Private Home Design | A Haven That Nurtures the Soul

 

Space is never merely a vessel for functionality—it’s also a profound, warmly embracing presence, quietly accompanying us beneath the surface of modern design, revealing its tender textures and unwavering strength. As a result, home becomes an external extension of our innermost state: a soulful journey inward, as well as a silent yet deeply evocative poem etched into the fabric of everyday life. Here, it’s not only a safe haven where we can let down our guard—a cozy retreat brimming with warmth—but also the gentle touchpoint where our spiritual world finds its grounding in reality. And it’s precisely this thoughtful design approach, which seamlessly fuses the intrinsic value of space with the poetic essence of living, that comes to life in the two cases we’re sharing today—each crafted by Studio Glume and HT DESIGN STUDIO, respectively.

 

 

 

 

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Silent Resonance | Studio Glume

160㎡ Private Residence in Shanghai's Changning District | Wang Ying
 

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Studio Glume designer Ying Wang has created a 160㎡ modernist-style new home in Shanghai's Changning District. The entire design process revolved around the residents' daily needs and their art collection, ultimately resulting in a serene living space where art seamlessly blends with everyday life.

 

Walking through the interior feels like stepping into a melody with its own ups and downs. The designer has incorporated vast expanses of wood, lending the space both a sense of stability and an enduring warmth. Delicate wood grains unfold like fingerprints, gracefully adorning the walls, cabinetry, and ceiling—then paired with silky sofas and plush carpets, creating rich, multi-layered tactile experiences. In this delicate balance of coolness and softness, even the most subtle sensory impressions come vividly to life.

 

Standing in the entryway, the red-and-white painting first sets the tone for the space, quietly revealing the tactile quality of materials and the subtle imprints of time. Meanwhile, the wood-toned corridor, interwoven with black and white elements, cleverly delineates between shared and private areas—like a brief pause that lends the space its natural rhythm and flow.

 

Large areas of wood tones flow seamlessly and expansively, while black wall cabinets with contrasting textures alternate with the white walls, enriching both the tactile experience and the spatial perception.

 

The transition from black to wood-tone walls not only visually defines the functional areas but also gently softens the space’s atmosphere, easing tension and fostering a sense of calm and relaxation. Meanwhile, the classic, collection-grade furniture naturally exudes an air of both elegance and warmth, perfectly complementing the space’s crisp, clean lines.

 

Minimalist volumes and clean lines define the space, preserving the pure spirit of modernism. The warmth of expansive wood surfaces contrasts beautifully with the calm depth of black—creating a dynamic interplay that feels as natural as breathing. In this harmonious balance, nature and mystery seamlessly merge, giving rise to everyday scenes that are both tangible and deeply evocative, while also serving as an extension of the spiritual realm into the physical world.

 

Contemporary paintings hang on the walls, seamlessly integrating into daily life and creating a thought-provoking dialogue with the space's functionality. Whether they feature abstract symbols or delicately depict still lifes and landscapes, these artworks become messengers of the space's narrative, subtly reshaping its overall tension and rhythm—while quietly revealing the thoughts and emotions of the home's owner.

 

Art pieces are scattered along the hallway and outside the study, by the window—sometimes resembling soft skin or delicate sheets of paper, other times evoking the dazzling flicker of mayflies, and at times, echoing the swirling, cyclical flow of thoughts or landscapes that hold hidden stories within them. In this understated yet elegant space, they become "notes" that are either harmonious and pleasing—or strikingly jarring—while the resident’s inner character quietly emerges through these "subtle undertones."

 

The bedroom walls are crafted from black granite, complemented by a full-length, nearly transparent glass partition that seems almost invisible. The "heaviness" of the black granite clashes dramatically with the "lightness" of the glass, creating an everyday sense of drama—yet this tension is gently softened by the subtle warmth of the off-white walls.

 

Black subtly "seeps" into the adjacent bathroom, contrasting beautifully with the warm backlight hidden behind the mirror, creating a soothing, enveloping atmosphere within this small space.

 

The Zen-inspired ink-black walls make the limited space feel even more exquisite; the hand-chiseled granite, with its rugged, primal texture, creates a striking visual contrast against the smooth, creamy-white sandstone. Amidst this interplay of cool austerity and silky softness, a richly layered sensory experience unfolds.

 

Light is the harmonizer of all things—skillfully introduced into the space, it flows across the white sandstone walls, glides into the grain of the oak, casts fragmented shadows along the undulating contours of the granite, and gently unfolds across the floor in soft, gradual hues.

