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April 9, 2017

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Home » Sunday » Home and Design

A bright, spacious place to live life

By Patsy Yang | 00:05 UTC+8 April 9, 2017 | Print Edition

THE bright, spacious apartment rented by Mette Reinholdt Vogel is highly personal and cozy in delightful contrast to its historic façade.

Located in an ideal, peaceful area in the former French concession area, the space impressed the Danish lady with its open-plan design and sun-filled vibe.

Thanks to the open-minded landlord, who was extremely open for changes of the tenant’s likings, Vogel had changed the layout of the interior according to the family’s needs.

Before moving to Shanghai, the Danish family lived in an old house built in 1927 with a garden in Copenhagen. There, Vogel had a hairdressing salon “Salon Zisar” for many years in downtown. She sold her business and followed her husband to Shanghai for a new life. Her four daughters are at home in Copenhagen and the youngest son aged 15 years old is living with the couple in Shanghai.

“In Denmark, a great passion of mind has always been to decorate my shop and home. We looked for an apartment with an open, modern layout, good amount of sunlight, silence and space for our four daughters visiting us. We didn’t like any compounds we saw but found this one interesting and we can live with and among local Chinese,” she said.

“The best thing about this space is that I could influence the interior style and the room layout and get an open kitchen in connection with the living room.”

Vogel has demolished the wall that used to divide the space into two rooms and moved the kitchen to the end of the living room in order to give the space a more open, spacious feel. She also replaced a couple of doors with big, tall sliding doors to enable the entry of more sun light. Instead of heavy cabinets, she has chosen to use open shelves in the open kitchen, allowing for the chic display of cool items.

White, black and earthy tones define the interior. “I’ve always been a fan of nature and its colors, as well as hand craft, but I’ve never gone after specific items. The ‘natural colors’ and my ‘random finds’ always work great together,” Vogel said.

She was keen on creating a cozy, yet light-filled atmosphere in the whole apartment. “I aimed to create a vibe, which represented the frequent traveling of our family, and respecting design and handcraft from all around the globe.”

“I do specifically love my African masks that I’ve collected over the years. After we moved to Shanghai I’ve bought yet another big mask. I think a mixture of different cultures is crucial to a good and well-balanced interior. I love seeing my African statues/figures in new places, which is also the reason I love switch them around, never leaving them at the same spot for more than a month.”

Vogel has brought here all her favorite decorative items from Copenhagen. “No matter where I live, I always bring almost all my decorative items with me. Big furniture can easily be replaced, as opposed to decorative pieces, which are of high personal value, and often not to be founded again,” she said.

Several bigger pieces, like the two big, antique French mirrors, Vogel felt the need to bring to her Shanghai home. “I risked damage to them when they were shipped, but I’m glad that I decided to bring them here to give the vibe the unique touch. Fortunately, they escaped with only scratches and some chips falling off in some places.”

The elegant living room is designed and furnished to give an amazing “return-home-feeling,” for both the family and their guests. Modern, sleek furniture is mixed with antiques and personal items found on the family’s travels in Europe, Africa and Asia.

The master bedroom is nicely furnished in order to give it more usage and functionality than simply a space for sleeping, for example, reading books.

The small study area can be also easily changed to a guest bedroom. Vogel’s youngest son’s bedroom is connected to the study. “He is also very interested in interior design. He bought old-school posters, added antique alike clocks, but most of all, he put a lot of focus on his shoes and clothing as that is one of his major interests. He hand-painted one of the walls to make it more cozy and “cave-y.”

Vogel’s favorite piece at home is the chandelier hung in the middle of the open kitchen that faces the living area. “I love to find home ‘treasures’ everywhere. I could be a market or a shop but often they are impulsively bought without a plan when I see it. I love mixing old and new, cheap and pricey.”

“As we have five children, it is also important that all furniture and decoration can be used. It is not a museum or a show we should live and use freely,” she added.

Q: What’s the best thing about living in Shanghai?

A: You can get everything, although it may not always be easy to find. Or maybe I am still learning. The climate with the four seasons and no cold winter. It is a busy city; always something going on, although we are lucky to be in a quiet place. The variety of people and architecture. Lots of local shops and friendly people always helpful to me.

 

Q: Describe your home in three words.

A: Daylight, cosy, relaxed.

 

Q: What’s the first thing you do when you get home?

A: Wash my hands.

 

Q: How do you unwind?

A: Reading books.

 

Q: What’s the best thing outside your window?

A: Trees and the view in general, which is available in all rooms.

 

Q: How do you scent your home?

A: Never used it, keep it clean.

 

Q: What’s your favorite object at home?

A: The chandelier which I brought home from a market in the south of France.

 

Q: Where do you source furniture in Shanghai?

A: No favorite place, but I look a lot. I have bought items here in more than 10 different shops and markets. Often I don’t find anything. I’m still looking for old Chinese furniture, simple styles like dining table, bedside tables and chairs.

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