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Splashes of color enhance simple design
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WHEN Eva Molina Biorck was searching for a home in Beijing she had three main requirements — lots of space, lots of natural light and high ceilings.
The Swedish native and her husband Alexander Molina from Colombia chose to live in an old-style diplomatic apartment from the 1960s, which is close to their restaurants Mosto, Modo Urban Deli and Moka Bros in the capital’s Sanlitun area.
From the selection of decoration materials and colors, to the stylish furniture and displays, the 130-square-meter apartment boasts a tasteful and warm design with meticulous detail.
White walls create a feeling of airiness and make the rooms seem larger. Colorful artworks and decorations against white backgrounds work well to break up the grey and brown hues of the furniture.
Indirect lighting creates a sense of warmth.
“We’ve put up gallery track lights in a few rooms, which makes the lighting very comfortable and enhances the homey ambience,” said Biorck.
She said she loves adding details that are unique, mixing vintage finds and modern designs to fill their home with a personal sensibility.
“My interior style is simplistic yet colorful. I was trying to create a home that is Scandinavian fused with a lot of colors and Asian accents,” she said. “As Scandinavians we remain true to our strong design heritage and incorporate these elements with fabrics and materials that are unique to China.”
Eva has her own way of blending both the differences and similarities of Asian and Scandinavian cultures into her home. The end result is harmonious and fresh.
“This fusion ambience stems from my own personal experience and tastes as a Scandinavian living in Beijing. I appreciate the craftsmanship of traditional Chinese design but as Scandinavian style is about simplicity, I’ve made an effort to simplify some elements,” she said.
Design philosophy
Having arrived in Beijing in 1996 shortly after graduating from the East Asian Studies Program at Stockholm University, she had worked in sales and marketing for Scandinavian Airlines and later found a way to engage her love for both Scandinavian and Chinese aesthetics by founding home accessories company Biorck&Co in 2003.
She had been working closely with famous Swedish textile designer Gunilla Lagerhem Ullbergm and had sold products to well-respected clients and upscale design shops. Now she has two shops in Beijing.
The design philosophy is consistent from her Biorck&Co collection to her own dwelling — Scandinavian simplicity fused with Asian attributes, vibrant colors and patterns.
Biorck has a unique eye for interior style and she didn’t want her home look to be like everyone else’s.
“I don’t want a typical ‘TV centered’ living room so we chose to put the sofa in a different angle,” she said.
The sitting area is arranged facing one of Eva’s favorite pieces of furniture, a Chinese-style yellow narrow chest of drawers.
“It’s nice to look at but also super functional and great to store important documents, papers and small things,” she said.
“And since we don’t have a big dining room we had to fit our dining table in the living area. It is an original Piet Hein table I found many years ago at a vintage shop in Stockholm — not the classic super ellipse table but a smaller rounder version. I’m also very fond of my yellow lamp that hangs over the dining table — a second hand find from Stockholm,” she added.
The dining table is placed by the window and balcony, offering nice green views and although it’s small it can still seat up to six people for a meal.
The kitchen is like a “corridor” so they put a bar table at the end of it.
“The placement works very well and we can sit or stand while eating and chatting at breakfast time,” Biorck said.
The couple have three children, including infant twin boys, making them think about how to best utilize space.
“I’ve added playful but abstract textiles from Marimekko as wall hangings and placed a big green rug designed by Ullberg. The toys are organized in boxes along the wall,” said Biorck.
Q: What’s the best thing about living in Beijing?
A: Meeting people from different nationalities and the proximity to the beautiful mountains surrounding Beijing.
Q: Describe your home in three words.
A: Simplistic, colorful, cozy.
Q: What’s the first thing you do when you get home?
A: Hug my children and unwind on the balcony in summer days.
Q: How do you unwind?
A: Reading books and magazines.
Q: Where do you spend most of the time at home?
A: In the living room.
Q: What’s the view outside your window?
A: Trees, trees, trees!
Q: How do you scent your home?
A: I don’t. I’m not a big fan of scented candles and oils. I like to keep it fresh and natural. Open the windows!
Q: What’s your favorite object at home?
A: My Pinocchio print by Chinese artist Liu Ye.
Q: Where do you source furniture in Beijing?
A: Gaobeidian antique market, Ikea, custom made by carpenters, and bringing back small objects and things from our travels.
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