Follow your heart that leads the path to the dream
Born and grew up in Taipei until she was sent to her uncle’s house in Changhua as a rebellious teenager. The novel experience of living in the country turned out to be a wonderful time in PEI’s life. Without the noise of the city, PEI learned how wonderful it was to lead a simple and plain life. While she built the admiration for her cousin as a role model, after returning to Taipei, she also chose to study in the mechanical drafting program in high school. PEI laughed and said, “I was young and thought it wouldn’t go wrong by following what my older cousin did as he was more experienced and knew a thing or two.”
Afterward, PEI entered the Interior Design Program of the Department of Design at National Taiwan Normal University. But as the university bore the mission of preparation of teachers, she soon realized that the teacher-training courses did not get her closer to the dream of being a designer. While her friends from other design departments at other universities were busy with their graduation exhibition, PEI was puzzled by the theories on paper. As the cramming was too painful, PEI even thought about taking a leave of absence from the university. Although being perplexed about the future direction of her life, at least she was convinced about which path wasn’t suitable for her. With the support of her friends, she staggered to complete the degree.
After entering an interior design company, PEI started taking a variety of projects, from the real estate reception centers and villas to the renovations of old houses, she quickly accumulated rich experience through one challenge after another. However, the further she advanced on the career path, the more unsatisfied she felt deep down. For quenching the hankering for a change, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in a foreign land and a different new path.
Bring the ideal life in Italy back to home – Taipei
“Now think of the life in Italy, I still can’t help but giggle!” Being a student again, the one-and-half-year life in Italy was a sparkling and dreamy period for PEI. Opening a new page of her life, PEI expanded her horizons and boldly moved forward to achieve her dream. Upon finishing the master᾽s degree, PEI bid farewell to the brilliant life abroad and brought the brand new self back to Taipei. She worked at an architect᾽s office for a while and learned again that what she longed for was not on the battlefield of the business world, but in building a homey lifestyle.
Therefore, PEI began to freelance the design projects that attracted to her, and Duomo Café was born at that time. PEI᾽s eyes sparkled when talking about Duomo Café, “‘Duomo’ is the Italian word for ‘church’, and in Italy, duomo is the center of people’s lives that bring the urbanites together. I hope Duomo Café can be a place like that.” If Duomo Café was the bridge that connected people, then The Door Inn would be a window to open one’s imagination for life.
Back when PEI was about to graduate, she once made a wish out of nowhere, “I want to be a hotel tycoon!” No one expected that throwaway remark, like a sleeping seed of dream buried in PEI’s heart, would be realized years later. Following the success of Duomo Café, PEI continued to seek out an ideal old house for renovation. After more than two months of unremitting efforts but no result, PEI almost wanted to give up. However, she then met a four-story old house in the historic Dadaocheng area, where once served as the commercial center of old Taipei and played an essential role in breeding the city’s culture. Upon opening the door to the old house, it also opened the door to the new life that PEI looked forward to, while the past full of stories was unfolded before her eyes.
The dream grows with the support of love and determination
Spending more than four months for designing and renovating, PEI personally devoted in every detail from the interior fragrance, the plants on stairs, to the pressed flower arts hanging on the wall. No matter how many times she cried or hit the wall, PEI didn’t give up the opportunity to realize her dream. “I would go to the park nearby to sob by myself! If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I could get through all these.” Speaking of the hardships in the process, PEI didn’t forget to thank her husband’s support along the way, “Everyone thinks that I’m very brave, but actually my husband is braver than me because he trusts and supports me to do whatever I want to do unconditionally.”
PEI realized her aspiration of life through The Door Inn. As every corner in the lodging is an extension of the imagination for life, travellers can dream boldly and let their minds soar in the fantasy here. An ideal life can be found in The Door Inn, as one can depict the footprints of time and change the appearances of the daily life in Dadaocheng, a district where the history and future meet. As PEI continues to live out her dream, The Door Inn stands here with the support of love and determination, cherishes every encounter with the travellers, and gently embraces their stories. The dream would keep growing, with branches spreading the passion.