Our regular Interiors features take a look through the keyhole into the homes and businesses of some of Shanghai's well known faces.
Interior designer Baptiste Bohu has lived in Shanghai since 2006, and for most of the past decade, he’s been building a stellar design portfolio of residential and commercial projects in China and France. Some of these – including his own home – have even graced the pages of the New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle Décor and other prestigious domestic and international publications.
“After living in a modern, open loft before, I wanted something completely different – something very Parisian and classical,” Bohu says. With one long corridor running through the center, leading to multiple rooms on both sides, the layout is the reason he decided to take the apartment five minutes after seeing it for the first time.
“I hosted a birthday party with 70 guests here once; each room had its own theme, and people enjoyed bouncing from room to room,” explains the designer of how he likes to utilize the entire space. His home has also been used in several TV series and film productions – most notably as the home of famous actor Hu Ge’s character.
Most of the flat’s original structural features still remain, but for Bohu, decorating his own home is a never-ending process. “My taste changes all the time; I bring in new furniture… I’ve changed the color of the dining room walls twice,” he says. “I also like to experiment new ideas here [before bringing them to my clients].” Here’s a look inside...
Bohu’s current apartment in an Art Deco-style old building on Fuxing Zhong Lu is a showpiece that reflects his ability to seamlessly meld classical, romantic French sentiments with a touch of modern Chinese aesthetics.
When he first came to Shanghai 11 years ago, Bohu had worked in various marketing agencies before landing a business development role in an interior design company – the beginning of a career that led him to starting his own practice. The first residential project that he worked on as a designer was the former Shanghai home of advertising expert Tom Doctoroff, which we featured last August.
Upon entering Bohu’s apartment, a long corridor dressed with spotlights, red velvet curtains and multiple European-style frames paintings and sketches on each wall creates a layer of mystique and theatrical effect. Some of the watercolor paintings are drawn by Bohu’s aunt, which bring a sense of home to the place. “My parents’ house [in Provence] feels very full, so I want this feeling for my Shanghai home as well,” says Bohu. “After being here for so long, I don’t want my place to feel empty, so I have a lot of personal things everywhere.”
Unlike the study next door, the dining room’s calming turquoise brings out another side of Bohu’s dynamic style. Many of the items in this room, including the light fixture and chairs, are from the designer’s own line of furniture. An avid collector of Chinese porcelain pots, the white and blue colors also fits in perfectly with the color theme.
Although he has an office in Hongkou, Bohu admits that he enjoys working from home late at night. Here, his signature black and white stripes are paired with bright red furniture – an eye-catching combination that shows the bold, dramatic side of his style.
Each year, Bohu enjoys spending a part of his summer vacation in Ibiza, and this bright and airy guestroom is inspired by that laidback Mediterranean vibe.
Besides his office, Bohu spends a lot of his time in the kitchen, where he likes to enjoy a simple meal with a small group or by himself.
To see Baptiste Bohu’s work, visit www.baptistebohu.net. Photos by Mario Grey.
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