SOME places have soul, and the rented apartment of Isabelle and Dominique Graz, and their lovely son Basile is most certainly one of them. Only a stone's throw away from the bustling Huaihai Road M., the 240-square-meter apartment is tucked inside a pleasant compound on Huating Road.

The family moved into this generous modern space because it offered them all the expanse and light they were looking for.

Back in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, the couple has an old farm-style house with a beautiful low roof, surrounded by an old garden, full of an ancient variety of roses and a vegetable garden just like the one that features in the "Peter Rabbit" books. American oak, maple and very tall cypress trees next to the pool shade the cozy house.

Having worked in one of the biggest estate agencies in Riviera, Isabelle Graz was in charge of the interior decoration department, covering private homes, residential buildings, chalets and resorts in the mountains.

"It was tough to drop my demission on my boss' desk, but as he loves adventures in life, he did understand and I didn't regret the decision to move at all," she said.

The couple chose a flat because they have a property in Switzerland and they wanted to experience life in an apartment in the middle of the city. "Our rented home is more or less exactly what we were looking for: plain solid mat wooden floor, white walls, enough space, light and views, altogether with trees," said Isabelle.

The flat has been renovated and insulated, and a proper heating system installed, making it a qualified place to live all year round. With only basic features, the space had great potential to build up an astonishing collection of furniture and accessories. Within several months, the simple, boring space was transformed into a flexible and homey open area where everyone gathers, as part of that whole freewheeling experience.

A relaxing, Bohemian chic feeling presides in the space, with a smidge of color. And Isabelle has amazing taste. She brought some of the family furniture pieces to their Shanghai home, such as the old wood dining table, the Cassina master bed and an old chest. She put them into the space, figured out what the rest of the space needed and where everything should go.

"Our home, whatever it has been or it will be, will always contain some of our roots and history. It contains a mix of old family furniture and pieces of art with a taste of today's living," she said.

"I like to feel the country I am living in at the moment. I do not consider a flat as a designed place, but more like an expression of emotions, a way of living. It has to be a cozy, welcoming, peaceful place where you look forward to go back to every day of your life."

In furnishing the house, Isabelle looked to the craftsmanship. It is also something very special about China, she thinks, that Chinese furniture craftsmanship is superior, especially for those delicate antique pieces. She herself likes to speculate on the treasures that still lie hidden from prying eyes.

"I'm glad that I was very much raised among nature, and kept an accurate and curious eye on everything just like a chameleon can turn their eyes in all directions," she said with a laugh.

Isabelle is sufficiently intrigued to find out about the style wherever she's been and when she moved to China last year, where Chinese style was freely available, it became a real passion. One find led to the next, and in no time she found herself the proud owner of a small collection.

An old medicine cabinet, a square wooden table, a marvelous tea pot, a piece of old embroidery, a beautiful book about art and craft in China, and some of the new Chinese designs of great beauty and simplicity became her obsessions.

"A taste of a new dimension, a new culture and most probably a challenge in adapting to our new resident country made me get so much joy out of it everyday," she said. "Sometimes I don't even like the styles, but the hand work which has been achieved fascinates me. Craftsmanship must be honored like a treasure and not be forgotten."

Given that Isabelle grew up among nature, you might think she would care more about spending time outside. But this apartment is also about the views and the green. The homeowner brings the outside inside with sophisticated and refreshing green decor in the kitchen.

The kitchen's color scheme is so light and cheerful thanks to the bright white-painted cabinets and a fresh green tone for accessories. Small plants and herbs, arranged in a group, also add charming accents and relaxing green leaves to the sunny kitchen interior.

Basile had a very clear mind about what he wanted for his room. "Based on the old US flat he got last summer at a flea market, I helped him design his bed and he chose the old money box as his bedside table," Isabelle said. Playful details and earthy-tone colors create the perfect place for the couple's son to hang out with friends, study and slumber.

There is no better room to run into a haven of sensuousness than the bedroom. And the couple's master bedroom is a relaxing sanctuary, with the bed making an imposing focal point. Heavy curtains and decor items are avoided. Here wood, bed linens, embroidery and shawls combine as if without a care in the world.

