Designer Profile: Peter Lam

Malaysian-born interior designer, Peter Lam founded Hot Dog Decor in 2005, shortly after his arrival in Shanghai. Since then, Peter and his team have been hired to revitalize and personalize homes and and commercial spaces. Their work has been featured in local and international media, on CCTV here in the city, and on the faraway pages of Madame Figaro magazine, based in Greece.

Designing fashion boutiques to resemble your own home, and transforming living spaces without all the fuss and dust and drilling of tearing up cement -- these are just a couple of the interesting ideas coming from Peter Lam, of Hot Dog Decor.

Though Lam worked in advertising agencies before switching his focus to moulding the worlds we eat, sleep, and work in, he says he's always had home decor on the brain. It "has been a passion of mine since I was young."



When asked how formal education and work or personal experiences have helped develop his abilities and style, Lam is quick to point to life experiences. First, he gives a nod to overseas adventures. "I try to visit at least one new place every year." So far, that wanderlust has taken him "to every inhabitable continent. And I'm still finding new places to visit." This year a trip to Milan's international furniture fair and then some time in Switzerland were among the plans in his agenda.



As anyone who's seen this city through recession can tell you, the demand for luxury is still around, but competition is high. "How do you differentiate yourself from the pack?" we asked. Lam describes his style as "quite eclectic", creating "suprising" spaces by mixing "daring" colors, "and I have been known to use unconventional combinations," he adds. "I don't follow any rules."

He is also a strong proponent of using details to transform, which is good news for those who want a makeover that doesn't require the noxious stink of fresh paint, and non-stop drilling. "One of my strengths is using decorations to transform a space," Lam insists, "with minimal renovation," Lam says.



You may have already seen some examples of Lam's work around town. One of his previous clients is Sara Villarreal, owner of The Villa boutique on Taojiang Lu near Dongping Lu. The recently opened import-fashion store carries high-end American and European labels, minus the high-society raise-your-nose-and-suck-in-your-gut feel.

In the beginning, Sara expressed a desire for The Villa "to be a place women would love hanging out in," recalls Lam. "I took that brief and created a 'home' environment, with a living room, dining room, bar, study, etc. Customers walk around 'The Villa' exploring the different rooms and resting on the comfortable furniture scattered around."

At present, Lam and the rest of the Hot Dog Decor team is working on a mansion in Sheshan. Rather than installing gaudy gold and sparkles and cheap chandeliers, as per the norm here, Lam's look is anti-glitz. "There won't be luxuriant materials", in the typical sense, "or extravagant furnishing." Instead, Lam has planned the 9688-square-foot residence with an aesthetic of simplicity, highlighted by Indian and Moroccan detailing.





See more Hot Dog Decor projects here. To contact Peter Lam, email peter@hotdogdecor.com.