“Interior design, much like art, knows no right or wrong—there is only resonance and preference. I compose each space through the homeowner’s unique narrative, crafting a home that seamlessly continues their life story.”
— Lin Feng-An, Design Director
Star Leaf Design
Transitioning from fine arts to interior design, Lin Feng-An—who once painted bold, abstract oils across canvases—simply shifted his creative medium. His mission remains singular: to craft homes infused with narrative. “Art is fluidly alive, and so is design!” Mastering the subtle art of proportion without forcing artificial symmetry, he creates spaces that mirror their owners—where the home and its residents breathe in harmony, cultivating an effortless and liberating lifestyle.
Image / The design density and artistic depth of Star Leaf Design’s work are simply stunning.
Blending Mixed Materials: A Light Luxury Style Uniting Functionality and Aesthetics
Light, shadows, ironwork, natural stone, wood veneers, and glass—applied in distinct proportions—form the cornerstone of Lin Feng-An’s mastery in mixed-material integration. Yet, no matter the combination, his creative origin always springs from the homeowner’s unique persona and temperament. Translating their past living habits into an ongoing narrative within the home defines its organic vitality; as a reflection of its owner and their ideal self, the residence evolves daily rather than remaining a framed, static piece of art.
Lin Feng-An speaks with a soft, gentle voice, yet his brisk pace reveals a fast-moving mind. When discussing his projects, he talks like an old friend reminiscing—warmly, with endless facets to share. For a 20th-floor residence in New Taipei City designed for two brothers—one expressive and outgoing, the other introverted and calm—how to embody a harmonious balance of strength and subtlety became his opening stroke in unraveling their story.
Image / Soft decor paired with a sleek monochromatic color scheme to express sophisticated taste and living aesthetics.
Anchored by a monochromatic palette of black, gray, and white, he manifests a crisp, modern urban aesthetic tailored for young male living. “The foyer plays a pivotal role in psychological transition—after a long day of work, stepping into the entryway allows you to shed your armor and transition into a sanctuary of relaxation—this is truly essential to me.” Honoring the homeowners’ wish for a soothing buffer zone, he applied the duality of solid and void: combining sleek black ironwork with warm wood veneers, paired with frosted fluted glass and marble countertops. This creates a subtle, semi-translucent visual effect that functions as a refined screen while elevating spatial aesthetics.
“Design does not demand rigid symmetry; as long as proportion is mastered, why force symmetry?” Design is fluidly dynamic, much like art. Lin Feng-An believes in immersing himself in the client’s unique character and preferences during the collaboration. By taking these personal attributes alongside the architectural merits of the space as raw material, he infuses the residents’ favored tones and style—amplifying the home's natural assets while beautifully reframing its flaws—to gradually curate their dream home.
Mastering Solid and Void: Weaving Persona and Temperament into Space
Image / Entryway wall and flooring in luxury stone "BELATRIX"—exuding grand hospitality and refined style.
Recalling another riverside residence, Lin Feng-An smiles as he shares that this project likely features the greatest variety of natural stone in his career. “The homeowner is profoundly passionate about stone. However, overusing it can easily overwhelm the space and lead to visual clutter. The key was fulfilling the client’s passion while maintaining effortless harmony across the residence.”
The project possessed an enviable natural advantage: abundant riverside sunlight served as the ultimate natural stage light for the client’s beloved stones. Amplifying this feature, Lin Feng-An connected the outdoor terrace with the interior to draw in natural light, allowing the stones’ intricate textures and mineral veins to transform magically with the shifting sun, offering a breathtaking scene with every step.
Entering through the foyer, titanium plating, black ironwork, and "BELATRIX" quartzite—exuding the grand, poetic presence of Northern Song Dynasty landscape paintings—establish a chic, contemporary luxury aesthetic. The stone flows seamlessly from walls to flooring; applying the artistic concept of solid and void, ironwork flanks the stone on either side, while semi-translucent smoked glass partially unveils the living room beyond. This design allows the two zones to converse freely while offering a tranquil emotional buffer.
