Teahouse of the August Moon

A new round of The Challenge has started for June with the theme Asian. There are seven designers participating in the monthly themed event offering everything from a tea house, to sushi, to Asian cabinets. The Challenge is a bit different than other monthly home & garden shopping events where themed products are available for sale at one location. With this event you can sneak peek the items on The Challenge site and then if interested in purchasing the creation, you teleport to the different stores.

I personally love incorporating Far East pieces in home decor. My childhood home was mainly furnished with Oriental antiques from my families travels. The refinement of clean lines, balanced simplicity, natural materials, and hand painted lacquer furniture are elements of Asian style. When I saw the June designs for The Challenge, I couldn’t wait to create a Japanese tea house in Second Life. Traditionally, the tea house (as known as chashitsu) is free standing structure designed exclusivly for tea ceremonies. Typical features of chashitsu are shoji windows and sliding doors made of wooden lattice covered in translucent paper. I’m very fortunate that I’ve participated in many tea cermonies and its truly a beautiful experience.

I utilized [ht:home] little tea house as my building and styled a traditional tea ceremony with Cleo Designs tea table, chairs and tea accessories. Cleo’s gorgeous luminous screen and floor lantern are flanking the side wall. Apple Fall’s Chinese Credenza serves as a buffet table for Jian Sushi & Sashimi Time trays. On the side of the buffet is 22769 ~ [bauwerk] My Zen Corner birdcage, cherry blossom, small buddha head, incense burner and zen stones.

Pull the shoji screens closed and both sides of the doorway have Asian cabinets (22769 ~ [bauwerk] My Zen Corner & Newchurch Kaidan Mission Tansu) and customary artifacts from porcelain temple jars, to bonsai trees, to miniature Japanese zen garden. You can easily incoporate any of these furnishing into your SL home creating layers and nuance. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unfamiliar styles, after all virtual interior design is easier on your back!

I also wanted to highlight Prism Moira, a sexy Asian printed outfit available for free on the Summertime Fun Hunt (June 1st – 30th). Although you couldn’t wear it to a tradtional tea cermony, it will serve as the perfect inspiration for incoporating Asian style in your home.

Featured items available from The Challenge:

[ht: home]: little tea house
Cleo Design: Asian Dining
22769 ~ [bauwerk]: My Zen Corner
Jian: Sushi & Sashimi Time
Newchurch: Kaidan Mission Tansu

Other items used:

KIDD Creations Bamboo & [DDD] Zen Bamboo
*bbqq*: The Ming dynasty China scroll painting B (Past Arcade gacha)
Apple Fall: Asian Art, Chinese Credenza, Temple Jar, Bonsai Tree & Cherry Blossom Branches
Alouette: Miniature Zen Garden

On Gloria: