Craft Edit – At Home with Yimin, Interior Designer of Icon Interior - Craft Axis

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Craft Edit – At Home with Yimin, Interior Designer of Icon Interior

We step inside the personal sanctuary of Yimin, an Interior Designer at Icon Interior. After years of composing spaces for others, she has turned her expert eye inward, crafting a home that serves as a masterclass in quiet luxury and light-mediated atmosphere. We sat down with her to discuss how she balanced dark, moody accents with the ethereal glow of her window dressings to create a home that breathes.

Q1: You’ve designed countless spaces for others, but for your own home, what was the one ‘feeling’ you refused to compromise on?

I wanted my home to feel calm and a place for slowing down and reflection after a busy day. A quiet interior built from dark accents, gentle shadows and light. The warm dusted palette of curated materials, from the dark wood floors, limewash walls, warm oak carpentry and plush finishings, interact with the well-placed accent lighting and natural light in the home to create an atmosphere of restrained and understated elegance.

Q2: Every designer has a sanctuary. Which part of your home do you find yourself drawn to the most, and why?

I’m most drawn to the living and dining area. I wanted it to feel as open and welcoming as possible. A space defined by soft neutral tones create a sense of calm and continuity, from the warm woods and paper lantern pendant to the soft neutral-coloured blinds.

Q3: Light completely changes the mood of a room. How did you select your window dressings to balance soft natural glow with privacy?

In the living space, I chose blinds that gently filter harsh sunlight into a soft ambient glow while maintaining daytime privacy. For the bedroom and study, I layered sheer day curtains with darker blackout curtains. Daylight curtains provide a more diffused light into the space and create an open, airy, and elegant aesthetic. The darker, moody blackout curtains match the tones of the house, adding privacy at night and total control over the light.

Q4: What is one ‘foundational’ detail that instantly elevates a home from standard to premium?

I feel designing intentional spaces that emphasize clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and a seamless integration of form and function help to elevate a home. Craftsmanship, attention to detail, and allowing the space and light for the beauty of materials to shine is vital in creating a comfortable and visually appealing environment.

Q5: Texture vs. Color — why is the tactile side of a home so vital to a luxury finish?

Texture and light control are defining interior traits. Translucent daylight curtains function as filters, transforming direct daylight into diffused illumination that shifts throughout the day. While blackout curtains introduce warmth and softness, they also provide more control. The curtains become tools to mediate between exterior light and interior atmosphere—an essential consideration when creating a home.

This home reminds us that true luxury isn't about the loudest colour or the boldest pattern; it’s about the quiet confidence of a well-placed shadow and the soft touch of a linen drape. Explore the textures used in this project at our studio, and discover how to mediate the light in your own sanctuary.

Explore the textures used in this project at our studio, and discover how to mediate the light in your own sanctuary.