Located in Seto City, outside Nagoya, Japan, Snedker Woodworking is a custom atelier launched in 2005 that makes high-end wood furniture and homewares. Its latest offering: fully custom wood kitchens in a Japanese-inflected style.

Above: Snedker designers Keihiro and Kumiko Kobayashi offer fully customized kitchens tailored to the needs of each family. The first thing they ask of clients: “Look at the shape of your life.”

Above: This kitchen, in the Snedker showroom, has clear-finished oak cabinetry with stainless steel countertops. (For more, see Remodeling 101: Stainless Steel Countertops.)

Above: In addition to stainless steel, Snedker offers countertops in marble and solid wood. (They frequently work with oak, ash, walnut, paulownia, and black cherry.)
Above: Snedker’s edge-pull handles are made of solid brass. (See Remodeling 101: How Kitchen Edge Pulls Changed My Life.)

Above: In a hardworking kitchen, Snedker recommends a long trough sink with a teak dish drainer.
The off-white field tile on the backsplash has a slightly rough finish, and is installed with imprecise grout lines for a textural look. (For more on this trend, see 5 Favorites: Textural White Tile Backsplashes.)

Above: Snedker applied light scuffing to the stainless steel countertop, so scratches accumulated over time will be less prominent. At right, a custom wooden box contains a pour-over coffeemaker.

Above: Snedker uses handmade wood boxes as drawer organizers; th...