The map is a blank sheet of paper, which is of course very puzzling. Anyone would be at a loss. But from another perspective, it is precisely because it is a blank sheet of paper that you can draw the map as you like. Everything is up to you. For you, everything is free, and there are endless possibilities in front of you. This is a great thing. I sincerely pray that you can believe in yourself and burn your life without regrets.

The Miracles of Namiya General Store

Keigo Higashino

Disadvantages of the original apartment

1. The original four rooms were average, the public area was small, and the dining room had little storage;
2. The location of the bathtub in the main bathroom was not obvious;
3. The kitchen had little storage and operation space, and there was no space for small appliances;
4. The large balcony was underutilized;
5. The living room, which originally had a small public area, was suffocated by two large beams;

Solution

1. Free up the space, increase the functional space, and use the equipment area to place the bathtub;
2. The master bedroom, the bedroom opposite and the bedroom balcony are combined into one to meet the hostess’s desire for a larger cloakroom;
3. Remove the redundant walls from the living room to increase the facade space, and extend the sensory space to the maximum extent;
4. Increase storage in the dining area, find the best home for all small appliances, and make up for the small kitchen space and insufficient storage function;
5. The platform design of the public space allows guests who suddenly visit or go home from work to sit on the floor and chat about poetry and the distance;
6. The large beams that make the space breathable are weakened by arc techniques. In addition to the high requirements for the craftsmanship of the on-site masters, it is more agile after processing, and with the main color of pure white, it is “fairy spirit”

It is the color of tolerance and freedom

White is also called achromatic color. With white as the main design, there is almost no color in the room. It only relies on the outlined lines and large areas of blank space. The pure white tone makes the space look clean and refreshing, presenting a shocking visual sense.

This is the first feeling when you open the door, “refreshing and shocking”, and at the same time you feel the “tolerance” and “freedom” brought by the white; “Yes, this is the feeling of heartbeat, I admit I like it”;

The space of the original room and the original balcony space are released to the public space of the living room, and a leisure space is created by using the platform. Holiday life is reading on the platform and chatting with friends;

It is integrated with the living room and planned as a multifunctional area. Even in an open layout, the raised platform makes the space more layered!

The platform area is not only a reading space, but also a space for interacting with pets. It can be used to entertain and chat with friends and relatives, or to rest during a short stay, giving residents more choices;

The le nuvole sofa with a special shape of cloud designed by Giovannett is matched with the Tongue Chair. The soft cloud is matched with harmonious flowing lines, showing personality without losing harmony and unity;

The original criss-crossing large beams are weakened by arcs, and the design of no main light on the top is so arc-shaped that it is so touching that we can name it “the disappearing beam technique”!

By incorporating the balcony space into the public space, the visual experience can be extended to the maximum extent, which is a kind of “space magnification”.

How to store a variety of small appliances

How to accommodate a variety of small appliances in a small kitchen? The answer is: squeeze the kitchen space to the extreme and then extend it to the dining area;

The integrated dining island design creates a new connection between the two independent spaces of the dining room and the kitchen;

The sideboards on both sides of the island make these small appliances find the best home, while increasing the storage space of the whole house, which is really killing two birds with one stone!

What is space replacement technique?

After the four-bedroom house was changed to two-bedroom house, only one master bedroom and one guest bedroom were retained. Originally, one had to pass through the bathroom corridor to get to the master bedroom, and the second bedroom had better lighting and the space was not large. These difficult and complicated problems were painlessly cured by the designer using “space replacement technique”, “space enlargement technique” and “disguise technique”;

Changing the opening position of the door, a master bedroom that was originally only big enough to accommodate a bed was turned into a suite, which suddenly had room for all romance;

For example, putting a beloved green plant at the head of the bed, such as the sunlight that is looming through the curtains, such as yoga, meditation, and reading can all be very comfortable;

Without any external interference, closing the door is a completely free world of one’s own, and one can see that she is a person loved by life~

It is said that at least one-third of a person’s life is spent in the bedroom, so building a suite in the master bedroom and adding a bathtub is simply YYDS;

How to turn a bathtub out of thin air?

So, the original equipment room area was squeezed out and a special-shaped bathtub was cleverly selected, which was just the right size; the selection of the special-shaped bathtub allows the functions required by the homeowner to be realized, and the entire space is full of style;

The ritual of life is to step into the bathtub after a busy day; embraced by warm water, surrounded by the romantic atmosphere of scented candles, slow-paced music sounds, close your eyes, and empty yourself;

Taking a bath is a moment completely left to yourself. The atmosphere of taking a bath is the romance of the galaxy hidden in the bathtub, which greatly improves the sense of happiness in life;

It is said that details determine success or failure. Of course, it is not only the bathtub that is worth living, but also the bathroom cabinet;

The pure white rock slab countertop, the washbasin with a milk tea-colored cabinet, the hidden faucet and the oversized smart mirror, the details and texture are perfect, and it is too warm;

The designer’s little tricks are hidden everywhere in the space, such as to ensure that the appearance is absolutely high, to facilitate sanitation and cleaning without dead corners and use, and of course, the designer’s usual squeezing of space, liberating the space, making our activity space more flexible

The suite is equipped with a cloakroom. After the designer’s “space replacement technique”, sunlight can be seen everywhere in the master bedroom. After passing the bathroom area, we come to the space that understands girls the most - the cloakroom.

The bedroom space was originally small, but it has a unique innate condition, that is, sunlight; Louis Kahn once said (in architecture, only places with natural light can be called space), when light and shadow have shapes, space also has a three-dimensional sense;

The mottled light and shadow inject warmth into the space, bring us closer to nature, and enrich our life emotions; so this room was changed to the soul of the master bedroom and the cloakroom, and the balcony was included in the room. After all, the cloakroom understands the world of girls the most~

If a girl’s space for solitude is where, I am willing to put it in the cloakroom; In every busy morning, round-neck or high-neck top; skirt or pants; which necklace to wear; which bag to go out with me today...

I discovered the sense of order in life from the cloakroom~

How long did the renovation process take?

100 days.

What inspired you to create this work?

I learned that the owner had returned from studying in France, and he pursued romantic and beautiful things and loved freedom, so he chose the French white color;

What are you most satisfied with this work, and why?

The entire space is maximized, the customer’s needs are perfectly met, the diversity of public space, the circulation of bedrooms, and the diversity of storage space are maximized;

What optimization changes have been made to the floor plan, and why?

Combined with lighting and comprehensive analysis, the space division area is reorganized, the balcony is placed in the indoor space, the master bedroom and the second bedroom are replaced, the original master bedroom is changed to a leisure space, and the second bedroom with better lighting is changed to the master bedroom, avoiding the problem of having to pass through the bathroom corridor to enter the bedroom, and at the same time the public space is larger, more diverse, and more comfortable;

Looking back at this house, are there any regrets in the design?

The owner said: “Every time the property management comes to our house, they say it is the best-looking house in the entire community.” A friend said, “After seeing our house, I either want to move to another house or tear down the existing one and rebuild it.” So it was done properly and I have no regrets.

What was the biggest challenge during the entire renovation design?

The treatment of the wall and ceiling beams, the multiple choices of central equipment, and of course the limited budget.