Let these Chinese-inspired decor pieces add a subtle touch of Eastern mystique to your space
Embark on an Eastern romance with Chinese-inspired pieces that add mystique to your living room
When one thinks of Chinese-inspired interiors, austere rosewood and cold jade often come to mind. But this isn’t always the case. Put a new spin on an Eastern-style living room by minimising clutter and selecting pieces that have distinct Chinese touches, yet are thoroughly modern. “Start with loose furniture and art, and choose pieces that speak to you and will make your home unique,” suggests Ed Ong, creative director of Dwell Interior Design. He also stresses the importance of picking the right materials: “Opt for solid wood over cheaper finishes so your furniture ages gracefully and takes on its own character over time.”
EASTERN INCLINATION
Made from fibreglass soaked in epoxy resin, Moooi’s black Non Random lights by Dutch designer Bertjan Pot look like many things—coils, yarn, soap bubbles, a pomelo hanging from a tree, mesh domes or lanterns. No matter what they look like to you, there’s something undeniably Eastern and mysterious about these lamps.
Jiang Qiong Er, the Chinese-born, Paris-trained creative director of luxury lifestyle brand Shang Xia, believes that less is more. “Chinese interiors are founded on the principles of harmony with nature. In a modern Chinese concept, craftsmanship should be functional and applicable to modern life. Nature can be reinterpreted with earthy colours such as black, white and beige,” she says. Pamela Ting, founder of Singapore-based furniture brand Scene Shang, suggests incorporating interesting forms. “Traditional Asian designs express beauty through symmetry and geometry. Extract that essence into simple yet expressive shapes like the circle or the hexagon, which are commonly found in Chinese gardens,” she suggests. Her partner, Jessica Wong, emphasises the art of subtlety. “Focus on classic designs with the right amount of intricacy—in particular, Ming Dynasty styles, which have clean lines and are not overly ornate,” she says. “If you choose something with just right amount of oriental detail, it will never go out of style.”
MODERN MARRIAGE
Offering a contemporary take on the traditional Chinese marriage cabinet, Scottish designer Gavin Robertson uses fine white ripple sycamore and Macassar ebony to create a cabinet with distilled Asian aesthetics. Constructed with hand-cut dovetail joints and custom-made drop-down handles, this satiny-sheened cabinet is ideal as a stylish and discreet media storage system.
ORIENTAL EMBRACE
Influenced by Art Deco chinoiserie and with a splash of retro sleekness, Baxter’s Mio sofa fires up the imagination, bringing to mind scenes from the iconic Wong Kar Wai film In the Mood for Love. Constructed with a pine and poplar frame sitting on turned and satin-finished brass feet, and upholstered in soft leather, Mio’s slim, slender silhouette is as graceful and alluring as actress Maggie Cheung in her tailor-made cheongsams.