IN the center of Shanghai, Italian architect Domitilla Lepri has crafted a warm and homey space that brims with items and decor that reflect her vibrant personality.

Lepri decided to buy this 75-square-meter apartment when she first moved to Shanghai. Located on Xiangyang Road S close to Julu Road she thought it’d be a great investment, but opted live in a house on Yongfu Road instead. For a while, she was spending more time in her native Rome, but when she moved back to Shanghai, it was clear that the apartment inside an 1930s building would become her new home base.

The beautiful details on the ceiling and nice moldings, the old windows on three sides of the apartment and the high ceilings had always impressed her.

Her criteria for an apartment were strict — it needed to be just the right amount of space, located in a historic building, flooded with natural light, and have a nice view and a great charm.

The historic parts of the apartment had been tinkered with when Lepri decided to purchase it.

“Luckily it still retained the original features,” she said. “I had to create a kitchen which didn’t exist and worked on the layout.”

A practical yet rather stylish living space was created by a professional architect. The space was opened up and a personal intimacy was given to each room without being cluttered.

“My interior style is contemporary and elegant. This is a small apartment so I tried to make it as comfortable and welcoming as possible,” Lepri said.

Lepri loves to use white as the background on which she can play with colors. “I love blue and like mixing different tones of blue so there are some blue details in each room.”

The living and dining room are the heart of the apartment and the place where Lepri socializes with friends. A big cabinet covering one wall is decorated with all kinds of “objects of art”, paintings, books, flowers and memorabilia Lepri has found during her trips. She painted the library wall with strong colors in order to create some contrast.

The living room gets a sensual feeling from beautiful cushions and fabrics in a great mix of colors and patterns that are also relaxing.

Indirect soft lighting plays an essential role in the living room to create a comfortable warm atmosphere

“I also love the big table here because I enjoy having friends over,” Lepri said.

To Lepri, the highlight of the living room is the black and white carpet. “I was seven months pregnant with my third daughter and went to Beijing to visit a friend with the older two. I saw it in the big old market in Beijing and bought it without hesitation,” Lepri said. “It was a heavy kilim rug. With the help of two girls, one three-year-old and the other one five, we were running around the airport carrying the carpet to transport back to Shanghai.”

“Balance is so important for any stylish interior: void and filled, light and dark, black and white, soft and hard,” she said.

“You also find many details with memories and things I’ve collected in the past here, from my home city Rome to the Chinese capital.”

The living room is connected to a small corridor that leads to the kitchen area.

Considering the size of the apartment, the kitchen area is quite large, even if Lepri says she doesn’t use it that much. “I’m Italian. Even though I don’t have much time to cook, I need to have the possibility to do it,” she said. “My kitchen must be divided from the rest of the house because I don’t like to clean up. This way I can wait until the next day!”

Next to the kitchen is the lovely bathroom with a classic art deco-inspired bathtub. “I love bathtubs but my husband prefers showers, so we need both. I also love to have a large sink top for all my daily grooming products and display some flowers or deco objects all around,” she said.

The master bedroom, on the other side of the living area, is a cozy space that reflects Lepri’s character and love of art and beauty. The door opening to the bedroom features Chinese details with Lepri’s collection of necklaces.

Blue is the obvious color scheme in the bedroom. “Because I love the color, from light to darker shades of blue, as long as it is blue,” Lepri said.

Lepri wanted to keep this apartment simple and linked to the local culture. “I have bought many artworks for other houses over the years, but in this apartment I wanted to keep the pieces linked to Chinese tradition, from Chinese calligraphy, to the picture of Tibet, except the painting that my beloved uncle did for me.”

Her style of decorating is instinctive and has grown with her over time. “Every so often, I update something or add some pieces. House creation is a long process that can take years.”

DESIGNER

CHARLIZE Seymour

WHO is she?

An architect from New York City, trained at Columbia University, practiced in NYC, Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai since 2001 with SOM, Aedas and Atkins, Charlize Seymour recently started an all-around design studio EiiDesign in Shanghai specializing in luxury interior design, furniture and product design as well as artwork and graphic design.

Tell us about some of your work, and name the project you are most proud of.

During my career as an architect with SOM and Aedas, I was very lucky to have the opportunity to work on some interesting and high profile projects around the globe, from concept design to construction on site. The ones I am most proud of and the ones most memorable would be: the new Mumbai International Airport (SOM) possibly the most beautiful airport in the world; and Sands Casino (Aedas), which was titled the largest casino in the world after the podium extension was completed. As for interior design projects, I am always proud to show off our new home in Jing’an, showcasing a modern minimal design with simple lines and forms, mirror glass extending the sense of space, with the warmth of walnut wood and marble stone as finishes.

Are you currently involved with any project?

We are working on a series of projects across the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. Focusing primarily on the exclusive residential market, corporate branding and product design. Our diversity of projects makes for a dynamic and energetic studio environment where ideas and concepts flow freely. Ongoing projects include exclusive residential show flats in Shanghai and luxurious ocean view apartments in Repulse Bay Hong Kong.

Describe your design style.

Minimalist and practical.

Where are you most creative?

With my cats. Both my husband and I are animal lovers. Since we move to Shanghai five years ago, we have been actively involved in rescuing stray and abused cats from highways and tunnels around Shanghai area. We are also planning an architectural furniture design product line for pets and their owners, intend as a charity project to help abandoned animals.

What does your home mean to you?

Home is family. It’s where we spend time with those most important in our lives. It provides a sense of warmth and serenity. Our home is designed to cater to our lifestyle here in Shanghai.

What do you collect?

I realize it’s cliche to say, but I collect shoes. Lots of shoes. Partly I do it for the inexplicable reason that I just love them. Mostly I do it to see the bewildered and perplexed look on my husband’s face when I buy them. Our solution is a large wardrobe system to keep them all organized and well cared for. What I tell clients is, design is tailor made to cater to their individual lifestyle. Tell us your dreams and we will design them for you.

Where would you like to go most in Shanghai?

We spend some of our free time at the sailing club at Dianshan Lake. We love nature and are grateful for any opportunity to get out of the city, even if it’s just for a little while. The peaceful environment, fresh air and lakeside stimulate creativity and I usually bring along my sketch book and camera. Nature inspires me and allows me to see design from a different perspective.

What will be the next big design trend?

We notice an increasing demand on the quality of living among Chinese home owners and buyers, especially the younger generation. Our design team is dedicated to fulfill this generation’s new demands in all its aspects, from well-functioned spatial planning and home systems, to bespoke custom-made furniture and the perfect art decoration.