Artist Richard Zinon learned pottery in Japan, and carpentry, painting and sculpture in Italy; he’s also a trained chef who has worked in restaurants in different countries. Is it any wonder then that his little bungalow, nestled deep in Snowdonia National Park in Wales, would be a paean to artfulness and craftsmanship?
Zinon and his partner, Nuria Maria, a fellow painter, treated the 1929 structure like a blank canvas, deftly filling it in with design references to their travels while showcasing the beauty of natural materials. At 689 square feet, the two-bedroom home is small, but it feels open and airy thanks to high ceilings and new picture windows that frame the verdant views.
Join us for a tour of their elegant house in the woods. (The couple recently sold this property on The Modern House, which is where we first spotted it.)
Photography by French + Tye, courtesy of The Modern House.
![inspired by his time in japan, zinon chose to clad the exterior with shou sugi 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow12-733x489.jpg)
![inside, the couple opted for a mix of japanese wabi sabi style and clean lined 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow-733x489.jpg)
![the oak floorboards are salvaged from a \15th century mansion. \2\20;i r 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow1-733x489.jpg)
![\2\20;i also managed to salvage the cedar from the original timber cladd 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow2-733x1099.jpg)
![a dual sided fireplace separates the public space from a hallway that leads to 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow3-733x489.jpg)
![the hallway with a perfectly placed window. \2\20;for me, a good inter 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow5-733x489.jpg)
![the view from the hallway to the main bedroom. on the walls is bauwerk\2 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow4-733x1099.jpg)
![one of maria\2\17;s paintings graces the bedroom wall, echoing the green 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow6-733x489.jpg)
![the couple used the other bedroom as a dressing room. 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow8-733x1099.jpg)
![the stunning view from the terrace. 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow9-733x489.jpg)
![the rectangular bungalow was redesigned with large windows to take advantage of 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/richard-zinon-nuria-maria-modern-house-bungalow11-733x489.jpg)
See also:
- Top of the Lake: Tiny Cabins in Dark and Light
- Steal This Look: A One-Room Cabin in the Catskills
- A Hollywood Director’s Refined Off-the-Grid Cabin by Commune Design
Frequently asked questions
Where did Richard Zinon learn pottery?
Richard Zinon learned pottery in Japan.
Where did Richard Zinon learn carpentry, painting, and sculpture?
Richard Zinon learned carpentry, painting, and sculpture in Italy.
What kind of chef is Richard Zinon?
Richard Zinon is a trained chef who has worked in restaurants in different countries.
Where is Richard Zinon's bungalow located?
Richard Zinon's bungalow is nestled deep in Snowdonia National Park in Wales.
How did Richard Zinon choose to clad the exterior of his bungalow?
Richard Zinon chose to clad the exterior with shou sugi ban Japanese cypress planks.
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