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June 4, 2017

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Home » Sunday » Home and Design

Shaping a home that reflects eclectic Shanghai nature

By Patsy Yang | 00:00 UTC+8 June 4, 2017 | Print Edition

WHEN Tony Chen approached interior design Baptiste Bohu, he was already living in the apartment.

It was a typical Pudong compound flat with no character and a big lack of storage.

He decided to make a change. “I asked for recommendation from my favorite home decoration store and got connected to Baptiste. I was impressed by his projects profiled in home decoration magazines and newspapers,” Chen said.

The French designer, who is known for mixing old and new, Chinese and French, premium and rough materials, thus took up the challenge of transforming this basic layout into an interesting space and creating as much storage space as possible in a limited area.

The brief was to reflect Shanghai’s eclectic past and present characters. “And we wanted our home spaces to be functional and inspirational at the same time,” Chen said.

Chen and his family have international background. They mix Western and Chinese lifestyle so the combination of both worlds was important.

Chen is a partner at one of the largest international law firms in the world. He moved to Shanghai from Silicon Valley a few years after China’s WTO accession to help technology and pharmaceutical companies conduct cross border business and resolve intellectual property disputes.

“His office is on the Bund and he has a great sensitivity to Art deco architecture and interiors so one of his request was to include those elements. In addition, the homeowner has an interesting and eclectic art collection and the Interior had to take into accounts the art works,” Bohu said.

From the selection of materials and colors, to the stylish furniture and displays, the apartment boasts a tasteful and warm design with meticulous detail after Bohu’s magic work.

“The interior is urban and chic, mixing East and West with some arty and Art Deco flairs,” Bohu said.

“I think the entrance is definitely the hero of the house. It basically did not exist before renovation as the entrance was just a passage between living and dining room. I love entrances; I think they are very important and give the tone to the whole interior,” the designer said.

He remodeled the apartment layout to create that entrance by using a mosaic floor with a geometric pattern that he designed, and had it made exactly the way it was made 100 years ago in Bund building so it looks very authentic.

“We had to redo this floor three times to get a satisfying result. On the ceiling there is a faux skylight with Led Lighting and art deco pattern, again to resemble Bund building entrances.”

The interior style is a mixture of different eras and influences.

“You can see some mid century inspired chairs and furniture, some French Art Deco, Chinese vases decoration, contemporary sofas... There is not one style but instead a mix of everything arranged together,” Bohu emphasized. The apartment is not so vast so Bohu decided to have it ultra tailored with numerous amount of details.

For instance, the wallpaper is in Grey Silk, and all the walls are surrounded by black velvet fabric which matches the silk curtains in each room.

The moldings have all been designed and customized for each room. “We considered the house almost like fashion design because the attention to fabric selection was really important,” he added.

The base color scheme is neutral with some shades of grey, white, and black and there are some touches of color with the decoration and the art work.

In the dining area they chose light green leather for the dining chair which is quite an unusual selection but it matches very well both paintings we have in that room. In the master bedroom Bohu opted for a more powder pink look, and the study has a warm tone thanks to bamboo wood element. Chen’s daughter room has light turquoise wall surrounded by dark pink lines.

Different color hues help to spice up the environment, creating a tasteful ambience and adding splashes of color to the overall tone.

“Finding furniture in Shanghai is not easy and the homeowner wanted something quite specific and tailored so very naturally I designed almost all the furniture for the house which was the launch of this new part of my design studio ­— BB furniture collection,” Bohu said.

The designer was particularly satisfied with the results of the master bedroom, the dining room and the entrance. “I think those rooms epitomize very well my design intention and the brief given by Chen and his family. I’m also satisfied with the fact that it is elegant and urban but still cozy and family friendly.”

Chen has a wonderful art collection from artists he met in Xi’an, Hangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and from Japan and Europe that reflects his travel experience and interests.

“I am also happy that we incorporated well all of Chen’s art work because it was one of his main concern,” Bohu said.

“Every element in the apartment, down to door knobs, was custom designed or curated by Bohu to create the desired effect. He knows how to generate excitement in space without causing jarring sensation,” Chen said.

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

A: Witnessing and participating in the making of a world-leading metropolis.

Q: Describe your home in three words.

A: Art, designs and views.

Q: What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
A: Take off my shoes and get comfortable.

Q: How do you unwind?
A: Sailing in Dianshan Lake or biking in Shanghai neighborhood with family.


Q: What’s the view outside your window?
A: Panoramic views of villas in Green City, Tomson Golf Course, and Century Park and Shanghai Tower in the distance.

Q: How do you scent your home?

A: Fresh cut flowers.

Q: What’s your favorite object at home?
A: A sculpture chandelier created by French artist Val.


Q: Where do you source furniture in Shanghai?

A: Baptiste Bohu workshop.

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