Warm neutral tones dominate Zhu-Mi Interior Design's Cat Waltz Residence, establishing a serene chromatic foundation across an expansive open-plan living environment where soft beige, cream, and pale

Zhu-Mi Interior Design's Cat Waltz Residence achieves a sophisticated spatial composition through masterful deployment of curved architectural elements and nuanced tonal orchestration, where a sweepin

Zhu-Mi Interior Design's Cat Waltz Residence presents a meticulously orchestrated interior composition governed by a sophisticated chromatic restraint, where the palette unfolds through nuanced gradat

Pale ash-toned wood cabinetry anchors the left vertical zone, its linear grain pattern creating subtle striations that establish an organic rhythmic counterpoint to the pristine white modular cat infr

Iron Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026

Cat Waltz Residence

by Ting-Ying Ho

A' Design Award 2026 Iron Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Awarded April 15, 2026
CLIENT: Zhu-Mi Interior Design
Estimated Number of Design Views: 4,263
Verification code CD4DF4E454 · Verify this award

View at A' Design Award

Get a Badge

About Cat Waltz Residence

Cat Waltz is a residential interior design for a 99.1 square meter apartment shared by a couple and their cat. The original two plus one bedroom layout was reworked into two bedrooms, freeing one room as an open cat playroom linked to the master bedroom by an arched passage with a safety hatch. Curves shape the home, and a large structural beam is absorbed into a folded television wall. A butter yellow entry uses patterned tiles made from laminate flooring to meet building codes. Non-toxic coatings and low-formaldehyde carpentry support a healthy interior.

Cat Waltz Residence by Zhu-Mi Interior Design presents a thoughtfully composed interior environment that demonstrates contemporary residential design's capacity to merge aesthetic refinement with genuine livability, situating the work within evolving conversations around domestic space that privilege openness, material restraint, and human-centered comfort over overt display or maximalist accumulation, the design engaging with minimalist principles while carefully avoiding the clinical coldness sometimes associated with reductive approaches, instead infusing the space with warmth through a sophisticated neutral palette that ranges from soft cream through warm beige to pale taupe, punctuated by the organic presence of medium-toned wood surfaces that introduce natural materiality and tactile variety into the chromatic field, the compositional achievement evident in the designer's skillful orchestration of spatial flow across an open-plan environment where discrete functional zones for lounging, media consumption, and dining coexist without rigid partition, connected through careful furniture arrangement, shared material vocabulary, and the unifying presence of the curving architectural soffit overhead that creates visual continuity while articulating spatial rhythm, the technical accomplishment particularly notable in the integration of ambient and accent lighting that models the space without dramatic contrast, the recessed ceiling fixtures providing general illumination while the sculptural ribbed floor lamp at left introduces formal punctuation and localized glow, the design's formal sophistication further revealed through attention to proportion and scale, with furniture selections calibrated to human dimensions that invite use while maintaining visual lightness through slender profiles, elevated bases, and the strategic use of negative space around and between elements, the thematic content suggesting an exploration of contemporary domesticity that values tranquility, visual coherence, and flexible spatial use, the environment appearing to celebrate the possibility of serene daily living within urban or suburban contexts where space may be constrained, responding through efficient planning and aesthetic discipline rather than through expansive square footage alone, the design potentially referencing Scandinavian spatial traditions that emphasize natural light, material honesty, and restrained color alongside Japanese design principles of ma or meaningful void, while the organic curved elements in both furniture forms and architectural detailing may evoke mid-century modernism's fusion of geometric clarity with biomorphic softness, the work inviting viewers to consider how residential environments might balance aesthetic intention with genuine comfort, how restraint in color and form can generate calm rather than austerity, and how the thoughtful composition of everyday domestic space contributes to well-being and provides a restorative counterpoint to the visual complexity and stimulation encountered beyond the threshold, what qualities of light, material, and spatial organization transform a dwelling into a sanctuary, and how design choices at the scale of surface, color, and furniture might shape the textures of daily life and the atmospheres within which we rest, gather, and renew ourselves.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: The home's highlight is a 'secret cat passage,' where a removed room makes way for feline activity, with an arched doorway leading to the master bedroom and an extra hatch for safety. Curves define the design: a structural beam is softened into a fondant-like TV wall, while a butter-yellow entry with patterned tiles and playful art creates instant cheer. A circular skylight anchors family meals, and nightstands double as Bluetooth speakers with wireless charging. A transparent cabinet for Feng Shui adds balance. Flowing like a waltz, the residence is shaped by curves and circles.
Dimensions & Packaging: The home measures 99.1 square meters. Originally configured as a 2 plus 1 bedroom, the layout was reworked into two bedrooms. One small room was removed to create an open cat playroom, which is linked to the master bedroom via a secret passage. The social area employs arcs to soften beams, while the open-plan living and dining areas share unobstructed views, establishing the communal zone as the core of family life. Bedrooms were enhanced with a daybed and sliding mirrored cabinets, combining Feng Shui considerations with additional storage.
Tags: Pet-Friendly Home, Curved Design, Light Tone, Non-Toxic Paints, Creamy Playful Style, Integrated Storage
Production Technology: The palette centers on soft cream, accented by butter yellow and bright dining chairs reflecting the wife's playful taste. PP board veneers the TV wall, concealed doors, and cat tunnel wall, chosen for its non-toxic, easy-to-clean quality. Wood-grain cabinetry in matching tones adds harmony, while specialty coatings and low-formaldehyde carpentry ensure a healthy environment. The entry's lively patterned tiles, though crafted from laminate flooring to meet accessibility codes, balance practicality with charm.
Design Challenge: The greatest challenge came from the large structural beam. Traditional rectangular cabinetry would have emphasized its bulk and awkwardness. Instead, the designer dissolved the beam into the flowing television wall with curved folds, allowing light to cascade naturally along its arcs and easing its visual impact. A further challenge arose from the community's building code, which prohibited removing the entryway threshold tile. The solution was to substitute patterned tiles crafted from laminate flooring, overcoming construction restrictions while achieving refined aesthetics.
Project Duration: The project finished in February 2024 in Taiwan.
Operation Flow: After moving in, the couple often hosted friends, and the home was praised as a 'dream-like influencer residence.' Guests immediately sensed the freshness of non-toxic coatings and the luminous play of light and color. The vivid yet balanced palette left a strong impression, while the cat's passage and playroom gave it free rein as the star of the space. The owners' greatest joy came from friends' praise: 'This home is so comfortable, and it tells a story.' The project unites aesthetics with safe, joyful, pet-friendly living.
Research: Located in Guishan, Taoyuan, this project takes inspiration from the flowing rhythm of a waltz, using curves to integrate structure, circulation, and atmosphere. Life unfolds like music: the cat slipping through its arched passage, the couple sharing meals at a round table. The 2 plus 1 layout was reconfigured into two bedrooms, freeing one as a cat play area with a hidden link to the master bedroom. A large beam became a soft focal point in the curved TV wall, while playful butter-yellow walls, patterned tiles, a circular skylight, and tech-integrated nightstands enrich daily living.
Inspiration: The 99.1 square meters apartment in Guishan, Taoyuan, is home to a couple and their cat. The wife favors creamy hues and a touch of playful whimsy, while the husband gravitates toward gaming-inspired, clean-lined atmospheres. The designer interwove these preferences into a soft, rounded, and flowing domestic melody. The project's name derives from its imagery: like a waltz, curvilinear design allows people and pets to move fluidly throughout the home, where daily rhythms shift with the interactions between humans and animals.
Image Credits: Zhu-Mi Interior Design