A space of timeless elegance with a globetrot
Iva Bravic Millereau and her husband Pierre Millereau’s Shanghai living space is comfortable, functional and boasts timeless elegance with bursts of color and glamorous features.
Croatian Iva and French Pierre had lived in more than seven countries and their new living adventure in Shanghai with their kids Lana and Charles began just half a year ago.
“We are a multi-language family which often perplexes people when they hear us communicate in a few different languages in span of a one-minute conversation,” Iva said.
“All four members of our family were born in different countries and our 5 1/2-yearold daughter Lana speaks five languages, the smartest of us all!”
Before moving to Shanghai, the couple spent many years in France, Canada and Croatia, then they moved to Switzerland for three years, Moscow for two and a half years and a short nine-month period in Miami, Florida, in the United States.
“Moscow was a very deep soulful experience and we all fell in love with Russia and its rich culture,” she said.
“We love to eat Russian cuisine and we still speak Russian at home. Plus our son was born there so we have a special connection to Moscow. After moving to Miami, we were in love with the natural beauty of Florida but our soul was longing for a city with more energy. When we got a call for Shanghai we immediately said yes!”
Having been exposed to so many cultures and landscapes, the home is an eclectic mix of influences and styles. The generous living space is an elegant example of comfortable city living, as the apartment provides the perfect showcase for their own collections over the years.
Iva said they looked for an apartment that is clean and contemporary with a high quality finishing, and that was not easy to find. “The first question we always asked ourselves is do we have enough wall space for our art and is there enough storage space?” Iva said.
The apartment in a high-end residential compound in the city center features the amazing view of the city as well as a generous layout. It has a big living room and four very comfortable-sized bedrooms.
“We never tried to create a special atmosphere or style in our homes,” said Iva.
“I believe style should be effortless. I always choose furniture and decor objects I really like and appreciate the aesthetics , and it somehow always fits in. I purchase object by object and never a full look. It somehow comes together in a very pleasing way.”
Some of the highlight pieces include an original 1960s production of a Verner Pantone adjustable peacock chair, a recently required Eames lounge chair by Herman Miller, an original Eames rocking chair from the 1970s, an classic Florence Knoll sofa, a handmade carpet from Turkmenistan sourced on a trip to Askhabat and the vintage 1950s oversized lamp belonging to Pierre’s grandmother.
Vintage car spare parts are also creatively used as decor items that most people can’t even notice. Pierre is a collector of vintage cars, and this is the way h them daily without being ab see them.
The couple opts for a relax “We approach decorating i mal way. I don’t like an inte overly put together, that is p brand book,” Iva said.
“Decorating starts with a de a wonderful conversational niture, and then the story b there. That is exactly how w look in our living room.
“And the art for me is alwa a home. We started collecti decade ago and we have a fle the art should be bought in t are living in by an artist from
“We definitely have a p