All aboard the Orient Express
Interior design is taking cues from traditional Japanese and Chinese design – this time with a modern twist, writes Bea Taylor.
“Oriental” is a word steeped in history, ancient rituals and an ornate opulence. The phrase “modern oriental” therefore seems a bit like an oxymoron. Where “oriental” is synonymous with tradition and history, “modern” conjures up images of technology, streamlined processes and minimalism.
How then, can modern oriental be expressed? In the same way in which “mid-century modern” (another seemingly impossible set of words) works, by taking something with substantial history, and bringing it back with a fresh interpretation.
The influences of oriental design are being seen through a variety of elements. The popularity of indoor plants and bonsai, Marie Kondo’s minimalist ways and the emergence of bamboo as a material for interiors and homeware.
Screens are also making a comeback as room dividers and decor accents and then there’s the
beginnings of shibori, the Japanese art of indigo tie-dye, as a popular trend.
Wabi-sabi is also a word we’re all starting to hear. And even if you haven’t heard of it, its presence in homeware stores (homemade ceramics, organic linens, rustic, earthy colours) is undeniable. Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection, channelling authenticity, organic forms and handmade items.
In a design world where Scandi has reigned for so long, it was really only a matter of time before it was challenged. In this case, the latest emerging trend is Scandi’s elegant older cousin; Japandi.
Japandi is where the oriental influence of traditional Japanese design meets Scandinavian design. Elegance and simplicity combine for a happy medium that’s less casual than Scandi but more relaxed than traditional Japanese.
“It’s where the Japanese notion of wabi-sabi perfect imperfection meets the Nordic influence of effortless living,” said Globewest designer Maria Diaz Valentin.
This new design style features more dramatic contrasts and pairs charcoal, black or dark oak pieces (synonymous with Japanese design) with Scandi’s light oak. Soft accents in mint, emerald and navy tones are also key elements along with textured linens, earthy ceramics and handmade accessories.
The widespread influence of Japanese design, or what’s been coined “Japanisme”, has seen a new emergence of simplicity, elegance and realisation of the power and importance of harnessing nature and natural materials.
But it isn’t soley a Japanese thread that makes up the modern oriental influence. Ever since The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “China: Through The Looking Glass” exhibition in 2015 – which looked at the impact of the Chinese aesthetic on Western fashion – elements of China have begun to influence design too.
Chinoiserie, a Western interpretation of traditional Chinese design, involves fantastic landscapes, decorative elements, embroidery and rich colours.
Mural wallpapers with fantastical landscapes have recently come into their own in interiors. De Gournays Amazonia wallpaper collection featuring jungle scenes with hand-painted toucans, parrots and love birds proved to be so popular that it was also made as a shoe collection.
The colour red accompanied by gold accents is an element that captures the opulence of Chinoiserie but with a modern twist; a more pared-back approach. The rich colours bring in the Chinoiserie aspect and smooth, minimalist metals bring it into the 21st century.