Jenny and Koki Aihara, parents of two boys and owners of local restaurants Shiki Menya and First Avenue Corner Store, searched for a home with a calming and minimalist vibe for their busy, growing family.
In 2021, the couple found a corner lot in Mount Pleasant and decided to custom build their ideal home with the help of Suzanne Tetrault, owner and principal interior designer of Studio Felix. Together, Tetrault and the Aiharas set out to capture a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalism, and did so using neutral tones and clean lines while incorporating colour, warmth and coziness through furniture, art and plants.
“They’re a fairly young family, so we wanted it to look chic, and we also want it to be completely livable for a family of four,” says Tetrault.
The home was finished in 2024, complete with lots of windows and natural light — a priority for Jenny.
“We added a window literally everywhere that we could,” she says.
The Aiharas wanted an open kitchen and living space that would encourage family time and accommodate entertaining.
“Because we are in the restaurant industry, … [it’s] really important for us to have a place where we could be good hosts,” Jenny says. “Even the small touches — like a built-in bar where we can bartend or serve coffee, a spot to play our vinyl collection and a kitchen island that lets us cook, serve and have conversations with our guests all at once — help create a hospitality-focused, welcoming space.
“It’s subtle, but I definitely think it mirrors the rhythm of a restaurant, where interaction and flow are key.”
That said, the couple also wanted their home to be a calming, minimalist space where they could “recharge from the busyness of our work and family life,” Jenny explains.
The home is peppered with nods to their restaurants, from the kitchen’s green metal stools from First Avenue Corner Store to the framed Shiki Menya posters hanging in the dining space. A particularly meaningful piece is the Shiki Menya rug a customer made and gifted to the couple for the restaurant’s 10th anniversary, which the couple put in their bedroom.
Overall, the flowing, open layout and natural light provide the functionality and comfort that the Aiharas wanted in a welcoming and soothing family home. “We didn’t set out to replicate any part of the restaurants in our home design,” says Jenny. “But, looking at the spaces, you can definitely see the similarities, simply because it’s our natural style and design taste.”
The Piano Room
The piano, which Koki has had for almost 30 years and the whole family now plays, is showcased through custom glass and powder-coated metal doors by Edmonton metalwork company Forge 53°.
The Kitchen
The kitchen embraces the home’s neutral palette with white cabinetry, while incorporating unique elements like wood pulls on the fridge and a matching tiled backsplash and range hood.
The Bar Nook
This space, between the kitchen and living room, makes it easy to whip up drinks while showcasing the family’s books and record collection.
The Living Room
The open flow between the kitchen and living room, along with the low furniture and seating, makes it easy to gather with family and friends while preparing a meal, playing games together or reading.
The Primary Bedroom
A handmade Shiki Menya rug adds coziness to the bedroom, along with a piece above the bed that Jenny and Koki created by attaching a Blacksaw wool blanket to a piece of wood left over from building the home.