Chen Zhichao Design transformed this home in Guangzhou by stripping away walls that felt more like barriers than rooms. The original layout was efficient but rigid, a set of compartments that left little room to breathe. The first move was simple but powerful: remove the entrance screen and open the kitchen to the foyer. Suddenly the house flowed, spaces blending like water.

At the center sits a spiral staircase. It replaced a straight run that ate up wall space and made circulation awkward. The new curve doesn’t just save square footage — it creates a sculptural anchor that shapes the entire plan. Moving up and down becomes a daily ritual, what the owners call a small ceremony woven into routine.

Light drives the atmosphere. Motorized blinds soften the southern sun into a glowing halo. At night, hidden lighting mimics a skylight so the ceiling feels alive even after dark. The pale wood and white walls shift in tone throughout the day, almost as if the house itself is breathing.

The dining area continues the theme of softness and flow. A black elliptical table echoes the spiral staircase. The kitchen island, where a door once blocked the view, now connects cooking and conversation into one shared act.

Soft Light shows how a home can be both minimal and warm. Structure becomes rhythm, light becomes material, and daily life gains space to feel a little more ceremonial.