They love candles, incense and dry orange peels in the oven. The subtle smells calm, soothe and stimulate the senses.Q: What's the best thing about living in Shanghai?

A taste of a new dimension, a new culture and most probably a challenge in adapting to our new resident country.



Q: Describe your home in three words.

A: Peaceful, cozy, welcoming.



Q: What's the first thing you do when you get home?

A: After a workday, straight to the bath or shower, and jump into jeans and a white-cotton tee, and then a cup of smoky Lapsang souchong tea from Tschin-ta-ni in Geneva. I have never ever found that other particular smoky taste elsewhere, and drinking it reminds me of my childhood and dreams of adventure.



Q: How do you unwind?

A: With a bunch of good friends, sharing an evening meal around our old family table from Gruyere in Switzerland, or strolling along Shanghai streets with my husband and son.



Q: Where do you spend most of the time at home?

A: Most probably in the kitchen, as it is the meeting point for my family: chatting, homework and cooking. It was not easy to get it so welcoming, but we made it.



Q: What's the best view outside your window?

A: To the west of the building, all the buildings are illuminated in the evening. But I also like that kind of local and semi-industrial buildings we can see on the south side. There is always something happening: birds in the cage singing to each other, people wandering on the roof and a kind of city life rumor floating around.



Q: What's your favorite object at home?

A: A small turtle shell covered by pearl I received from a bushman when working in Namibia 25 years ago. It was filled with a mixture of scented herbs and the smell kept for over 15 years and it moves with us wherever we go.



Q: Where do you source furniture in Shanghai?

A: We like designer furniture and accessories from Banmoo. I like to search for old pieces, especially outside the city in those warehouses, where I can supervise their restoration to my taste. I also designed a couple of vintage iron furniture pieces for my home.

Who is he?

Tom Pen came to Shanghai as an architect, but now he is as much an entrepreneur as he is a designer. This being China, there are simply too many opportunities to pass up, so Pen eventually became involved in various design-related businesses rather than strictly an architect servicing clients whom most likely don't share the same values in design nor quality as him. As a result, Pen wears four different hats to satisfy his various interests in almost everything.

Firstly, he is still a practicing architect. Secondly, he is starting off as a small developer. Pen finds undervalued properties in cities in and outside of China, and he tries to raise capital and "add value" via design and construction. Thirdly, he founded MRKT with former business partner Bill Yen, and creates original home/office furniture. They have four retail shops in Shanghai and Taipei; and scores of retail partners home and abroad. Finally, he has recently been involved in a new beverage called Gold Cider with a group of friends, with his focus on design and image.

Tell us some of your works and name the one you are most proud of.

I have designed many clubhouses, retail complexes, villas and a few hotels. Currently, I am working on a hotel and a small conference center in Taipei. I won't know what I am most proud of until at least 10 years from now.

Describe your design style.

Mostly, I am an early modernist. I love simple things with traditional undercurrent or traditional things with modernist undercurrent. That is to say, I naturally gravitate toward the transition between tradition and modernity. I am very "low tech" - my wife basically forced me to use an iPhone, but I don't have any apps or music on it.

Where are you most creative?

It can be anywhere really, but when I am alone in a peaceful place is when I am most creative.

What does your home mean to you?

Home is where I can hide from the world.

Where do you like to go most in Shanghai?

Frankly, I like to go to work the most followed by going home. In Shanghai, streets are mostly ugly or over commercialized, there are no beautiful parks to speak of, and not many interesting places to shop, so there are not many places I want to go. Although I do enjoy exploring the former French concession area; I like walking in and out of small lanes and think how it can be improved in the future. Oh yes, I love to play golf - so I go when possible.

What will be the next big design trend?

I think Baroque is making a comeback, or a modern version of it. Most designers can do minimalism ok, but not many are talented enough to do good Baroque. And most people can't afford to do good Baroque anyway. So I think in China at least, the bourgeoisie is stuck in IKEA land for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the wealthy people in China will still be addicted to "status seeking," so that means bad Rococo for their homes and logos on their clothes.