In the world of interior design, October 2025 has brought a flourish of innovation and excitement in both East Asia and beyond. Two standout events—the unveiling of the renovated Xuebei home in Guangdong, China, and the resounding success of the DDP Design Fair in Seoul, South Korea—have captured the attention of design enthusiasts, industry insiders, and curious homeowners alike. These stories, though unfolding in different countries, share a common thread: a renewed focus on creativity, community interaction, and the evolving meaning of home.
According to designboom, the Xuebei home project in Guangdong showcases a remarkable blend of old and new. The renovation, completed and published on October 20, 2025, centers around a series of concrete arches that elegantly enclose interiors made from glass blocks. This architectural approach isn’t merely aesthetic; it serves a practical purpose, too. By cutting and opening the old garden walls, the design team has skillfully invited natural light and movement into the space, transforming what could have been a static environment into a living, breathing home. The effect is almost cinematic—sunbeams slip through the arches, casting shifting patterns throughout the day, while the garden outside feels intimately connected to the rooms within.
But it’s not just about light and walls. One of the renovation’s most beloved features is a built-in bed tucked beneath a gracefully curved roof. This nook provides a spot for rest and reflection, offering its inhabitants a quiet sanctuary from the bustle of daily life. It’s a small detail, but it speaks volumes about the project’s philosophy: home should be a place of comfort, contemplation, and personal retreat.
Material choice also plays a starring role. The project makes extensive use of Corian® Solid Surface, a material engineered by Corian® Design, which is celebrated for its limitless creativity and durability. As designboom notes, this material is increasingly favored in stylish hotel lobbies, boutique retreats, and spas across Europe—and now, it finds a new home in residential architecture in China. The result is a space that feels both cutting-edge and inviting, marrying technical innovation with a warm, human touch.
Meanwhile, just across the Yellow Sea, Seoul was buzzing with its own celebration of design. On October 21, 2025, Platform 29CM, operated by Musinsa, announced the successful conclusion of the DDP Design Fair, co-hosted with the Seoul Design Foundation. Held at the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from October 15 to 19, the event drew more than 30,000 visitors—a testament to the growing public appetite for fresh ideas in home and lifestyle design, as reported by Maeil Business Newspaper.
The fair brought together over 90 domestic and foreign interior and living brands, each eager to showcase their latest wares and creative concepts. But this wasn’t just a static display of products. According to 29CM, the exhibition was meticulously curated to reinterpret the house as a space that reveals individual taste and identity, moving beyond the notion of home as merely a functional shelter. The 29CM Brand Hall, dubbed "29APT," stood out for its inventive organization, allowing visitors to explore 56 different types of home interior items tailored to four distinct lifestyle types: Life is Maximalist, Rest Praiseist, Silent Gourmet, and Romantic Pragmatist. This thoughtful categorization made it easier for attendees to find pieces that resonated with their personal sensibilities, while also sparking curiosity about unfamiliar styles.
Interactive experiences were a major draw. Lifestyle brand Tunu hosted a T-shirt production event that saw eager crowds lining up for five days straight—proof that people crave not just beautiful objects, but hands-on engagement with the brands they love. French tableware brand Sabre, on the other hand, offered a cutlery customization experience, letting visitors produce utensils in their chosen colors. These events weren’t just fun; they fostered a sense of ownership and creativity among participants, blurring the line between designer and consumer.
Perhaps most striking was the impact on commerce. The 29CM app’s home category, "Igu Home," saw a 40% increase in transactions compared to the previous week, as the excitement of the fair spilled over into online shopping. One standout collaboration—a pajama set created by 29CM and home fabric brand Charles Entertainment, featuring YouTuber Charles Entertainment—racked up more than 400 million won in transactions within a single day. The fair’s real-time live content, "29 Live (29LIVE)," also proved a hit: after a broadcast on October 17, the brand "Aeiou" saw its transactions quadruple compared to the daily average over the prior two weeks.
Special releases added to the buzz. The "29 Edition," a collection of exclusive products created in collaboration with 14 home brands, drew significant attention from both shoppers and design aficionados. The demand was clear from the outset: all Super Early Bird tickets for the event sold out in a single day, underscoring the high level of interest in domestic interior brands and their unique offerings.
Reflecting on the fair’s success, a 29CM official told Maeil Business Newspaper, "When the news of the 29CM co-host was reported, we realized high customer interest in domestic interior brands, with all the Super Early Bird tickets that were opened in advance sold out in a day. It was a meaningful place for both participants and customers as online-based domestic home brands directly showed the material and details of their products and highlighted the brand's personality and competitiveness." This sentiment captures the spirit of the event: a space where brands and customers could connect directly, share their stories, and celebrate the diversity of contemporary home design.
What ties these two stories together is a shared recognition of the home as something more than a collection of walls and furniture. Whether it’s the meditative sanctuary of the Xuebei home’s built-in bed or the dynamic, participatory atmosphere of the DDP Design Fair, the message is clear: our living spaces are reflections of our values, our identities, and our dreams for the future. As architects, designers, and homeowners continue to push boundaries—experimenting with new materials, embracing interactive experiences, and reimagining what it means to feel at home—one thing is certain: the world of interior design has never been more vibrant or more full of possibility.
