Product designer and content creator Aden Wang felt instantly at home in his loft apartment in the heart of San Francisco. Here, each piece is carefully selected to serve a purpose as well as to delight Aden and his wife Vivid Wu for years to come. Design Stories sat down with Aden to find out how his unique interior design style has evolved over the years. Read on!
Hi Aden! Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up living in this beautiful apartment?
“Hi there! I’m a product designer based in San Francisco with a deep passion for home interior design. My love for crafting user-centric products and creating visually appealing and soothing content for my Instagram followers is unmatchable. It might surprise you to know that most of the pictures of my home were taken during my coffee break, while I was at my desk or dining table.
In March 2020, during the onset of the COVID pandemic, my wife Vivid and I finally purchased our first home. Having moved frequently in recent years, we were elated to have a place that we could finally call our own. The moment we stepped inside, we were captivated by the floor to ceiling window, large skylight, high ceiling, and spacious interior, complemented by wooden beams that crossed the kitchen ceiling with a stunning view of the San Francisco city skyline. We instantly knew that this was the place we had been searching for.”
You clearly have an eye for interior design! Where does this passion for design stem from?
“Thank you! My journey as a product designer began in 2018 when I delved into self-taught front-end development and UX/UI design. It was during this period that my passion for design truly took flight. Prior to this, my roots lay in automobile and industrial design. I’ve always had an affinity for symmetrical lines, shapes, and the manipulation of space, qualities that have contributed to honing my skills in interior design.
My foray into decorating our home began in 2020 when my wife and I moved into this loft, coinciding with my transition to full-time remote work. I was determined to transform our living space into our favorite place on Earth, where we could feel comfortable spending every hour of the day. This unwavering commitment became the driving force behind everything that followed.”
The interior design of your home is unique and playful. Has your taste changed over the years?
“Initially, Vivid and I had divergent interior design preferences. She was inclined towards a post-modern and mid-century aesthetic, while I gravitated towards Scandinavian and minimalist styles.
“In our home, it is essential that everything complements each other, creating a seamless and harmonious living space.”
However, through mutual efforts, empathy, and communication, we succeeded in blending our preferences together, resulting in our own style. In our home, it is essential that everything complements each other, creating a seamless and harmonious living space.”
What has inspired your interior lately?
“We draw inspiration from various interior accounts on Instagram and design magazines. These magazines not only provide creative ideas but also serve as decorative elements in our home with their vibrant and stylish covers. In addition to these sources, we also find inspiration in our city and nature, which is reflected in our home's earthy color scheme.
For instance the Eames plywood screen, fiddle fig tree and green Hem side table mirror the lush greenery of our urban surroundings while the pastel pink Boa pouf evokes the hues of the San Francisco sunset sky.
What does good design mean to you?
“To me, good design is, above all, timeless and functional – something you will still appreciate ten or twenty years later. Even after years of use, it should still function and serve a purpose, whether that purpose is purely aesthetic or practical. A good design has a playful quality, capable of bringing joy to your day-to-day life. You should feel happy whenever you see it in your home, especially after a long day at work. I also appreciate it when a design object is cohesive and creates a harmonious atmosphere and a sense of calm.”
“A good design has a playful quality, capable of bringing joy to your day-to-day life.”
Do you have one design item in your home that checks all these boxes?
“Yes I do! My favorite design is our shelving system by Vitsœ. It’s the most expensive piece of furniture in my home, and I saved up for a long time to make the purchase. I’ve never regretted that decision, as it embodies all the qualities I mentioned.
In addition to the Vitsœ shelving system, my most treasured design item at home is the Bouncy stool by Rotganzen. This whimsical piece evokes fond memories of carefree childhood days. The delightful stool has become a beloved subject in many of my photographs, a true star of my decor.”
Lastly, we couldn’t resist asking about your dog Muffin! Does she have a favorite spot in your home?
“Our beloved Muffin is a 5-year-old Shiba Inu. She has quite the attitude, caring little about anything, including us! She’s like a cat, always snoozing and silent at home. There are moments when we’ve even questioned if she’s here with us. Muffin’s true joy lies in soaking up the sun as it pours through the skylight onto our carpet; it’s a beautiful sight to see.”
Aden Wang’s TOP 3 favorites
1. Favorite place in San Francisco?
“Picking my favorite spot in San Francisco is easy, but I can’t resist a little humor to say my home is my favorite place in SF. While I love my home, San Francisco is an amazing city, and amid the many choices, Bernal Heights Park is my go-to. It offers stunning sunset views of the Mission District and the city skyline. Watching tiny cars zip through the streets from up there is a real pleasure.”
2. Favorite color combination?
“My previous favorite color combination was the timeless black and white, but my encounters with Vivid have transformed my preference to green and yellow. The vibrancy and life these hues bring into my world resonate deeply with me now.”
3. Favorite movie?
“As a devoted enthusiast of the science fiction genre, my all-time favorite movie is Interstellar. I have a profound appreciation for practical sci-fi, such as Apollo 13 being a close second among my favorites. While I do indulge in Marvel-style sci-fi films like Thor and Iron Man for relaxation, they serve as a distraction from the daily grind, allowing my mind to wander freely without the weight of work responsibilities.”
Get inspired
Two-Colour table
JWDA lamp
Hide pedestal
Alu chair
Snoopy lamp
Dieter Rams
Boa pouf
Weekday bench
See also:
• Aden Wang on Instagram >
• Vivid Wu on Instagram >
• New arrivals at Finnish Design Shop >
Edit: Elena Palomo and Mikko Vaija Images: Aden Wang
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