A Minimalist Family Home Design That Doesn’t Sacrifice Fun

Designed for a growing family in Zhubei, Taiwan, this modern home maintains a clean canvas to put life and love at the forefront. The relationship between space and form becomes more important than decoration itself, relying on natural materials to provide the texture and color that makes this space interesting. The creatives at Phase 6 worked to instill this home with the perfect balance between comfort and luxury and the result seems to hit the target head-on. Fun details hide around every corner to delight the children and parents alike. If you love the natural and easygoing side of minimalism, this space is sure to spark ideas.

1 | Photographer: Black Wang

Family interaction is a central theme. This wide-open layout allows family members to feel a sense of togetherness even while enjoying different activities: play, work, cooking, entertainment, etc.

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To reduce visual clutter, some of the furniture serves dual purposes. The stylish Sibis Rosa rocking horse combines art and fun, and the innovative Tripp Trapp high chairs adjust to suit adults as well as babies.

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Both furniture and layout focus on functionality and simplicity first without sacrificing aesthetics.

4 | Photographer: Black Wang

The space to the right of the kitchen leaves plenty of open space for activities, while the colorful bookshelf prevents the area from looking underutilized. Those yellow planters are gorgeous!

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Here, audio-visual equipment hides within a slatted cabinet – the elegant marble drawers catch the eye instead.

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Kitchen and dining come together quite smoothly. Everybody can easily congregate in this well designed gathering space.

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The kitchen feels large within the context of the room, but further inspection show it is relatively compact – workspace is somewhat limited on the inner half of the island but there’s plenty of room to work on the outer edge.

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Because most of the functional kitchen tools are located on the side of the island facing outward, the parents can watch television or watch the children play while food is cooking.

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In a family home like this one, storage is a necessity rather than a luxury. The entrance features a coat locker and a long bench with drawers to make getting ready even easier.

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Check out this incredible slide! It would be easy to get kids to come down for breakfast with something like this.

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Transit between the ground floor and the next level becomes an opportunity for play.

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In addition to sliding down, children can also use the slide as a ramp for toy cars and other games.

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Bedrooms enjoy the privacy of their first story location. First, let’s peek inside the bedroom of the youngest family member.

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A comfortable blue bed rests on a low platform across from a handy desk area to the left. Striped blinds adopt stronger contrast than those in the living room for added decorative appeal.

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The desk is compact but perfectly functional, occupying free space between built-in cabinetry. Philipp Mainzer’s iconic Backenzahn stool doubles as functional artwork.

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Cute and comfortable, a folded blanket cushions a little reading spot in the corner near the cabinetry.

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The master bedroom takes a position at the top of the stairs. At the landing, a folding door serves as a sound barrier for the office between the stairs and the shelves.

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Children can look through the glass for a visual connection with a working parent without actually disturbing the parent’s productivity.

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The shelves double as a way to enhance privacy to the master bedroom on the other side.

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Another unique feature is this headboard wall – it separates the dressing area from the rest of the bedroom.

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Although there are plenty of inspiring features to acknowledge within this dressing room, the small vanity area is especially unique.

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The bathrooms are especially interesting! This one uses various colors of hexagonal tiles for an artistic and creative look that doesn’t override its minimalistic appeal.

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Do you remember this glass block wall? The stairs are on the other side.

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Each bathroom features natural wood details that fit with the rest of the home.

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Minimalist Interior Design Using White, Wood And Black With Green Plant Accents: 2 Gorgeous Examples

The minimalist aesthetic goes by the guideline of "less is more." Minimalism is a great way to reduce clutter and keep a home feeling open, clean, and modern. But there are many different ways to embrace the minimalist style, and it doesn't have to mean eschewing everything that doesn't have a very specific purpose. As you will see in these two homes, plants are one decorative element that can work very well within the minimalist framework. Plants not only lend subtle color to an otherwise neutral space, they can help to clean the air and actually make a home healthier. Take a look inside these two beautiful homes and see how greenery might work for a space in your house.

1 | Visualizer: Now Design

The first home we get to see is an apartment in Moscow that uses indoor house plants throughout the main living space. Immediately, we are treated to a Giant White Bird of Paradise looming over the large, cozy sofa.

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That Bird of Paradise acts as a stunning focal point in the open living area, drawing attention from dining, kitchen, and living spaces.

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But not all plants need to be quite so large as the one. A subtle hose plan nestled next to the television works, as well. And the main entryway does its part in the minimalist style with shoe storage and wall hooks.

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In the dining area, which spills into the kitchen, Scandinavian style chairs — specifically the Hans Wegner Wishbone Chair — add a modern style. Above the dining table, hanging planters carry through the green motif.

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We know that black kitchens are a trendy choice and a major departure from the more common white or brightly colored designs, but the results here are very subtle and sleek nonetheless.

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The minimalist aesthetic demands usefulness, and while the decorative vases on the dining table are not currently in use, they can certainly serve a purpose. The same goes for the modern matching teapot.

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In most modern homes, a work space is a necessity. This stylish ergonomic chair makes the idea of working at home that much more palatable.

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The white, minimalist desk takes its inspiration from a drafting table while the unique overhead light fixture brings a bit of artistry into the room.

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The bedroom in this home is ethereal and romantic, from its molded headboard accent to it unique bedside lamps, which are available on Amazon.

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The muted gray, white, and natural wood palette is especially soothing in the bedroom context.

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The sparkling lights that hover over the bed, in addition to those bedside lamps, are quite lovely.

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We can also get a peek of the simple, clean vanity area.

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A white marble and wood bathroom is a natural addition to this master bedroom.

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And plants have their place in this private space, as well with a living wall making a particularly eye-catching addition.

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The children’s room strays a bit from the idea of minimalism with the kids’ beds plenty decorated and whimsical sheep lights hanging overhead.

