Your Guide to Creative China
CH 5: Fabulous Furniture
Published March 8, 2010
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While Shanghai has clearly earned its reputation as a party city, economic center, and architectural playground, a furniture-lover's dream it is not. For those who have tired of the big-box stores (IKEA) and crave some distinctive textiles, case goods, and accessories, here are five places to try. The first three are relatively new, located in the the budding Wending Living Style Plaza, out in Xujiahui's sprawling home goods district. The last two are more central Shanghai standbys.
1) Missoni Home
Missoni is synonymous with sunny, punchy patterns, and that's exactly what you'll find in the Missoni Home collection. Only a few pieces of furniture fit in this small shop, but the upholstery options are virtually endless. The walls are lined with large swatches of Missoni-designed textiles you can apply to low chairs, love seats, sofas or chaise lounges. There are also lots of accessories -- from bed linens to bathrobes, rugs, throw pillows and towels -- in the iconic zig-zags, stripes and floral patterns that have made Missoni famous.
unit C112, Wending Living Style Plaza, 258 Wending Lu near Kaixuan Lu, Tel: 6441 6751, web.
2) Deluxe Casa
This spacious showroom displays two types of wicker furniture: 1) the real deal rattan, imported from Indonesia, 2) durable synthetic rattan made right here in China. The imported items comprise a smaller section of the store, but boast high quality and a natural, unvarnished look for indoor items, like shelves. The synthetic, ComeFeel brand synthetics are much more varied and can be used outdoors. There's a wicker bar, a commodious hanging lounge swing, and innovative stackable sets of chairs and tables that can be stored in a sphere-shaped stack, or a pillar -- handy for seasonal use on patios. Pick your own colors: neutrals (black, gray, white) for the furniture, and neutral or accent (orange, red, and more) for cushions.
unit B117-2 Wending Living Style Plaza, 258 Wending Lu near Kaixuan Lu, Tel: 6428 7012, web.
3) Bali Bali
Pacific Green is the main brand featured in Bali Bali, a vast space full of living and dining room sets with a distinctive, upscale tribal vibe. The specialty is smooth, glossy palmwood originating in the South Pacific. This unique, sienna-colored hardwood is matched with contrasting, bright fabrics and simple hand-finishing drawn directly from the techniques of indigenous peoples. Expect: visible stitching and wood grains, luxurious white leathers and black furs, occasional shocks of tangerine or animal print. Some accessories like lamps and mirrors also available.
unit B122, Wending Living Style Plaza, 258 Wending Lu near Kaixuan Lu, Tel: 6441 7569, web.
4) Casa Pagoda
Like shopping in an oversized living room, Casa Pagoda offers an eclectic array of goods that don't fit neatly into one overall style. The shop is run by a husband and wife team who travel and shop together, gradually building a culturally mixed collection. Their taste encompasses: artificially distressed vintage-look couches, tables, and armoirs; Union Jack tote bags and wall hangings; zebra print wing chairs; hand-blown glass vases, and lots of retro knick-knacks like decoupage ashtrays.
15-17 on Taikang Lu near Sinan Lu (not inside the famous Tianzifang lanes), Tel: 6466 7521, web.
5) Design Republic
Shanghai's hyped "it" store for home goods has taken it down a notch, but they do still exist. In October 2009, Design Republic closed down their sprawling shop on the Bund and moved to Yuqing Road. Inside the sleek, white-walled shop you'll find two floors or modern, minimal furnishings. Design Republic aims to introduce top international brands to China. They've been known to import goods by Frank Gehry and Mooi. If you don't know the Mooi horse lamp, you should probably check your pulse.
1/F & 2/F, 88 Yuqing Lu, Tel: 6082 3882, web.
1) Missoni Home
Missoni is synonymous with sunny, punchy patterns, and that's exactly what you'll find in the Missoni Home collection. Only a few pieces of furniture fit in this small shop, but the upholstery options are virtually endless. The walls are lined with large swatches of Missoni-designed textiles you can apply to low chairs, love seats, sofas or chaise lounges. There are also lots of accessories -- from bed linens to bathrobes, rugs, throw pillows and towels -- in the iconic zig-zags, stripes and floral patterns that have made Missoni famous.
unit C112, Wending Living Style Plaza, 258 Wending Lu near Kaixuan Lu, Tel: 6441 6751, web.
2) Deluxe Casa
This spacious showroom displays two types of wicker furniture: 1) the real deal rattan, imported from Indonesia, 2) durable synthetic rattan made right here in China. The imported items comprise a smaller section of the store, but boast high quality and a natural, unvarnished look for indoor items, like shelves. The synthetic, ComeFeel brand synthetics are much more varied and can be used outdoors. There's a wicker bar, a commodious hanging lounge swing, and innovative stackable sets of chairs and tables that can be stored in a sphere-shaped stack, or a pillar -- handy for seasonal use on patios. Pick your own colors: neutrals (black, gray, white) for the furniture, and neutral or accent (orange, red, and more) for cushions.
unit B117-2 Wending Living Style Plaza, 258 Wending Lu near Kaixuan Lu, Tel: 6428 7012, web.
3) Bali Bali
Pacific Green is the main brand featured in Bali Bali, a vast space full of living and dining room sets with a distinctive, upscale tribal vibe. The specialty is smooth, glossy palmwood originating in the South Pacific. This unique, sienna-colored hardwood is matched with contrasting, bright fabrics and simple hand-finishing drawn directly from the techniques of indigenous peoples. Expect: visible stitching and wood grains, luxurious white leathers and black furs, occasional shocks of tangerine or animal print. Some accessories like lamps and mirrors also available.
unit B122, Wending Living Style Plaza, 258 Wending Lu near Kaixuan Lu, Tel: 6441 7569, web.
4) Casa Pagoda
Like shopping in an oversized living room, Casa Pagoda offers an eclectic array of goods that don't fit neatly into one overall style. The shop is run by a husband and wife team who travel and shop together, gradually building a culturally mixed collection. Their taste encompasses: artificially distressed vintage-look couches, tables, and armoirs; Union Jack tote bags and wall hangings; zebra print wing chairs; hand-blown glass vases, and lots of retro knick-knacks like decoupage ashtrays.
15-17 on Taikang Lu near Sinan Lu (not inside the famous Tianzifang lanes), Tel: 6466 7521, web.
5) Design Republic
Shanghai's hyped "it" store for home goods has taken it down a notch, but they do still exist. In October 2009, Design Republic closed down their sprawling shop on the Bund and moved to Yuqing Road. Inside the sleek, white-walled shop you'll find two floors or modern, minimal furnishings. Design Republic aims to introduce top international brands to China. They've been known to import goods by Frank Gehry and Mooi. If you don't know the Mooi horse lamp, you should probably check your pulse.
1/F & 2/F, 88 Yuqing Lu, Tel: 6082 3882, web.
