Can a modern Chinese-inspired home feel light, calm and easy to live in? Before renovating, Joy worried that the style might feel too heavy or old-fashioned. Her home offers a different answer: warm wood finishes, fine decorative lines, gentle curves and concealed doors, brought together without elaborate ornamentation.
The result is a home whose character comes from its proportions, practical details and the way each space supports everyday routines.
A welcoming entrance in approximately 1.5 metres
The entryway is only about 1.5 metres wide, so every element has a purpose. A full row of shoe cabinets provides storage along one side, while the opposite wall becomes a composed view to come home to.
A peony painting sits above a natural-wood console, framed by wood panelling and black detailing. The arrangement introduces the home's Chinese-inspired aesthetic with a few carefully chosen elements, creating a quiet transition from the world outside.
An L-shaped feature wall with two concealed doors
In the living room, natural wood tones and black linear details form an L-shaped backdrop. The composition helps balance the proportions of the high-ceilinged space while integrating two bedroom doors into the wall.
When closed, the doors blend into the surrounding finish. This continuous surface keeps the room visually uncluttered and lets the wood tones, furnishings and personal objects take focus.
A main bedroom that makes room for daily life
The main bedroom, originally a space of 20-plus square metres, now accommodates a sitting area, a study, a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom. Each area has a clear function within the overall layout.
Details such as a transparent handbag display cabinet, trouser racks and a concealed study area make the storage personal and practical. Rather than treating the wardrobe as a single storage box, the design considers the different items Joy uses and the routines around them.
Soft curves and restrained detailing
Curves and fine decorative lines soften the interior without adding visual weight. Together with the warm wood finishes, they give the rooms a quieter expression of modern Chinese style.
This is the central idea running through the home: a strong design identity can come from a small number of consistent details, supported by storage and layouts that work for the people living there.
A home that fits its owner
Joy's reflection on the renovation is simple: every detail should suit the way you live. From the entrance storage to the concealed doors and wardrobe organisation, the appeal of this home lies as much in its everyday usefulness as in its appearance.
Watch the home tour
Explore the completed spaces in the original project video below.
Watch the original vertical home tour on YouTube.
Plan cabinetry around your routines
Thinking about your own home? Explore Meerkat Home's custom cabinetry, or send your floor plan to our team on WhatsApp to discuss your storage needs and design priorities.