Yielding to the male homeowner’s instant fascination with "Labradorite Blue", a slab he fell in love with at first sight and wished to collect, Lin Feng-An contemplated where to position this late-arriving yet dazzling gem. With wall spaces already fully orchestrated, the challenge was integrating it organically into the existing design while ensuring its radiant beauty remained in constant view. Ultimately, the stone found its ideal stage in the living room: embedded within timber flooring and framed by metallic inlay to serve as a regal "stone rug." Whether enjoying tea, conversation, or the river view, this painted masterpiece of nature bathes in daytime sunshine and evening glows—morphing by the minute like a captivating, ever-changing diva on stage, offering timeless companionship that never fades.
Image / Featuring "Labradorite Blue" laid like a natural stone rug within the living area.
Discussing his approach to natural stone, Lin Feng-An shares, “Usually, I visit the stone yard first to curate a preliminary selection before inviting the client to join me.” Through on-site discussions with the actual slabs, they discover stone materials that the homeowner both genuinely loves and approves. Yet, once the ideal slab is selected, knowing how to execute its application becomes the true mark of expertise.
Take the Labradorite Blue slab anchoring the living room floor: conventional construction methods would typically cut such a large slab into four to six smaller tiles. “However, doing so severely diminishes the inherent value of this extraordinary marble.” Lin Feng-An chose instead to mobilize additional master craftsmen, insisting on a single seam: “To preserve its magnificent pattern, we only bisected the slab into two pieces—a decision that demanded significantly more precision manpower and specialized coordination on site.”
Image / The TV wall features "Vitoria Blue" stone, cleverly articulated to highlight diverse material textures.
Lin Feng-An speaks in his characteristic gentle voice, yet with unwavering conviction: “This was my own requirement. The homeowner might not fully grasp the intricate process and stubborn dedication behind the craftsmanship.” Won't stone restoration seamlessly conceal seams anyway? True—yet for a design artist, preserving the integrity and value of the stone as much as possible is the ultimate mark of respect for this gift from nature.
As the interview draws to a close, reflecting on his twenty-year design journey, he offers a poetic metaphor: “A song with a story never grows old; it transcends trends, evoking vivid imagery the moment its melody begins. Only such music becomes truly timeless.” Much like a classic song, Lin Feng-An believes that by fusing the homeowner’s narrative into interior design through a designer’s creative vision, a space transforms into an art piece—warm, soulful, and uniquely communicative. Navigating the post-pandemic era after over two years of global changes, he senses shifting lifestyles. Thus, he hopes to continue using design to sustain each client's unique journey—cherishing what matters most, and composing their life stories within the sanctuary of an ideal home.
Image / Translucent "Alpinus" stone transforms the master bedroom wall, imparting a sophisticated and refined aura.
Encountering Luxury Stone
Q: How do you perceive natural stone as a design medium?
A: Natural stone is an art piece crafted by God; as designers, our role is simply to integrate it into a space, exploring how to honor its inherent texture and beauty. By introducing natural light, we can accentuate the delicate veins and quality of marble. Alternatively, backlighting or overhead lighting allows stone surfaces across ceilings, walls, and floors to continuously shift with the passing of time, multiplying into ever-changing visual expressions. While stone is inherently durable, placing it in the right application is essential to maximizing its longevity. For instance, porous marbles prone to staining are ill-suited for bathrooms or countertops. For flooring, granite with superior hardness and high abrasion resistance should be selected, then expertly cut and installed by seasoned craftsmen to unveil the slab’s most breathtaking side.
Q: Do you recall your first collaboration with CHENHOW MARBLE? Could you share your thoughts on the brand?
A: I have always believed that selecting a slab of stone comes down to fate. When sourcing stone, we never visit just one supplier; yet in my experience, homeowners with exceptionally discerning standards always stop in their tracks the moment they enter CHENHOW MARBLE. Just as everyone interprets art through a different lens, CHENHOW MARBLE has broken away from the conventional mindset of traditional building material suppliers, offering designers and clients a fresh perspective on natural stone. By adopting a youthful viewpoint and intertwining stone aesthetics with fashion and couture, their marketing direction is remarkably visionary! Continuously forging cross-industry alliances is a brilliant concept. I firmly believe CHENHOW MARBLE is on the path to becoming a world-class premier brand: just as Hitachi or Daikin immediately come to mind for air conditioning, or TOTO and Caesar for sanitary ware, when homeowners select marble today, CHENHOW MARBLE is the first name that echoes. Building an iconic brand demands distinctive products, and every slab at CHENHOW MARBLE—whether in its grain or texture—possesses its own unmistakable identity.
