When French elegance meets Shanghai Art deco | NONG STUDIO

This old mansion is like a beautiful poem, filled with the vicissitudes of time. Originally a three-story structure, each level had its own pavilion. When we first saw it, the original appearance of the building was in a state of decay, with little natural light. However, we began by removing the ceilings on all floors, eliminating height differences in the floors, and returning to the true essence of the architecture. We cleverly leveled the pavilions with other areas, giving each floor a more spacious and open feel. Next, we demolished all the partition walls on the first floor, allowing air to flow freely and life to flourish. Additionally, the heavy wooden grilles were replaced with lightweight window frames, introducing light and views of the outside, and the scale of the doors was enlarged, creating a more elegant space.

This old mansion has a four-story structure. The first and second floors represent openness and freedom, the third floor is the owner's private sanctuary, and the fourth floor is an outdoor terrace.

The first floor accommodates the living room and dining room, where guests can relax. The walls on this floor appear to be decorated with plaster moldings, but they are actually made up of hand-fired bricks, meticulously arranged and colored. The bathroom bursts with vibrant colors, constructed from green bricks of varying shades, carefully mixed to create a gradient inspired by Ru kiln ceramics, as if emitting a blue-green radiance. When you open the bathroom window, you are greeted by a round "moon" on the backyard wall, with sunlight casting the shadow of tree branches like an ink painting.

The second floor has three spaces: a study and tea room facing the garden, where the owner can create or enjoy tea with friends. Next door is a media room, resembling a family library where friends can grab a book and read on the comfortable sofa or lower the curtains to watch a movie.

The third floor is entirely dedicated to the owner's private space, featuring a living room, bedroom, walk-in closet, spacious bathroom, and a charming small loft. Surprisingly, the bedroom is even smaller than the bathroom, but after removing the ceiling, we discovered a sloping roof that allowed us to design an enchanting skylight. In contrast to the bedroom, the bathroom features a massive bathtub. The fairytale atmosphere of the third floor comes from a small round window in the loft, with gentle lines resembling a dream.

The overall furnishings were carefully selected, with all sofas upholstered in fabric for comfort. The wallpaper in the stairwell is as soft as fabric, providing a soothing touch. Each space's lighting fixtures have their own unique characteristics, blending harmoniously with the ambiance of the space. All the artworks in the home are created by female artists, including pieces by Fu Xiaotong made from handmade paper that resemble landscape paintings and integrate seamlessly with the overall space. Inspiration for life is derived from these subtle details.

In addition, we made full use of the high ceiling on the ground floor of the mansion, introducing curved walls and abstract, sleek plaster moldings. Each floor features different geometric floor patterns, with the ground floor using a 1x1 meter module, creating a visually infinite sense of expansion. The second floor incorporates a herringbone pattern with curved lines, filled with exquisite details. The renovated ground floor, from the front yard to the living room, kitchen, dining room, and back yard, feels like a seamless path, exuding French elegance and the streamlined beauty of Art Deco—a delicate and flexible beauty. The sense of "lightness" in the new home is woven into every detail, no longer relying on excessive decorations, but rather inviting discovery in the subtleties: linear lighting under the stairs, casting a warm twilight hue on the stairwell's side wall; a glass elevator box that combines functionality and aesthetics, subtly integrated beside the stairs; within the elevator, mirrors introduce natural light, enhancing the flow of light.

A home should have some playful elements. Just like spaces and furniture, they need to transcend mere utility, injecting a bit of playfulness and whimsy so that you can feel that it's not just a container or a place to store objects, but an integral part of your life.