A French chic house fusion with Shanghai lifestyle | NONG STUDIO

The house owner is a young couple born in 1990s, engage in fashion industry. They are enjoying bonuses of the era in which independent wills of individuals can be enlarged infinitely.They pursue authentic self and refuse to suffer or suppress. They advocate the romantic, casual, relaxing yet exquisite French art de vivre.

The biggest challenge is to create a combination between French art de vivre with Shanghai lifestyle in current space conditions and limitations. As a result, we are not only function-oriented, but take inspiration from scene of their daily life as starting point.

The garage is chosen as main entrance instead of ground floor since our story starts from driving home with several friends. When the garage auto-door smoothly open up, built-in ceiling linear light extends infinitely through the reflection of mirror and car body, demonstrating a limitless sense of space and sense of speed. Along with sliding glass door opens, the pure white spiral staircase solidifies the whole image like an elegant rest.

Winding up, brass and marble flooring parquet looks exactly like episode scene of Sex and the City, in which contains audio-video room, bar and photography studio, extensive walk-in closet and playground for children, everyone can find his private garden here.

Another spiral staircase staring from the end of basement, decorated with wallpaper inspired by brick walks ubiquitous in Shanghai old historical architecture. The scene on the first floor deliver the mood of a sunny and cozy French “yard”. Separating living from dining space, green onyx wall evokes green image, gently introducing greenness and sunlight inside. An elegant curtain-shape layer of wavy decorative parapet on the wall of living room, chord with continuous arch doors to harmonize space proportion, reshape rigid windows of original building and introduce light gently inside. Various materials dancing with art and design furniture from all over the world, interpret a versatile of life scene.  

In the foyer, we use transparent and yellow glass bricks to build up a container of light. The black, white and grey marble mosaic parquet flooring extends this elegance form foyer into kitchen and breakfast area that resonate French gardens. Dark green SMEG kitchen appliances restore a dreaming vintage kitchen. A curvy oak wine cabinet is like vines in the yard, under dappled sunlight, as if to produce strings of wisteria.

On the second floor, the corridor over dining room connects master bedroom suite with children’s bedroom, and sitting an elegant Steinway & Sons piano to play. When opening the door of master bedroom, a romantic and comfortable family room appears. At the corner hangs a true fire fireplace, around which the space unfolds slowly, with artworks everywhere. Behind blue mirror sliding doors on both sides of family room, nestling a walk-in closet and master bathroom, with cozy bedroom on the other.

Satisfying material desire honestly and appreciating art casually are the starting point of our design. We use scenes and experience of life, other than function, to organize the space and to define forms with images. Pursue whatever the heart feels and enjoy meetings in life will bring ourselves surprise and joy. No matter exciting enjoyment or relieving relaxation, in a social group or alone, spiritual garden or appearance, are all handled exquisitely and comfortably, demonstrating an open-mindedness of “not trapped in the past, nor confused with the future”.