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Kick off your shoes and take in the view
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ELIZABETH Savant has decorated her rented Shanghai apartment from the foundations up, manipulating vertical spaces to open up the living areas and bring in natural light.
Located in a residential compound hidden in a downtown street, the three-level penthouse on top of the building conceals a surprising interior.
Savant, a gifted decorator who hails from California, personally designed a scheme for the spacious home. “What I have tried to create here is a comfortable, cheerful and cozy atmosphere. A place with elegance in mind, but also a place where you can come home and smell the scent of a fresh candle burning as well as a roast cooking in the oven,” Savant said.
Savant wants her family to be able to come home, kick off their shoes and linger over a slice of homemade bread while enjoying the view or chatting in the kitchen.
Over the past 12 years in Shanghai, Savant and her family has lived in apartments, villas and an old lane house.
“To me, the first and most important criteria when I find a home is that the structure or the ‘bones’ of the place have potential for redecorating in my style and that the finishes from the construction are of good quality,” she said.
“There are so many places in town but most of them, unfortunately, are not built with quality in mind or even style. I usually try to visualize how I would decorate and whether or not the style of unit compliments my style,” she said.
Her spacious apartment has met her criteria. “Even if it’s grey and cold outside, this space has an abundant amount of light and beautiful views of the city,” Savant said.
A lounge, just for the girls
However, what Savant loved most about this apartment is the large amount of rooms. “When I see empty space with rooms, I get excited because it means that I have many opportunities to create whatever I want to create.”
For example, there’s a room for her daughters to lounge, chill and hang out with friends. Their rooms are adjacent to their “lounge”, so Savant has created their own retreat area in a space that would otherwise be dead as there are no doors. She picked a purple rug, simply because it’s cheerful.
Overall, Savant describes her personal style as Californian with a touch of Europe and Asia. “My native Los Angeles is such a melting pot and I think my Spanish/Mexican roots are clearly seen in my style as well,” she said. “I love whites. I love bright colors. I love navy blue, orange, hot pink, turquoise and a hint of gold.”
The colors she loves to wear are also the ones found around the house. “That is why when people come over, they know that this is truly my own unique style and they can feel it when they come in the door.”
The blue-and-grey living room is the highlight. “I think I am drawn to hues of blue and paintings with water in them because I grew up on the coast,” Savant said. “Blues are soothing to me and bright colors remind me of summer and the beach.”
A painting of a teepee by Tom Gilleon in her living room is her favorite. “Each time my husband and I look at this painting we imagine a family inside and the light flickering at dusk. It brings a bit of our American West roots to our beautifully modern life we experience here in Shanghai.”
Calming white and khaki
The dining room next to the living area is very spacious so the family uses it for formal gatherings. “My husband and I love to cook and we love to entertain. This room is still work in progress. I would love to use wallpaper for this room with something bold to make it pop, but those are the disadvantages of renting.”
For now, she will settle for a rug that she purchased from Italy as well as the rustic table and chairs that she found at a local furniture store.
The second-level master bedroom is very zen. “I’m pretty consistent with my choice of colors for my bedroom: white, white and khaki with a hint of silver. I love to create a cozy and clean retreat after a crazy loud day of exploring the city. I have white orchids, white sheets, white towels, white and tan pillows, white candles and white curtains. I find that neutrals can be incredibly calming.”
Her two daughters, however, have different tastes when it comes to interior design and color schemes. “The nine-year-old loves bright colors and her favorite color is orange. The elder 12-year-old has gone to black and white. Everything in her room is black, white and khaki.’’
The top-level TV room features a replica of an old Hollywood film poster. “I suppose it makes us feel at home to sit in this deliciously bright room and watch movies together or play board games,” Savant said.
The TV room is one of Savant’s favorite rooms at home. She wanted to create a fun but cozy area with bright colors with room for her collectibles from traveling. The turquoise and khaki rug compliment the painting on the wall and the furniture is covered in soft velour.
“I’m a big fan of slip covered furniture for two reasons: one is that I love to change my colors often and I feel like I can afford it here. Shanghai is the textile capital of the world and I love to trek to those markets and find new fabrics or recover pillows. I love the flexibility, and if the slipcovers are done right, they can look fantastic in any room,” she said.
“I’m also a big fan of decorating with orchids and fresh cut flowers. Flowers can add the final touch to a room, and I absolutely love going to the flower market and buying bunches of flowers...and I clean up my outdoor flowers at least every six months.”
Savant is passionate about decorating her home. “I love it because it makes me happy and I know that when friends come over, they appreciate the love that I have for keeping my home cheerful and cozy. I think the most important elements to making a home welcoming and lively are the attention to small details — flowers, pillows, cozy throws, scented candles and the scent of a delicious meal cooking in the oven. That’s what I consider to be the secret.”
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