The Pietros have an abiding interest in Japanese architecture and aesthetics. Kate studies ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arrangement, and her elegant work is regularly on display in the entry nook and hallway table. For his part, Richard painted the interior of the condo’s entry door a deep navy to match the facing entry nook, and he added decorative narrow trim in the Japanese style. The Japanese influence extends beyond the condo walls: a Japanese stone lantern in The Diplomat’s communal backyard was a contribution from the Pietros’ Braemar Road yard. Being avid gardeners, their Braemar yard was included in the Shaker Historical Society’s garden tour one year, and when planning their move, the Pietros considered relocating somewhere with a lot of outdoor space. “But I realized that what I really like about living in Shaker is the sense of community,” says Kate. “I like having neighbors. I like having sidewalks. I like having places to walk to for a cup of coffee, the library.” In fact, they realized they liked those things more than they wanted a huge piece of property. 42 SUMMER 2022 | WWW.SHAKER.LIFE
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