Interview about 45 Degree Interior Design, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2020
The Interior layout is not foursquare and the public area and the private area present a 45 degree angle of intersection. The designer connects the living room, dining room and kitchen to create a wide and bright fan-shaped space. Responding to the technical background of the male owner, white and grey color are chosen to be the main tone and warm wood furniture is decorated partially. The main wall of the living room is designed with the gray stone tiles which show the high ceiling of the public space. The light and shadow cleverly blend into the peaceful.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsConstrained by the original “butterfly wing” dual-wing layout of the building, the interior configuration of this project is not perfectly square. To address this, the designer interconnected the living room, dining room, and kitchen, creating an integrated public area that is separated from the sleeping quarters. These two functional zones intersect at a 45-degree angle, adjacent to the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, shaping a spacious, bright, open fan-shaped area that softens the sharpness of the angled transition.
The main wall in the living room features a minimalist design, with tall, gray stone-patterned tiles highlighting the lofty feel of the public space. Floor-to-ceiling windows are fitted with metal blinds, allowing even the softer daylight from the courtyard to cast subtle light and shadow, enhancing the tranquility of the living room.
The husband, with a background in technology, prefers a rational and minimalist style, valuing functionality over decoration. As a result, the color palette throughout the home is primarily white and gray. The wife, who is more sentimental, influenced the addition of vibrant accents, such as colorful throw pillows and the soft pink-tinged accent wall behind the bed in the bedroom.
The homeowner, who enjoys cooking and baking, sees the kitchen as the heart of the home. To ensure ample workspace for food preparation and baking beyond the main countertop, the designer placed an island in the kitchen center without disrupting flow. The curved countertop also houses a wine cabinet underneath, perfect for single dining or casual drinks.
In keeping with the overall interior color scheme, the entryway features a combination of black, white, and gray hexagonal tiles. This choice creates a look that is both grounded and subtly lively, helping the homeowner shift their mood upon entering the home.
A hallway directly aligned with a bedroom door is a feng shui taboo, as it directs airflow straight into the room, disturbing its energy field. To address this, the designer installed an automatic closing concealed door. Visually, it transforms the end of the hallway into a focal wall resembling a framed artwork, while functionally, the always-closed door helps maintain stable energy within the room.
The original kitchen was relatively large but had an irregular layout, with wall-mounted cabinetry that blocked natural light and was inefficient. After discussing with the homeowner, the new kitchen was organized into functional zones, with a baking appliance area and a stove counter along the two side walls, and an island countertop in the center. The extra space was allocated to the adjacent daughter’s room, making it more square-shaped and usable.
Since the beam separating the living and dining areas is positioned directly above the sofa, and its edge where it meets the exterior wall is irregular and prominent, the designer opted to cover its sides and underside with mirrors. This reflective effect visually increases the ceiling height and reduces the sense of heaviness.
The entire space is dominated by gray and white tones, with materials like Silver Fox marble patterns, gray tiles, metal blinds, and mirrors contributing a cool aesthetic. To balance this, the designer chose warm gray wood veneers and paired them with solid wood furniture to enhance the overall warmth of the space.
Local homeowners often sacrifice aesthetics, natural light, and ventilation for storage needs, as observed in the interior planning prior to the designer's involvement in this project. In discussions with the homeowner, we aimed to focus on optimized storage solutions, utilizing storage rooms to minimize unnecessary cabinetry. This approach created an open, uninterrupted space that enhances the comfort of the interior environment.
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