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Bistro owner’s villa a tasteful place to linger
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BETTY Ng, the owner and creative mind behind bistro Ginger by the Park, is known for her good taste. Long-time customers keep going back to Ginger for its hip atmosphere, vibrant colors, exotic elements and compelling modern design.
With an eye for great art and design, Ng has created a warm and cozy home in Shanghai that is the perfect juxtaposition of feminine and masculine energy. “I love feminine things, but at the same time I live with two men — my husband and my teenage boy — and we all have to feel good here,” she said.
For Ng, the family’s four-story villa house in the Gubei area of Changning District was an ideal living space in Shanghai. “It was like an empty box. I brought in the furniture and items I’ve collected over the years since we built our family in Tokyo,” she said. “I wanted it immediately when I first saw it. It was bright, filled with enough sunlight. Everything was white and simple.”
The first floor is the living and dining space where the family gets together for activities or hanging out with friends. The light color scheme and natural light adds crispness to the space.
The long-time restaurateur loves to host dinners and parties at home.
“Our main concern was to fit our beloved dining table from Conran, which has hosted many dinners and parties,” Ng said. For a dinner party, the chandeliers are lit very low, and all the silver sparkles. “You feel as if you are eating in a fine restaurant, yet you’re at home. And our friends usually feel so relaxed, so we linger for hours around the table.”
For her family and friends to sit comfortably, she bought in fabulous chairs from Design Republic.
In the living area, she dressed up the space with her dear friend Basmat’s latest painting to create a chic feel and add some colors to the white walls. This intimate space is where Ng can share her passion for decorating and the good life. The first floor also has a design that brings the focus toward the outside terrace.
Ng’s interior style is light, open and chic. She loves interpreting old styles in a modern context. The older elements of the house are balanced with industrial modern features and bohemian touches. The ambience she created is relaxed and casual yet stylish and practical.
The second story is one of her favorite spots to chill at home. “We wanted a space where we could entertain and have aperitifs with our friends, listen to music, read or work without interruptions, as well as research with my collection of recipe books,” Ng said. “It’s a great (space) which stores our family heirlooms and a special glass cabinet displays all our silver and glassware.”
The glass cabinet, designed by Neri&Hu and purchased at Design Republic, is a stunning piece of art itself. Its sleek, simple lines and structure makes it a great display for the family’s amazing collection of vintage silverware, much of which comes from Europe.
“Our other favorite piece is the beautiful and simple two-tier elm wood cabinet that we bought when we had just arrived in Beijing in the 1980s. Luckily we have a high ceiling for it, as it towers over 2.5 meters,” she said.
Special attention also goes to the new painting by Basmat, a simple portrait with bold contrasting colors. “And I almost forgot the black and white fine cross stitch baby carrier from Guizhou. It has been with me for more than 15 years and it’s still one of my favorites,” Ng said.
Though Ng has a busy life, she loves to spend time together with family and with friends at home.
“The highlight of this house is the brightness of the space. I love to wake up to the sunlight in the morning. It has a uncluttered feel, warm colored furniture and accessories to compliment the space.”
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