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The pretty colors and fun details are hallmarks of successful kid’s decor.

17 | Architect: Sergey Makhno Architects Visualizer: Julia Siriak

The second home is a 2 story penthouse apartment located in Kiev. The main living area features quite a few notable accessories, including unique floor lamps.

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But despite those accents, the public space of this home really lets plants take center stage.

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A wall of tropical-inspired foliage as well as large plants dotted throughout the interior make for an otherworldly feeling in the living room.

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The plants work well as accents because so many of the other pieces in the space are sleek and neutral.

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The plant wall starts to encroach on the sofa, nearly transporting visitors to the jungle from the living room.

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The unique coffee tables that nest into one another are a simple, elegant white marble.

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Even in minimalist spaces, shelving is necessary for all those interior design books.

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The dining room pendant lights in this home are particularly notable for their dip-dyed aesthetic.

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The lights pair well with the simple, black modern dining chairs.

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Moving into the kitchen, kitchen bar stools and a simple kitchen light make for an ideal place for a morning cup of coffee and a quick bite.

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The white marble countertop is staged with a decorative silver pitcher and complementary fruit bowl.

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In addition to tropical foliage, indoor herb planters are another way to add greenery to the minimalist style.

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For more inspiration from similar kitchen spaces, check out our post on marble kitchens.

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The way that oversized plants flank the windows in this penthouse is particularly luxurious.

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While a modern staircase takes you quickly to the second floor.

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In the master bedroom, foliage (mostly) moves aside for comforting yet stylish furniture and a well-organized closet.

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A single plant in the corner is enough color to unite this room’s decor with the rest of the home.

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The unique bedroom pendant light is a brushed steel design that meshes well with the modern aesthetic.

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The Husk chair by Patricia Urquiola makes for an ideal comfortable reading chair near the bedroom window.

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A black marble and wood contrast in the bathroom is almost futuristic.

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Green accent walls bring in the idea of plant life without the plants themselves.

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The kids rooms are a bit more upbeat and messy, as kids tend to be.

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A pink flamingo motif is particularly playful.

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Finally, a slate gray and white bathroom aligns perfectly with the minimalist design of this home.

If you like using plants as accents do check out: Designer Transforms Space With Indoor Plants

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Winter House

Based on the Casa Codina house by A4 Estudio, the Winter House visualized by Black Haus is depicted in a perfect snow covered dream. The landscape was designed to create maximum contrast between the icy outdoors and the warmth of the lit interior. With the cognitive sensation of tingling noses and fingertips ignited, as our eyes reached the warm light box of color amidst the bleak landscape, we'd say they achieved their objective. The actual Casa Codina house is situated in the city of Mendoza, Argentina, where the inhabitants enjoy a typically continental climate. In fact, the Latin American house was designed to utilize good weather conditions for a greener way of living. The courtyard that forms the centre of the structure was designed for environmental benefits in the interior spaces of the house that surround the garden perimeter. With all of this in mind, placing a home of this style onto a stark snowy landscape somehow just works. Imagine turning those lights down low, warming your hands around a mug of cocoa and watching the snow fall… bliss.

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An Incredible Interior Courtyard Shielded By Optical Glass Bricks

Built around a carefully tended courtyard, this home enjoys the privacy of a glass wall for a dazzling sense of semi-transparency. Designed by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, and located in downtown Hiroshima, its structure surrounding structure serves as an ethereal mirage between it and the tall buildings that surround – a breath of fresh air in the midst of the city. Residents can observe the urban bustle from within the silent interior, separated but connected with the life that surrounds. The glass features are so expansive and weighty that only steel bolts could sustain the outer structure.

1 | Architect: Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP

The home occupies a 224 square meter plot with tall buildings on either side. The contrast of the two types of construction is almost startling – the lightness of the brick glass facade stands out from the weight and bulk that surrounds.

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Skillfully cast optical glass is so transparent that it’s possible to see the interior courtyard trees through the dappled surface of the bricks.

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Inside, sliding glass doors allow each room to have intimate contact with the sculpted courtyard landscaping.

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Glass walls continue inside the building, creating division between functional spaces without hindering the natural lighting.

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Despite all the glass, the interior is surprisingly dark due to the abundance of matte black surfaces. Dappled sunlight enhances the atmospheric appeal without any unpleasant gleaming.

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Residents can shelter in the shade of the trees while taking a swim in the courtyard pool, never having to worry about curious neighbors.

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Lacking direct sunlight, the interior is a cool refuge on a hot summer day.

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These gorgeous sunset views demonstrate how the home changes throughout the day. The glass blocks change the light as filters through, creating different effects depending on the angle of the lighting.

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Looking out from the dining room, it’s hard to tell where the living space ends and the courtyard begins.

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While most of the home is decorated with a modern and minimalistic style, the dining room uses wood details for a softer and more traditional look.

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But the wood isn’t just an aesthetic addition – its uneven boards and knotty texture helps hide expansive storage cabinets.

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Rather than looking out to a view of tall buildings, these bedrooms get to enjoy the look of treetops juxtaposed against the orderly glass bricks.

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Not every room faces out toward the glass blocks. These tall courtyard walls allow privacy in the bathroom despite its full wall of windows. The tub and power are elevated for a better view.

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Walking along the glass wall provides fractured glimmers of the outside world from within the groomed garden.

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Sunlight fractures as it passes through the glass blocks like raindrops.

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The glass blocks exert incredible influence over the quality of light as it breaches the icy surface – cool, fluid, and dynamic.

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Each block is unique. The interior perforations accommodate steel supports. Otherwise, the glass would have been too heavy to support itself.

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With such attention to detail, it’s no wonder that each interior view provides such an inspiring image.

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