Embracing Asian Styles for Your Home
June 3, 2011 
Janet Ramin - As a designer, one of the questions that I’m frequently asked by potential clients and students alike is what style should I decorate my home in? Or, what style is this? Many times they have some idea, but it’s usually hazy and confused. On our Mood Board series, we’ll try to take the mystery out of the multitudes of styles by showing off furniture, lighting, and accessories that best reflect the essence of each style.
Our first stop on our global tour features Asian-inspired styles, all very popular choices for home design. My selections for the Asian Modern style include an elegant mix of recent furniture as well as mid-century pieces, all pictured above. The persimmon display case from Gump’s of San Francisco is a sleek version of old curio cabinets – perfect for holding those Asian treasures. The granite and steel coffee table by Jay Spectre found at Habite antiques is a modern translation of pagoda temple roofs.
To add to the sophistication of the room, we have 1950s Widdicomb club chairs upholstered in turquoise leather – available at Scarborough Antiques. Since Asian décor was embraced by many countries, we have an Italian take on Oriental relief sculpture, a circa 1960 Marcello Fantoni turquoise vase. Rounding out the décor is a chinoiserie lamp by Paul Hanson from Assemblage. This lemon-glazed ceramic lamp echoes the delicate style of Chinese painting. The use of rich, saturated colors also unifies the selections and creates a harmonious interior.
Our second Asian-inspired look, Bamboo Garden, reflects a more casual and serene mood. We have a double settee from Red Egg made of magenta-lacquered rattan and cane. Also from Red Egg is a turquoise-glazed maple bench with curved legs, reminiscent of the Ming Dynasty. The Crane Shoji screen from Haiku Designs is a canvas reproduction of a gold-leaf silk screen and provides a tranquil backdrop to the room. A bamboo pagoda lantern adds light and a whimsical touch. Completing our Bamboo Garden is a wood Chunar horse sculpture from Bellacor. The use of natural fibers, woods, and other organic materials for all the furnishings also complement the nature theme.
Interested in learning how to create mood boards? Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design. At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.
Asian, furniture, home, mood board in interior design 
Reader Comments (1)
I love these mood boards, thank you for sharing.