity to relocate his family and spend the next 4 years in Tokyo, Mike Swartz was all for it. His wife, Denise, was not so sure.
When offered the opportunity to relocate his family and spend the next 4 years in Tokyo, Mike Swartz was all for it. His wife, Denise, was not so sure. The final decision was made when Denise’s father convinced her that this could be the “opportunity of a lifetime.” He could not have been more right, as Denise reflects on the influence her family’s Asian adventure has had on their lifestyle since returning to the United States.
Mike and Denise, both CPAs, were high school sweethearts who were married in Old Bridge, in 1990. In 1999, Mike, an executive with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, was asked to relocate to Tokyo for an extended business assignment. The family took the 14-hour trip with a sense of excitement and anticipation. Denise was amazed at how well her two young daughters, Brooke and Brittany, traveled. Since then Denise has made the same trip many times, and is thrilled to have had this opportunity.
In Japan, the Swartz family lived in a small apartment. Their daughters were exposed to a multicultural experience through their school, as well as through trips taken to other eastern countries. They learned to love foods from Thailand and Vietnam, and, of course, authentic Japanese, including sushi (now the name of their beloved Lhasa Apso). Denise soaked up the eastern influence and was amazed at how old the architecture and traditions were there compared to therelatively new world of the United States.
Upon their return from Japan, Mike and Denise decided to buy a new house. Denise made many trips back and forth on holidays and to see family; during these trips she looked at many homes, and eventually found just the right fit here in Marlboro. Though it was a traditional-looking builder’s home on the outside, upon entering the home she was greeted by an open floor plan that reminded her of the more open spaces she had left behind in Japan.
The fun soon began when Mike and Denise realized they had fallen in love with theculture and people they had embraced so fully over the past 3 years. The trips to Vietnam, Thailand, China, Korea, Bangkok, Singapore, and Bali took on new meaning as furniture, arts and crafts, fabrics, and rugs were purchased whenever and wherever they could find them. Large containers packed with exotic furnishings began arriving attheir new home. Denise had taken careful measurements of the living spaces and made her purchases accordingly and the results speak magnificently for themselves!
The golden Buddha on top of the collection of books, and the many fabrics used throughout the house, were found in Thailand and Bangkok. Denise even had a seamstress in Thailand do much of the custom drapery and bedding sets in the home.
The living room is geometric in design and filled with pieces purchased in Asia. The coffee table was originally an antique screen, transformed into a table by Asian craftsmen and shipped – sight unseen – to a “far-off” place known as Marlboro, NJ. It is now the centerpiece of the living-room décor. “If you trust the artisan to do what is appropriate for the piece,” Denise said, “you will rarely be disappointed.”
The silk rugs were purchased in Singapore, fine art paintings in Vietnam, and many ceramics in Japan and China. Denise enrolled in a class to learn the ancient art of egg decorating using Washi paper (a type of rice paper) and a lacquering process designed to create a seamless covering over the eggs, transforming them into beautiful art objects.
The Asian theme continues through to the dining room. The walls are two-toned with the upper section painted in a warm, rich Chinese red; the red color brings out the warmth in the large Chinese rosewood table, which forms the centerpiece of this formal room. The cushions on the dining room chairs were custom-made in China to fit the unusual design of the seat and architectural elements of the chairs themselves. Mike and Denise worked together to create their shared vision of Asian style and American comfort.
The master bedroom features a four-poster bed purchased in North Carolina; it is complemented by an Asian-purchased and -sewn bedspread and drapery treatment. The many unique decorative items and artifacts they collected over 4 years in Japan (and trips to surrounding countries) trigger many pleasant memories for the Swartz family.
A shelf displays a collection of sake cups. The theatrical Kabuki mask was found at a shrine sale (Japanese flea market). The large Japanese teapot was purchased in Moishiko, a small town known for the quality and artistry of its pottery. A redwood washbasin holds a book and features a crane in its attractive design. The leather Kamakura shoes are meant to be worn in the snow; the Chinese pillow box has gold ornamental painting on top and a round, gold clasp used as a lock.
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