NAGOMI: A Home in Harmony
Nagomi (和み) is a Japanese concept that speaks to the quiet beauty of harmony, a state where mind, relationships, and environment flow together with ease. Growing up with a Japanese mother, Nagomi has always stayed with me. It is not just an idea, but an essence of thought—the way balance and belonging are felt when life and space align.
Nagomi reveals the beauty of balance, the gentle rhythm when all parts of life move in concert. Applied to a home, nagomi is the feeling of being in a space where everything is aligned, both visually and emotionally. A home that nurtures the spirit, fosters connection, and inspires peace. It is the exhale when you walk through your front door, the release that tells you you are home.
Art emerges as the quiet bridge to the human spirit. From the moment I saw the house, I knew Ysasi Gallery was the perfect choice to curate the home. Their keen eye for design and ability to compose spaces with purpose would bring out the character and soul of this home. Founded by brothers Iñigo and Pato Ysasi, the gallery is built on the belief that art is not distant but deeply personal—something that fosters reflection and intimacy.
The gallery operates under the umbrella of Casa Ysasi, a Los Angeles–based creative space rooted in a shared sensibility of hermandad/brotherhood, craft, and the desire to live with meaningful objects. Casa Ysasi is divided into two halves: Ysasi Gallery, where curated exhibitions highlight artists, and Studio Ysasi, a working studio and showroom where prototypes and ideas are developed and brought to life. This dual structure reflects their ethos, an ongoing interplay between process and presentation.
For this collaboration, the focus is on Ysasi Gallery, their curatorial arm dedicated to presenting exhibitions that merge art and design. The gallery draws inspiration from spaces that blur the boundary between art and function, always making room for experimentation and collaboration. Honoring craftsmanship, Ysasi Gallery creates environments where design is not only seen but experienced.
Alongside the gallery, Studio Ysasi focuses on lighting, furniture, and objects designed and handcrafted in Los Angeles. Each piece is approached with patience and guided by a commitment to quality and durability. Their work draws from an evolving library of movements, producing objects meant to last and adapt with the spaces they inhabit.
Together, the gallery and studio reflect the spirit of Casa Ysasi: a balance of process and presentation, creativity and craft, and a vision for how art and design can enrich the way we live. Architecture may frame the space, yet it is art that breathes soul into a home.
The home itself is one of the crown jewels of Melrose Hill—a neighborhood layered with history, where tree-lined streets and timeless architecture preserve the charm of old Los Angeles. Set on a generous lot, the Craftsman, originally built in 1912, blend past and present in a way that feels both grounded and fresh. Inside, every window frames lush greenery, wrapping each room in a constant dialogue with nature. Light fills the spaces, moving gently across wood, tile, and glass, softening the edges of daily life. This is a home that breathes, that feels alive.
The artwork has been hand-selected by Ysasi Gallery to embody the spirit of nagomi. The works do not simply adorn the home; they enrich it. They soften, ground, and illuminate, turning each space into a sanctuary where harmony can be felt. All artworks will be available for acquisition, inviting you to carry a fragment into your own life.
As a realtor, this is the part of my work I love most. Selling a home is about romance - an exchange of enthusiasm. Curating a space where people can see themselves feel serenity, imagine new beginnings, and embrace nagomi. It is about guiding someone toward a space that does not just house life, but inspires it.
This Melrose Hill home is more than a listing. It is an invitation—to see how history, design, and art come together to create the essence of nagomi. A reminder that home, at its best, is where harmony is not only seen, but deeply felt.
I hope your visit gave you a moment of peace and inspiration. I am truly grateful you came.
Warmly,
Kev
