Thanks to the efforts of interior designer Zhou Xuying, this apartment, which is located in Jiading District, Shanghai, features a perfect integration of the tranquility of traditional Chinese style and the agility of typical modern designs. In particular, the orange touches scattered around the rooms instantly light up the space, while giving a feeling of warmth in the days of winter.

Designer:

As an experienced interior designer, Zhou Xuying has a unique understanding of the use of colors: "Color is the No.1 visual language and the best tool to highlight the features of various spaces."

Her representative designs include China Resources’ Shanghai the Bund Side, CITIC Pacific Another City, Zhongkai Citylife and Wenzhou Ashanti Peninsula.

Case Analysis:

This townhouse consists of three storeys. The first storey includes a sitting room and a dining room, both large and brightly lit. On the second storey, there are a number of bedrooms and a study that is quiet and comfortable. The basement storey accommodates a fitness room and a TV room, which, in spite of their conflicting functions, actually feature a harmonious spatial curve thanks to the remarkable skills of the designer in the use of color.

 With regard to the colors of furniture, the designer specifically uses a few orange touches against the main tones of black, white and gray, to add dynamic warmth to a calm, clean space.

The white walls with textures and dark brown furniture set the key tones of the sitting room, while the orange leather chairs and sofa cushions could be the real eye catchers in the room.

Tips from the designer: Some additional touches of warm color in the room would prove to be a nice surprise.

With regard to the soft decoration, the designer spent a lot of time in the selection of the paintings and potted plants. Paintings of different styles are hung on the walls of the sitting room, the bedrooms and the TV room. In addition to the orange tulips, a lot of branches and woods with typical Chinese artistic conceptions are placed in the rooms to add some Zen spirits. 

Tips from the designer: Artistic paintings and potted flowers with abstract shapes are desirable tools to highlight the atmosphere of a particular room.

The fitness room in the basement is the most boldly-colored room in the entire house. A dark red wall stimulates the passion of family members for sports. Black and white pictures of bodybuilding further intensify the enthusiastic, energetic atmosphere of fitness, while eliminating any chance that the wall is too boring.

Tips from the designer: The dark red color looks less stark, but it conveys the same passion as red without being over flaunty. It is the right color for a dynamic room.

With three key tones, black, white and gray, the simple, elegant TV room contrasts drastically with the neighboring fitness room. The contrast enriches the spatial atmosphere of the basement storey.

Tips from the designer: The shaping of two drastically contrasting rooms that are spatially connected would be an interesting adventure.

The main bedroom is located on the second floor, and has the best sunshine. It is also the room with the most warm-colored elements, including a dark red curtain, an orange-toned painting, and some golden tulips to provide a sufficient sense of warmth.

Tips from the designer: A sweet, tranquil bedroom with ideal sunshine allows maximum comfort for your home life.