FURNISHINGS AND ACCENTS

As in any contemporary interior design, furnishings and details in China vary hugely and imaginatively. Retail business and fashion demand it. Yet, in the Chinese world of interiors, the influence of traditional furniture makes itself felt in a way that does not happen in the West. Two things have brought this about: first, the sheer length of historical development of chairs, tables and display stands, among others, and second, the refinement and simplification of line that reached its peak in the Ming dynasty and which suits modern taste and thought so well. This expression takes two forms: that of antiques or fine modern reproductions used in a modern context, and that of inspiration and a jumping-off point for contemporary designers who want to refer to tradition rather than simply import it.

The strong aesthetic appeal of Chinese traditional furniture is due to its simple lines as well as its use of natural materials, such as the finest hardwoods. Nothing is hidden, and the wood is polished, stained or lacquered to evoke its natural earthiness and grainy patterns. As we can see in this chapter, traditional furniture ‘goes’ with so many varied themes. In its contribution as an influence on contemporary furniture design, it plays a more intellectual role by giving an ‘idea core’ around which young designers can work.

Whether used as they are, or more obliquely as inspiration for designers, the entire range of Chinese furnishing and accessory forms, from chairs to screens to objects, helps to satisfy a growing demand for meaning and history among an increasingly aesthetically conscious Chinese market. ‘Ikea-ization’ is a global trend that, unfortunately, tends to level the field of design, and is now being resisted by a new generation of informed home owners as well as designers in China, who prefer a sense of continuity with China’s rich design history.

Fine Ming furniture comprising two pairs of low-backed Rose chairs and a pair of stools assembled as a coffee table, all in huanghuali wood, form the centerpiece of this restrained, elegant Hong Kong living room, along with contemporary sofas.