Gallery Shibui was born out of a great love of Japanese Design.  As a design student at the Rhode Island School of Design I pored over books of Japanese Architecture and Interior Details.  I was enamored of the simplicity and elegance of Japanese design.

Later, practicing Interior Design in Boston, MA I found a store that carried Japanese handmade papers and I was hooked.  I bought them because I loved them and would eventually incorporate them into a book or box or a wrapping for a very special gift.  The love of these papers and Japanese design was only furthered by living in San Francisco for five years before moving to Raleigh.  It was there that the the idea for my store started developing.

Now, nearly three years later, I've realized my dream,  Gallery Shibui does indeed have beautiful handmade Japanese papers but it has much more.  By observing the subtle beauty of the paper, I have tried to develop a mixture of products that relates to the idea that a thing does not reveal its beauty all at once.  It must be observed over time.

I am very pleased that people seem to love coming here and browsing through the papers and other products.  My staff and I hope that you will visit us often and discover something new each time.

Alice B. Southwick, Owner