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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