A kitchen counter for everyone, including the cat

The homeowners, a young couple working in the semiconductor industry, enjoy a quiet, comfortable lifestyle. Their cat is an important part of the family, so its habits became a design consideration for this condo at Lentor Modern, where interior designer Xie Yu from Inmu Studio was asked to accommodate the cat in a thoughtful, integrated way and to give the couple a more generous kitchen.

Before the renovation, the apartment was compact and functional, but the kitchen had limited storage and preparation space, and little connection to the dining and living areas. A study that took up valuable floor area without being essential to the couple’s daily routine was removed, and the kitchen now extends past its original boundary into the footprint left behind.

A curved counter gives the kitchen extra worktop and storage, its rounded edge softening the transition between cooking, dining and living. Melmer sintered stone covers the worktop and backsplash, paired with wood and travertine laminates and tiles from Hafary.

A recessed opening in the counter lets the round timber dining table slide partially in. “When only two people are using the table, it can be pushed in to preserve circulation and make the apartment feel more spacious,” says Xie Yu. “When guests arrive, it can be pulled out to seat six comfortably, or up to eight during larger gatherings.”

The cat has a place in the counter too: a small round opening where it can hide, watch the household and stay close to the couple. A feeding and drinking station sits within the tiled base, which is more durable and easier to clean. “These details allow the cat’s routines to become part of the architecture instead of relying on loose pet furniture,” Xie Yu adds.

Overhead, a textured painted ceiling runs across the living and dining areas, giving a subtle tactile quality and tying the two together. Beside the kitchen sits an illuminated light box. “It is conceived as a borrowed sunset,” Xie Yu explains. “Its amber glow changes the atmosphere in the evening, making eating, cooking and relaxing feel warmer and more intimate.”

In the master bedroom, the update was kept deliberately light: textured paint on the bedhead wall gives depth and a softer finish without overwhelming the room. The existing master bathroom, the bedrooms and the overall layout were all retained.

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