A sophisticated, cosy, refug
The beauty of Cissy Chen’s downtown apartment lies in the balance of relaxed simplicity and sense of individuality thanks to the Shanghai native’s natural talent for interior style.
Chen, with her French husband Olivier Lionnet, son Enzo and daughter Eva, moved into their new flat in a bit of a hurry.
“We needed to find a new home within ten days as the buyer was eager to move in as soon as possible. Luckily I had some good agents so I quickly selected a few nice properties to visit. The decision was made within three days,” she said.
Chen’s criteria of an ideal living space was specific. It had to be a three-bedroom apartment with lots of storage, white walls, a light -colored wooden floor and central AC. It also had to be located in the tree-lined downtown area, ideally around Huaihai Road, Huashan Road and Wukang Road.
“As long as I have these basics, I’m confident of turning any space into a sophisticated refuge for my family, a cozy and elegant home where we can nest in,” said the interior stylist, who owns an online shop called Adesir, offering a collection of furniture and decorative objects.
The 170-square-meter apartment did meet Chen’s criteria and she liked the layout of the interior. The property owner had completely renovated the space, leaving a perfect blank canvas for Chen to imprint a personal touch.
It has a very large living space and an open dining room, as she loves to invite friends to gather around the table for inspirational exchanges, share delicious meals, daily chats and play some table games with children.
“When I first saw the flat, I could immediately imagine how my art collection would fit in. Plus, there are trees outside and birds singing. I felt good fengshui and energy flow here,” Chen said.
The basic condition of the apartment was pretty good so she simply added some personal tastes to it and the color scheme of the walls was changed to wood, black, green and blue. Her personal style is all about mixing things up — oversized pieces next to something delicate, masculine objects contrasting with feminine pieces and Eastern accents mixing with Western influences.
The home reflects a mix of contemporary styles and is composed of designer pieces, highlighted by bold artworks, natural fabrics and ethnic patterns.
The spacious living room exudes an airy and relaxed vibe, accompanied by abundant sunlight during the day. Comfortable sofas, stylish lounge chairs set an elegant foundation while the vibrant paintings add a note of color and energy to the space.
The clean lines of modern furniture and white walls create a neutral background for a collection of amazing works of art, which makes this home authentic and personal. Each piece of artwork is dear to Chen and reminds her of different stories, friends and experiences.
“I had always been fond of beautiful objects and sensitive to art since I was little. In 2007, I had my first baby so I stopped working and had more free time to enjoy and study art. It was during that period I collected my first artwork from ShangArt — a piece by Zhang Enli,” she said.
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