 

Interior Design | Studio Glume

Furniture Design | Studio Glume

Interior Soft Furnishings | Studio Glume

Lead Creative Design | Wang Ying

Execution Design | Liu Shengding

Completion Year | December 2024

Project Address | Shanghai's Changning District

Gross Floor Area | 160㎡

Gross Floor Area | Ho Chi Fung

 

 

 

 

 

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Pandora's Box | HT DESIGN

A 100㎡ Private Residence in Shanghai, China | Zhang Chao & Zhou Junning

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Designed by Zhang Chao and Zhou Junning of HT DESIGN STUDIO, this 100㎡ Shanghai residence embodies a unique interpretation of "space": If space is indeed the vessel of life, then this vessel transcends mere order and functionality—it resembles Pandora’s Box itself, exuding both mystery and restraint, yet brimming with endless, ever-changing possibilities. As the designers beautifully put it, "Every cubic inch of space is a miracle."

 

In this case, we’ve transformed the "magic box" into a concrete spatial system: it serves as both the entryway itself and a flexible, adaptable living mechanism—efficiently storing everyday clutter, orchestrating the rhythm of daily life, allowing functions to flow freely while reconfiguring spatial scales—all while maintaining a serene, unified visual presence, much like a silently churning deep well. At the heart of the entire design lies the "Pandora System," crafted from black metal surfaces, wood veneers, sliding door panels, and concealed structural elements.

 

With this "box system," space is no longer a static, functionally divided area—it’s imbued with the dynamic qualities of a living theater: each opening or closing gesture subtly ushers in a new scene. The designer draws inspiration from the meticulous, restrained logic found in Belgian architecture, along with its thoughtful approach to material selection. At the same time, the design also embraces the French aesthetic, capturing the delicate appreciation and tender interpretation of traditional, natural materials.

 

 

Between calm proportions and silent materials, there’s no unnecessary "showing off"—instead, a subtle sense of order emerges. The island counter enveloped in stone, the hidden storage behind invisible doors, the meticulously crafted gaps in the wood veneer—all these details deliberately downplay their "presence," quietly inviting you to feel the warmth of everyday life within this restrained yet thoughtful design.

 

The design subtly diminishes the presence of the original kitchen, instead transforming it into a central social area centered around the dining space—where a custom-made stone island seamlessly integrates with built-in storage cabinets. This setup not only meets display needs but also doubles as a welcoming function, perfectly aligning with everyday living flows. Meanwhile, the open spatial layout maximizes visual continuity, while unified window designs and consistent material choices further enhance the overall sense of harmony.

 

Transform the kitchen from a "mere cooking space" into a "life-scheduling hub": Break away from the conventional, "closed and isolated" mindset of traditional kitchens, integrating various functions seamlessly into an island counter and a side cabinet. In fact, this is a redefinition of kitchen functionality—shifting from a "single cooking area" to a "central command center for daily life."

 

The small room originally situated right next to the railway tracks has been transformed into a semi-open study. Through its partially exposed spatial design, the area strikes a balance: it offers a relatively private working atmosphere without feeling cramped or confining. Rather than deliberately asserting its presence, this space quietly emerges as a refreshing blank canvas within everyday life.

 

The original master bedroom was reimagined and reorganized, integrating the living room, main bathroom, and walk-in closet into a cohesive suite that boasts fully functional amenities. Glass partitions seamlessly connect the previously fragmented spaces, enhancing the sense of openness while gently dissolving any feeling of spatial division—resulting in a more fluid and natural flow throughout the area. Additionally, the designer expanded the originally cramped walk-in closet by merging it with the main bathroom, creating a unified, open-plan suite that not only enhances the visual spaciousness but also enriches the overall functionality of the space.

 

The cabinet body and sliding doors are seamlessly integrated into the finish system, while the ceiling features a recessed design, and the lighting fixtures are embedded directly within it—creating a "disappearing design" effect. This restrained visual approach ultimately translates into effortless ease in everyday life: gaining freedom within limited space, while unleashing subtle tension through understated yet powerful expression.

Floor plan

 

Design Company | HT DESIGN STUDIO

Hosted by Design | Zhang Chao, Zhou Junning

Project Location｜ China, Shanghai

Project Area｜ 100 ㎡

Spatial Properties | Private residential space

Soft Furnishing Design | Zhang Ao