Hsu Hsin Yu Explores the Emotional Power of Interior Spaces

In my childhood, there wasn’t really a place I could call “home”. No fixed place to stay, and no place where I truly belonged. Up until I started my own interior design business, and even now, every step along the way has helped me deeply understand that great design is the magic that turns a house into a home because it brings a strong sense of belonging rather than just being a physical space.

I discovered my passion for interior design while creating my own space. I also love seeing how I can help people complete their life stories and fulfil their dreams through my designs. This is what has brought me to where I am today.

For me, receiving recognition from the interior design industry for a profession I truly love not only affirms my design vision for the future but also marks a significant milestone in my ten-year journey. As I continue my practice, I will stay true to my original intention: helping clients bring their ideal homes to life.

Having established a clear direction for myself and my team, we will focus even more on the creative development of our work moving forward.

When it comes to experimental design and material applications, I’m often the initiator—eagerly sharing my ideas with the construction team. In one project, I envisioned a semi-height TV wall that would be slim, distinctive, and serve as a visual focal point of the space.

I brought this idea to life using curved panels combined with grille slats, creating a design that appeared simple at first glance but was rich in detail. The result not only enhanced the living room’s presence but also exceeded the client’s expectations.

I once drew design inspiration from a dream. In the dream, I walked into a house and entered a hallway with symmetrically placed windows on both sides. At the far end of the corridor was a door, and in the middle stood a gracefully curved screen—its height and width shifting as I moved. Suddenly, the space began to distort; everything started to morph in rhythm—doors, windows, screens, and floors transformed collectively into ovals, squares, and circles.

It felt as though the space was demonstrating its versatility, evoking a range of emotions. That dream later inspired me to incorporate square elements into the design of a client’s home.

From design to execution, countless details need to be addressed and refined. I hope more people understand that in this process, even the smallest adjustment—a colour block, a proportion, or a single line—can have a ripple effect on the entire space.

When a client’s expectations go beyond the original design style, I often take a step back with them to revisit the initial proposal and design concept—clearly explaining the intent, the depth behind the colour palette, and the overall harmony of the furnishings and décor. While the design process should be free of boundaries, the execution must respect certain frameworks.

From my experience, the most successful collaborations happen when the client defines the overall style direction—particularly in terms of lifestyle and living habits—while I take the lead on the design, materials, colour scheme, furniture, and styling. That, to me, is the best kind of partnership.

The residents had differing preferences when it came to colours. We addressed this by establishing a unifying tone in the shared spaces, then extending that design language into the private areas. We carefully selected shades from the residents’ preferred colour palettes that also echoed the tone of the public zones—achieving both their satisfaction and a cohesive final result.

In tackling the challenge of a long and narrow layout, optimising natural light—an issue nearly all designers face—was crucial. To overcome the spatial limitations of the original structure, we removed all existing walls and completely restructured the interior. By preserving the natural light from both ends of the unit and incorporating transparent glass materials, we created an open, airy visual flow that allows light to filter into every area of the home.

I reconnect with the energy of life through nature’s ecosystems, and discover the richness of different cultures through my travels. Moments of inspiration and creativity often emerge from everyday life and the world around us.

Most people may only have a few chances to renovate their homes in a lifetime. With the spirit of ichi-go ichi-e — treasuring each unique encounter — we aim to reflect each resident’s needs in the space, allowing them to experience happiness in everyday living. For a family, the home becomes a place where connections are woven between members; for an individual, it becomes a space for inner belonging and emotional healing.

This industry requires time and experience to grow. Continuous learning is an inherent part of the profession, but the one constant is staying focused and dedicated to doing every project well.

Piero Lissoni and Chuan-Yung Kuan (關傳雍) — one a master of minimalism, the other a symbol of elegance and comfort. Both express detail through simplicity, highlight personal character in design, and create elegance and comfort through spatial framing.

This perfectly aligns with my vision of what a home should be. If given the opportunity to observe or participate in the full design and execution process with these two masters, it would be invaluable nourishment for my practice and a rare experience in my life.

I wish more people would ask me what my company’s name means. “Ruo Yin” (meaning “Subtle Presence”) represents the flow of air between windows, the movement of light and shadow under the sun, and the practice of visual subtraction within a space. It also reflects the intentional use of negative space in circulation paths, the emphasis on focal points in key views, and the expression of harmonious resonance in details.

These principles form the core of my design philosophy. By holding firmly to this core, I ensure that each project — regardless of its distinct style — carries a unified and consistent spirit.