Living in a Two-Story Haven and the Forest as Our Backyard

Hello, I am a designer who has lived abroad for a long time in various countries and returned to Korea four years ago. I got married last fall and have been enjoying a happy, newlywed life, adapting to a “settled life.” In recent years, I have lived in New York and London, and I was exhausted from the intense urban environment, so I realized how much I love nature. After returning to Korea, hiking became my favorite hobby.

Home Information

| Detached house 1530 square feet
| Minimal style

While decorating my house

| BEFORE
This house was built by my parents-in-law, who dreamed of a large family living together. Although it looks like a large mansion, the interior is a detached house that respects privacy and life. It hasn’t been completed long, so I haven’t done any separate construction. The view is also great, and I remember feeling happy when I first moved in because it was a new house.

| Regretful Points

On the other hand, there were also regretful points. The house floor was reddish mulberry-colored wooden flooring, a low saturation tone that I liked, but it felt burdensome and regretful. However, as time passed, it started to give a sophisticated feeling. It also reminded me of traditional Korean houses. Recently, I have chosen furniture and accessories that match the floor.

| Tone-on-tone and Simplicity

When decorating my house, I consider tone-on-tone to be important. I try to match everything with one color and tone but give variations in texture and material to create a space with depth. Also, because I have always had frequent moves since I was young, the idea of “not accumulating belongings” is ingrained in my mind, so it seems like my house is becoming more minimal. I am filling various places with furniture that gives a calm and comfortable feeling through tone-on-tone styling.

Explore the Space

| A restrained entrance

Shall we go inside then? Our house is a two-story detached house, and you can come up from the parking lot and entrance on the first floor through the indoor elevator. When you get off the elevator, there is a large window, allowing a lot of light to come in, and you can see the mountain behind. Although it is not a place where you stay for a long time, it is a space where you can feel calm and relaxed while looking out the window.

When you open the door and enter, you will encounter a space with a completely different atmosphere from the entrance, with warm wooden flooring.

The furniture you see as soon as you enter is a console called ‘Seotak,’ a product from the furniture brand Eastern Edition, which was given as a wedding gift by a close friend. It is a perfect storage cabinet that can be used in various ways. Also, underneath is a metal shelf, which creates a contrasting harmony and can be styled in multiple ways. Since it has a timeless design, I think it will be furniture that will be with our couple for a long time.

This lighting, which looks like it is made of hanji (Korean paper), was surprisingly purchased at a Paris concept shop. It is an item that I brought back vigorously during our honeymoon. The lighting can be separated vertically and horizontally, allowing for various arrangements. My husband often gives me mist flowers as a gift, especially since this flower made the proposal path when he proposed, so it is more meaningful!

The mirror on the opposite wall of the hallway is also a product of Eastern Edition. I consider it a work of art, and it was a friend I brought home without hesitation when I first went to the Eastern Edition showroom. I liked the design that highlights the modern yet restrained Korean beauty.

| A place for conversations, the living room

Personally, I feel that our living room space is filled with calmness and comfort. Some say it is a bit dark but enough with the accessories, textures, and lighting.

Hello, I am a designer who has lived abroad for a long time in various countries and returned to Korea four years ago. I got married last fall and have been enjoying a happy, newlywed life, adapting to a “settled life.” In recent years, I have lived in New York and London, and I was exhausted from the intense urban environment, so I realized how much I love nature. After returning to Korea, hiking became my favorite hobby.

From the beginning, my husband and I decided not to put a TV in the living room and instead create a space for rest and reading. We also looked into various bookshelves. As we imagined a wall filled with books, we decided to go for a more minimal and concise interior direction, as we wanted to empty it someday.

Thanks to the minimal and simple design and the lack of furniture, the living room has become a space for my husband and me to have many conversations. When we leave work, we lie on the sofa, chat, roll around, and spend time together.

| Fresh kitchen with a scenic view

We tried to keep the kitchen as minimal and simple as possible to preserve the view that looks like a fresh painting. We added the warmth of wooden furniture to the chicness of black and white kitchen furniture, creating a spot where the scenery stands out.

When my husband and I come home from work, we usually don’t cook and eat but spend much time at the dining table. Sitting side by side on weekends and looking at the forest while having coffee is a healing spot, so we try to keep the kitchen as clean as possible. We even put all the frequently used kitchen utensils in drawers for organization.

| Bedroom with a partition wall

Our house has only two rooms, but one was a huge bedroom. So, when decorating this place, it was essential to divide the space appropriately for different purposes.

We came up with a method of creating a partition wall. We placed a partition wall on the head of the bed, dividing one side into a bedroom and the other into a workstation. As a result, the bedroom became more comfortable, and the workstation became a place where concentration was enhanced.

We brought the TV we removed from the living room to the bedroom. Thanks to that, we can comfortably lie down and watch TV before bed. Since we usually play short videos, installing it here instead of in the living room was a good decision.

Hello, I am a designer who has lived abroad for a long time in various countries and returned to Korea four years ago. I got married last fall and have been enjoying a happy, newlywed life, adapting to a “settled life.” In recent years, I have lived in New York and London, and I was exhausted from the intense urban environment, so I realized how much I love nature. After returning to Korea, hiking became my favorite hobby.

| Comfortable Dressing Room with an Open Hanging Wardrobe

There is a bathroom behind the two middle doors in the bedroom and a dressing room in the space between them.

The dressing room had an open hanging wardrobe with no doors on three sides to make it more convenient. We requested to make the wardrobe as clean as possible with a single tone, considering the various textures and colors of the clothes. We try to hang them by color as much as possible, even though it is an open type, to make it less messy.

| Blue Energy Charging Station, Bathroom

In the bathroom, when you start your day looking at the forest, you feel like you’re being charged with good energy. It is genuinely an optimized place for ‘forest vibes.’

The bathroom is another healing spot in our house. This space is also designed with neutral colors to create a minimal yet warm mood.

“Concluding the home introduction…”

To me, a home is a sanctuary representing my taste. It holds a special meaning as I have settled down after a long time living abroad.

Thank you to all who have taken the time to look at my home. I hope you all create spaces that make your hearts comfortable.