Sunday by the Sea
Sunlight pours in generously. The waves gently lap against the shimmering beach. A leisurely seaside holiday begins the moment the breeze touches your face. This is the beautiful scene MUJIE Design Studio envisioned when discussing this vacation space.
This home, situated in the Kaohsiung Asia New Bay Area with a commanding view of the sea, serves as a weekend retreat for the owner to relax and gather with friends. As a result, the usual constraints of daily life were not a design concern. Instead, the freedom to break away from conventional thinking was embraced, allowing for a relaxed and easygoing space.
The large windows facing the sea welcome the stunning harbor views and the bright, clear light. The public areas are also open and unrestrained, with the living and dining rooms flowing seamlessly into each other. Even the transition from the public areas to the master bedroom, and from the master bedroom to the seaside bathroom, is merely marked by transparent glass doors, allowing light and views to pass through unobstructed.
The designer made extensive use of beige sand-colored special coatings throughout the space. Upon closer inspection, the coatings lack complex textures, yet their fine, understated quality and warm tones gently form the foundation for a comfortable living environment.
The cohesive space and consistent color palette create a continuous flow, so whether looking from the living room to the master bedroom or vice versa, the expansive, boundless feel of the beach and open sky is ever-present. This imagery permeates the entire home, with the gray TV console and stone-patterned kitchen island standing like silent rocks on a beach. The seascape outside the window seems to merge with the indoor “beach,” as if, by leaning in, you might hear the sound of the waves rushing in.
While no waves are crashing, the eye catches a glimpse of water inside the home. The designer selected a glossy glass wall lamp for the homeowner; when placed in the foyer, it becomes a clear pool on this endless beach, echoing the sea outside. When lit, its warm, even glow spreads like ripples, welcoming visitors and reminding them that this is a Sunday beach retreat.
The designer and homeowner share a mutual understanding that home lighting should prioritize relaxation, not excessive brightness. Therefore, the interior lighting is minimal, allowing the homeowner to adjust the indirect or supplementary lighting according to their mood, enabling the light to resonate harmoniously within the space.
The choice of simple, minimalist furnishings also brings a sense of freedom. There are no sofas or hanging paintings cluttering the interior, leaving room for both the inhabitants and the environment to maintain a relaxed and open feel. The living room thus transforms into a play area for children during gatherings or a quiet spot for the owner to enjoy the sunset alone from a single chair. And who knows, the currently empty walls might one day display a favorite painting discovered at a gallery. After all, the weekend beach always holds the promise of delightful surprises.
