The White Space. Chapter 9. Color.
Chapter 9. Color.
The door was opened by a young woman. Her hair was thick and voluminous, flowing in soft waves over her shoulders, resembling a luxurious golden mane, yet at the same time it looked delicate and well cared for. She was dressed in beige tones — from light sand to warm caramel. A light spring jacket made of soft fabric with a textured surface wrapped around her shoulders. The material looked so pleasant to the touch that one almost wanted to lean in and feel its warmth.
She smiled so sincerely and openly that the main character, for perhaps the first time in a long while, returned the same genuine smile.
— Good afternoon, — she said, and there was true warmth in her voice.
— Good afternoon, ma’am. My name is Sirius Hale, — he replied. — I have an appointment with you. As I understand, I am supposed to work on your space.
— Yes, you are correct, — she replied. — But the client is my mother. Please come in, I’ll go call her.
She turned to walk deeper into the house, but her gaze lingered on him for another second, and the same warm, sincere smile remained on her face.
The main character paused at the threshold and suddenly realized something strange: just yesterday he wouldn’t have known how to react to such a smile, and today he simply wanted to smile back.
He looked around.
He had never seen an interior like this before.
The space was warm and cozy, filled with wood — on the walls, in the furniture, and in small details. The floor was made of porcelain stoneware with a soft, deep texture. The walls, floor, and ceiling had a strong material presence, yet they remained a backdrop for the interior objects — it was the objects that set the rhythm of the space.
There were many colored elements in the room: deep red, rich ultramarine blue. Somewhere deeper inside, he noticed a table lamp in a warm honey tone. There were not many bright colors, but each one was different, and surprisingly — they harmonized perfectly with each other. Against the textured surfaces, these objects stood out especially due to their purity of color and smooth, textureless finish.
“How beautifully everything has been designed,” he thought.
This interior perfectly suited the woman. She herself felt like part of the space — another carefully designed art object: harmoniously integrated into the colors of the room, yet distinctly standing out among them. And because of this, the space felt even more alive.
A minute later, the young woman returned with another woman — about fifty years old — who looked no less elegant than her daughter, with the same warm, sincere smile and a similar style of clothing.
— Good afternoon, Mr. Hale, my name is Amira.
— Good afternoon, ma’am. My name is Sirius. How can I help you? — he asked.
— I would like to convert the guest room into a home office. I mostly work from home now, so I need a separate space. And since my daughter rarely stays here — she has already moved into her own house — this used to be her childhood room, then a guest bedroom, and now it’s time for change, — she explained.
— Change is a good thing, — he replied. — What would you like your office to look like?
— Perhaps it would be best to show you the house first, so you can understand what I like. I’ll just say goodbye to my daughter first; she is leaving now, — she said.
They said goodbye, embracing each other.
— Have a good day, Mr. Hale, — said the young woman, once again giving him her incredible smile.
The main character didn’t want to let her go. It felt as if he had never met such sincere people before — as if an entire universe lived inside her.
— Have a good day, ma’am, — he replied softly, a smile already appearing on his face.
— Well then, — her mother said, — let’s start with the living room.
The living room was large and spacious, with a five-meter ceiling. The entrance to the lounge area was marked by a few steps, where wide sofas were placed, with a fireplace between them.
— As you can see, I like large spaces, texture, and for me it is important to have wood, warmth, and coziness. At the same time, I like bright elements in small amounts to diversify the space and add accents, — she explained.
She showed him the kitchen and several other rooms. The main character absorbed the information like a sponge. He really liked the house — he could feel the character of the people who lived there: elegant, restrained, yet not lacking uniqueness. The hand of a master was clearly present.
She offered him coffee and told the story of the house: how her family had lived there since 2032, how it had been designed by an architect who later became very famous, how the children grew up, and how they occasionally adapted the space to their needs. All of this inspired him — he already wanted to create himself, even though he still had little experience.
— Well, here we are at my future office, — she said, as if reading his thoughts.
The door opened, and he saw a warm, cozy bedroom with soft beige furniture and pleasant textures. The room was complemented by bright accents that harmonized with the rest of the house. The style of the previous owner, who had spent many years there, was still clearly present. He stepped inside and felt the scent of fresh wood. He felt a bit sorry to change it, but he knew: this was his job, and it was exactly what the client wanted.
— I won’t disturb you, — she said. — If you need anything, I’ll be in the living room.
Sirius looked around once more, trying to feel the space. He took a deep breath and activated the shredder. While it removed the unnecessary elements, he switched his glasses into virtual creation mode and opened the material library.
There were so many new textures, furniture pieces, and lighting options — everything could be sorted by color, style, or type. It felt as if years of restrictions had suddenly been lifted: before, he was like an artist without paint, and now he had access to the full palette.
He began to create, first virtually, placing furniture and choosing colors as if the space had always belonged to him. The style felt familiar, as if he had long lived within it and was now simply remembering it.
The printer started producing new furniture with a soft mechanical rustle — a sound he had always loved, because it meant ideas becoming reality. Step by step, the room filled with light, form, and detail.
When he finished, everything looked alive and harmonious.
But for the first time, he also felt anxiety: how would the client react? Before, he judged his work himself, but now it would be evaluated by a person, and that changed everything.
He checked every detail once again, running his hand over the wooden panel, feeling its texture. Everything seemed perfect.
In the living room, the woman was sitting on the sofa by the fireplace, reading a book.
— It’s ready, ma’am, — he said.
She looked up:
— Then let’s go and see.
As they walked, she said:
— Honestly, I’m a little worried about what you’ve done in there…
but her tone was more curious than concerned.
— Honestly, I’m a little worried myself, — he replied.
She entered the office, ran her hand over the wooden panels, sat at the desk, and touched the surface. A warm smile appeared on her face:
— It’s absolutely perfect. You have captured the atmosphere of the house and exactly what I wanted.
She was satisfied.
The main character felt deeply fulfilled: for the first time, his work had been evaluated by another person, and it changed his perception of his profession. He understood that interior design is not about form, but about people.
He drove back through bright streets lit by soft sunlight. The home that once felt familiar now seemed different. A long night of work awaited him, but his thoughts kept returning to the people he had met that day. Especially the daughter with her sincere smile. All of them seemed united by one quality — authenticity.
He thought about how space influences people, how it shapes emotions and the desire to live. And he realized that he himself had become part of this process. With that thought, a slight smile appeared on his face.
He crossed the bridge he had driven over in the morning and suddenly didn’t want to return. He wanted to stay in this world of color, living emotions, and genuine feeling. He still did not understand why these two parallel worlds existed, but now he knew for certain: he wanted to create spaces that connect them.