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A clever room boasting comfort and class
By Patsy Yang |
February 22, 2009, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
KAREN Spencer and her family enjoy the comforts of modern living in the city's most-desired old residential area. Modern convenience and elements of China's rich history define this 340-square-meter interior, which is a clever blend of comfort and luxury.
Spencer, born in Toronto, has moved with her family 24 times in her life. When looking for a family house in Shanghai, Spencer and her husband, Robert Welanetz, honed in on a villa residence that was ideally located in a verdant compound on Huaihai Road M. So important, in fact, that Spencer has based her life and work around the area. Her design studio and showroom in Ferguson Lane is just a two-minute walk away.
This villa meets her criteria as it provides a safe, quiet oasis in the middle of a crazy city. "It is spacious and has a lot of history yet it has been completely renovated with modern appliances and conveniences," Spencer said.
"When I saw the garden, the flowers, the trees and the yard, I was sold. I wanted my children to be able to have a place to ride their bikes and play outside."
Spencer loves that it is difficult to see from the street but when you open the gates to the compound it is like a hidden, beautiful village. During the summer it is filled with flowers and in the winter the trees and Christmas lights make it look festive.
However, while the neighborhood environment is perfect for the family, there is a downside to the interior. "There was a lot of color in the house when we moved in and I tried to tone down everything and give it a more earthy feeling," she said.
The cleaner aesthetic is tied to lifestyle: the hectic pace we live with demands a home that is simple, spare, calm and relaxed, not to mention efficient and uncluttered.
Spencer's home suggests a way of making a contemporary aesthetic appear personalized and warm.
She said it took a lot of work to make this home feel cozy. At first, there were orange and blue curtains throughout the house with grey and white marble everywhere. And there were a lot of gold fixtures.
"I immediately replaced all the window treatments and then added rugs, cushions and cashmere throws to soften the house. I chose creamy and brown colors because they have a calming effect on me. After a long day of honking horns, construction, fireworks and the shouting on the streets, it is nice to come home to a peaceful, tidy environment."
Spencer sees a neutral palette as the ultimate in stylish self-expression. Ivory, chocolate brown, rich creams - these are what allow life's more vibrant times to speak for themselves. "I buy fresh flowers every week but only white - never color. I love a tranquil environment."
There are many challenges associated with working with a small room, but there are also a lot of issues dealing with a large space. If it is not dealt with properly, the space will feel overwhelming and uncomfortable.
When she started on the spacious ground floor, it was crucial for Spencer to create zones. The goal was to make it feel almost like a series of rooms put together to provide communal areas for entertaining, reading and conversational areas for more intimate or private activities, depending on the family's needs.
She hung curtains from the ceiling to create the illusion of another room and to space the focal points in the room. Yet the furniture is still from the same palette so that it doesn't feel disjointed when the curtains are open.
The family has one area for entertaining and another room that connects the kitchen and television viewing area. The TV area was specially created because Spencer loves to have her children watching TV or reading close by while she is in the kitchen organizing dinner.
Spencer uses lots of texture to take up visual space. Rugs, leather sofas, pillows and throws appear to have more substance than smoother options. The effect of the brown lampshade spreads a more concentrated light around the seating which appears more intimate.
When the home owners organize a party, they can open the curtains to create a larger room. When the couple watches a movie at night, they can close the curtains to create a smaller, more romantic space.
For Spencer the cavernous space seems to be a joy to decorate. She made it both intimate and open, with just the right balance.
Spencer is one of those moms who desire unique, customized furniture and decoration for her children. While she is not a big fan of bright colors, she still chooses orange, yellow and green as the theme colors of the children's room because "it is friendly, fun and appropriate for a child's room."
The children's playroom is hidden in the basement and is a room designated for play and toy storage. Tucked away from the entry to the home it allows the children the freedom to play and even make a mess in their own space. Spencer also likes to box up and organize their toys and games, which cuts down on unnecessary clutter.
Spencer, born in Toronto, has moved with her family 24 times in her life. When looking for a family house in Shanghai, Spencer and her husband, Robert Welanetz, honed in on a villa residence that was ideally located in a verdant compound on Huaihai Road M. So important, in fact, that Spencer has based her life and work around the area. Her design studio and showroom in Ferguson Lane is just a two-minute walk away.
This villa meets her criteria as it provides a safe, quiet oasis in the middle of a crazy city. "It is spacious and has a lot of history yet it has been completely renovated with modern appliances and conveniences," Spencer said.
"When I saw the garden, the flowers, the trees and the yard, I was sold. I wanted my children to be able to have a place to ride their bikes and play outside."
Spencer loves that it is difficult to see from the street but when you open the gates to the compound it is like a hidden, beautiful village. During the summer it is filled with flowers and in the winter the trees and Christmas lights make it look festive.
However, while the neighborhood environment is perfect for the family, there is a downside to the interior. "There was a lot of color in the house when we moved in and I tried to tone down everything and give it a more earthy feeling," she said.
The cleaner aesthetic is tied to lifestyle: the hectic pace we live with demands a home that is simple, spare, calm and relaxed, not to mention efficient and uncluttered.
Spencer's home suggests a way of making a contemporary aesthetic appear personalized and warm.
She said it took a lot of work to make this home feel cozy. At first, there were orange and blue curtains throughout the house with grey and white marble everywhere. And there were a lot of gold fixtures.
"I immediately replaced all the window treatments and then added rugs, cushions and cashmere throws to soften the house. I chose creamy and brown colors because they have a calming effect on me. After a long day of honking horns, construction, fireworks and the shouting on the streets, it is nice to come home to a peaceful, tidy environment."
Spencer sees a neutral palette as the ultimate in stylish self-expression. Ivory, chocolate brown, rich creams - these are what allow life's more vibrant times to speak for themselves. "I buy fresh flowers every week but only white - never color. I love a tranquil environment."
There are many challenges associated with working with a small room, but there are also a lot of issues dealing with a large space. If it is not dealt with properly, the space will feel overwhelming and uncomfortable.
When she started on the spacious ground floor, it was crucial for Spencer to create zones. The goal was to make it feel almost like a series of rooms put together to provide communal areas for entertaining, reading and conversational areas for more intimate or private activities, depending on the family's needs.
She hung curtains from the ceiling to create the illusion of another room and to space the focal points in the room. Yet the furniture is still from the same palette so that it doesn't feel disjointed when the curtains are open.
The family has one area for entertaining and another room that connects the kitchen and television viewing area. The TV area was specially created because Spencer loves to have her children watching TV or reading close by while she is in the kitchen organizing dinner.
Spencer uses lots of texture to take up visual space. Rugs, leather sofas, pillows and throws appear to have more substance than smoother options. The effect of the brown lampshade spreads a more concentrated light around the seating which appears more intimate.
When the home owners organize a party, they can open the curtains to create a larger room. When the couple watches a movie at night, they can close the curtains to create a smaller, more romantic space.
For Spencer the cavernous space seems to be a joy to decorate. She made it both intimate and open, with just the right balance.
Spencer is one of those moms who desire unique, customized furniture and decoration for her children. While she is not a big fan of bright colors, she still chooses orange, yellow and green as the theme colors of the children's room because "it is friendly, fun and appropriate for a child's room."
The children's playroom is hidden in the basement and is a room designated for play and toy storage. Tucked away from the entry to the home it allows the children the freedom to play and even make a mess in their own space. Spencer also likes to box up and organize their toys and games, which cuts down on unnecessary clutter.
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