Tucked away in a quiet lane in central Taipei, a popular dessert shop—often frequented by celebrities—draws long lines of eager visitors. Its founders, a devoted husband and wife, built the shop out of a shared passion. The husband, once a reserved and meticulous chef of Japanese cuisine affectionately known as Master Chen, set aside his culinary career to pursue their dream. With his lively and outgoing wife, he now channels his craftsmanship into creating delicate desserts that capture the hearts of many.

A few years ago, the couple purchased a pre-sale home. Having traveled abroad and formed many international friendships, they envisioned a home filled with the warmth and sense of belonging that define American-inspired living. Though newly built, they reconfigured the layout to align with their lifestyle by opening up the study to enlarge the communal space for gatherings with friends, designating the secondary bedroom as a flexible guestroom and walk-in closet, and reserving the master suite for themselves.

The interior design is anchored in a sense of warm, welcoming American living. Beyond the simple, classic moldings of this style, the wife, who has a background in design, chose warm tones as the unifying palette. The ceiling in pale gray enhances the already generous height, evoking an airy sense of spaciousness found abroad. Accents of vintage gray stone, patterned tiles, blush pink, deep blue, and forest green echo the duality within the homeowners themselves—playful yet refined, nostalgic yet contemporary. The result is a space that blends warmth, style, vintage character, and a touch of understated luxury.