The homeowner, who comes from Shanghai, is a corporate legal counsel. She lives with her family in a four-story mansion covering an area of nearly 1,000 square meters. The circulation logic within the indoor space is orderly, and it exudes a low-key yet luxurious elegance.

The Design Journey of SOP
Push open the main entrance door. On the left side of the entrance hall, the shoe and hat cabinet in a trapezoidal shape is recessed into the wall. A round table and a low cabinet are placed against the wall, ready to provide storage for the owner's every departure and return, ensuring that every coming and going is in an orderly manner. Two double-colored doors with distinct black and white colors strengthen the boundary between the indoor and outdoor areas, separating the entrance hall from the interior space and creating a sense of ritual upon returning home. The ceiling with a checkered pattern and the mosaic floor with black and white parquet echo each other from above and below, opening the prelude to the story of the home. Following the circulation route forward, one can directly enter the living room and the garden.

Before the new home was completed, when talking about "home" in the sense of a dwelling place, I regarded it more as a purely physical space. In my opinion, the beauty and form of a dwelling place mainly correspond to material enjoyment and a one-way expression of aesthetics. The beginning of the story is really interesting. The homeowner, a high-level "J" type personality (in the MBTI personality system), took out a lawyer's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to kick off the design and construction process. She was clear-headed and methodical. It took us nearly two months just to reach an agreement on the design contract.

After the homeowner had been observing, thinking, and even conducting research for several months, the process of bringing this residence from scratch finally became clear after detailed exchanges with our designers. From the initial conception to the final completion, it took more than two years in total. The homeowner's family officially moved into their new home last autumn.

The chandelier is from Flos, the sofa is from Cassina, the wool chair is from &tradition, the small glass side table is from the Italian brand Glas, and the coffee table is from Gubi. The hanging paintings on both sides of the fireplace are traditional Chinese paintings by the artist Wen Yi, namely *Infinite Spring Breeze* and *The String Puppet Show*. The display of the soft furnishings is not overly contrived. In the midst of a peaceful atmosphere, it is enough to catch a glimpse of the leisurely lifestyle conveyed. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow the light to flow unimpeded indoors, bringing the beautiful scenery of the garden into the room. The sheer, semi-transparent curtains can protect the privacy of the interior. When the curtains are drawn, the home can become an introverted universe that is detached from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Boundaries, yet remains open
The living room, dining room, study and garden each have their own boundaries, yet they are combined in an open and smooth manner. Our designers have spared no effort in creating a circular circulation route and have skillfully handled the visual relationships in various parts of the space, ensuring that every detail can stand up to scrutiny and that the transitions and connections are thought-provoking.
Both the dining table and dining chairs are from Baxter, the chandelier is from Gubi, and the hanging paintings are traditional Chinese paintings *Visiting the Garden* and *The Moonlight over Xiaoxiang* by the artist Wen Yi. The hidden sliding doors that can be opened and closed enable the study to transform into an independent space. The round curved door frame softens the visual boundaries of the space when the study is open, bringing an elegant and harmonious aesthetic feeling.
The chandelier is from Flos, the floor lamp and the chair are both from Gubi, and the desk is from the Androgyne series of the Danish brand Menu. The walnut bookshelves covering the entire wall showcase the unique natural simplicity and warmth of the wood. The inborn elegance makes the study a container with extended perception. Every immersive reading session and meditation is a journey back to the inner self.

The Field, with a Unique Vitality
The basement simplifies the complex elements. The tones of misty blue, creamy white and brownish black endow the space with a low-key and luxurious keynote. Then, through the ingenious introduction of light and shadow elements, the basement radiates a unique vitality.

The spatial order between the ceiling and the vertical surfaces enriches the visual continuity. The dotted lights on the ceiling and the ceiling design with a series of connected elements add layers and a sense of rhythm to the space, creating an open visual effect similar to that of a starry night sky. The shutters of the artificial natural light installation art, as they alternate between light and shadow, allow people to easily appreciate the rhythmic beauty that resembles a repeated melody.
The original lighting conditions in the space below the ground level were not ideal. It was dim and damp. Now, it has been transformed into a transparent, bright and light state. Our designers chose a design that combines steel plates and solid wood, giving the spiral staircase a beauty that integrates both strength and softness. This staircase not only connects different floors, but the winding upward lines create a solemn, elegant and fluid atmosphere, making it a highly functional "artwork" in the space.
The dome design above the dining room features smooth curved slopes that combine a sense of romance and power. The dining table is from HC28, the dining chairs are from Recci, the chandelier is from the Danish brand Normann Phantom, and the vases and fruit plates are from the Danish brand Georg Jensen. The final effect of the basement is satisfying. The homeowner recalled being very surprised and delighted when seeing the initial renderings: "Teacher Zhang Xiao designed the layout of each important space centered around the light sources of the two patios. At the same time, within the constraints of the existing house structure, he skillfully incorporated all the elements we like. Who would have thought that the originally dim basement could also have sunlight, green plants, and a gushing spring?"
Push open the French double doors made of water-patterned glass. The wall surface with a partial haze blue color, along with the gentle tones and lines, creates a more relaxed, serene, beautiful and romantic resting scene in the master bedroom. The custom-made curtains, woven with golden silk threads and interlaced with three-dimensional tassels, are designed to be 8 centimeters longer to touch the floor in the French style, as elegant and gorgeous as a swaying skirt. The round shape of the Vistosi chandelier distills the gentle temperament in the space, showcasing the leisureliness of this resting place.
The details of the children's room are full of love and childlike fun. The little fish swimming on the half-wall wallpaper seem to be telling the secrets of the deep sea, while the wavy bedside pillow depicts the scene of waves crashing against the shore.

The fabric Roman blinds are adorned with black edging and tassel chains. The excellent lighting and ventilation accentuate the details of daily life. The fresh and cool texture of the Bulgari marble, combined with the warm and rustic quality of the solid wood, jointly create the natural texture of the bathroom.

The tea-colored glass partitions separate the wet and dry areas. The shower room, composed of black marble and Calacatta marble, forms a color scheme of black and white. The shower room is relatively cooler in tone compared to the dry area. The transparent water-patterned glass door not only divides the space between the master bedroom and the bathroom but also allows natural light to enter, making the lighting in the master bedroom more transparent and bright.