Yui’s world is a playful, colour-filled mix of instinct and reinvention. Originally from Japan and now based in sunny San Diego, she creates a home and style guided purely by joy - where disco mushrooms catch the light, records spin at dusk, and nothing ever feels too serious. It’s a vibrant, personal take on colour that invites you to see it all a little differently.
Hi Yui, it’s so lovely to chat to you. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hello everyone, I’m so honoured to be featured here!
I’m just a girl who loves colours. I am also a mom of two wonderfully silly girls that light up my life. I was born and raised in Japan and moved to California over a decade ago when I received a job offer.
Where do you call home and who lives there?
Sunny San Diego, California. I live with my wonderful husband, two girls and a fluffy boy.
If your home had a personality, how would you describe it in three words?
Playful, warm and cozy
What’s the most joyful corner of your home right now?
If I need to pick one corner, it would be by the record player credenza. We recently added a record player to our home (we've been meaning to get one for five years haha) and it instantly became the most visited place in our house.
Is there an object in your home that feels like a little piece of magic? What’s its story?
I would have to say my disco mushrooms. These are by Sofiest Design, a San Diego based artist that makes just about anything into a disco ball. These mushrooms bring me joy every time the light hits them. I even move them around the house following the sun.
What’s one small, everyday ritual at home that brings you joy?
It's got to be putting on my favourite record. When the kids have gone out I can calm down and put on a record.
You dress with so much colour, creativity and fun - have you always dressed like this?
I used to wear more neutral tones with only a small bit of colour. I was not as playful as I am now. I've always loved colours, loved going to museums and galleries. My majors in college were art & early childhood education. I was always surrounded by colours. However, I became really depressed right after I had my second baby and that was the time I completely lost my love for colours and getting dressed up. It took nearly a year before I realised this. At this moment I decided to make an effort to dress up and I began to share my outfits online. I wanted to find my colours again.
What’s something in your wardrobe that makes you feel instantly more you?
Anything blue. Blue is definitely my signature colour. When I’m wearing something blue I feel the most in touch with myself.
Do you approach the way you have decorated your home in the same way you approach getting dressed?
Yes, definitely. As I dress with more colours our house became more colourful.
Do you have a “rule” you always break when it comes to dressing or decorating? What’s your relationship with “clashing”? Do you think anything can truly clash?
I don’t have any set rules about which colours clash. I’m just a girl that enjoys dressing up for fun. I’m always asking myself what will make me happy. If the colours, patterns or fabric make you smile and that gives you the extra push to get out the door, you are doing it right. Everybody has their own style. I believe we don’t need to give anyone rules on how to wear clothes. Mixing colours or single colours, mixing patterns or no patterns. Let’s enjoy what we wear. Fashion is the only thing we have control over in this crazy world.
Are you a maximalist at heart, or is there a secret minimalist hiding somewhere?
I loved this question because it describes me so well. For me, less is better. I like to keep things simple. However, you might notice on my shelves that I love collecting small items and displaying them throughout the house. I love adding layers to my clothing so when it comes down to it, I suppose I'm a maximalist.
What colour are you craving at the moment, and where is it showing up in your life?
Pink. I've avoided pink for so long, nearly 20 years (no joke). Before I started dressing up, the last pink item I bought was an LL Bean tote bag when I was 16. Something happened to me where I almost grew to hate pink. I don't like the saying that blue is for boys and pink is for girls. If the world told me pink is for girls, I went the opposite way. I think that is where my love for blue started to develop. I even avoided putting my firstborn in pink, just didn't like the label. All of a sudden, I found myself drawn toward pink.Maybe I was the one putting labels on colours...
Do you ever get tired of colour, or is it more like a lifelong love affair?
Hahaha never. However, even though I wear so many colours at once I LOVE all black outfits. Black is a wonderful colour too.
How has your home and style evolved since having children?
I think both became more playful. You can’t be so serious around kids right?
Do your children influence your style - and do you influence theirs?
Yes, surprisingly it does. My first daughter is 6 and she’s so pure & free. She loves art. She doesn’t have any fashion rules so she put together her outfits and surprises me with colour and pattern combinations. As I've become more colourful, my girls doing the same.
If you could design a room with absolutely no constraints (budget, space, reality…, what would it look like?
Love this question as well. I want to design a room that has no corners. Well, no pointy corners. Basically you won't see anything square. Tables, counters, couch, doors…everything will have a curvy shape. I feel that this room will emit warmth and a welcoming vibe.
Thank you so much, Yui! We love your style.