The Mermaid's: A Timeless and Serene Home Gallery

An Elegant and Ambiguous Sanctuary Inspired by a Little Mermaid

Designed by Marty Chou, The Mermaid's is a unique and captivating home gallery that embraces the owner's vision. The inspiration for this design came from a new collection - a little mermaid. The serene quality of this character caught the designer's attention, and the entire space evolved around her. The mermaid became the focal point, the anchor of the space, setting the tone for the ambiance and inspiring the semi-monochrome palette.

The Mermaid's stands out from other designs with its use of classical molding as a design tool rather than mere decoration. The vertical stretching quality of the molding creates an illusion of height, making the space appear larger than it actually is. Additionally, it cleverly conceals doors and storage cabinets, unifying and simplifying the visual elements, and instilling a sense of serenity and calmness.

Spanning 90 square meters, The Mermaid's is a testament to the successful incorporation of the owner's collections as the main concept and inspiration for the space. Marty Chou transformed the entire space into a gallery, showcasing the owner's taste and creating an optimal airy atmosphere. Daily functions and storage are discreetly hidden away, allowing the eyes to focus on the essentials.

The furniture selection in The Mermaid's emphasizes the contrast between straight and curved lines, thick and thin elements, and light and heavy pieces. Each furniture item is displayed as a sculptural piece, contributing to the overall artistic ambiance. The mermaid's influence can be seen throughout the space, from the choice of materials to the fabrics and colors used.

The project, which took place in Taiwan from July 2017 to June 2018, presented several challenges. The main challenge was finding a balance between practicality and fantasy, decorative and minimal elements, and classical and modern aesthetics. Marty Chou successfully overcame these challenges, resulting in a harmonious and captivating design.

The Mermaid's is not only a visually stunning space but also a winner of the prestigious A' Design Award. In 2020, it was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category. This award recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. The Mermaid's is respected for integrating industry best practices and competent technical characteristics, providing fulfillment and positive feelings, and contributing to a better world.

Photo Credit: Kyle Yu Photo Studio