Chris Shao carries his roots to his projects, no matter where in the world he works. Let’s explore one of his projects in his homeland.
Born in Asia, specifically in China, Chris Shao is a designer who lives in New York City, where he founded, in 2016, his own company Chris Shao Studio LLC. He arrived in New York City to graduate, having earned a Master of Fine Arts at the city’s School of Interior Design. There, he received his first major commission for an interior home design. Since then, Chris Shao has opened a second studio in 2018, this one in his hometown of Shanghai. Both studios are already consolidated on an international scale, in which they have expanded to high-end projects.
In his design, Chris Shao likes to play with contrast and opposites. His works are famous for their fusion of masculine and feminine, modern and classic, and romantic and classic. So let’s explore a project where we’ll understand the Asian designer’s way of working, from this game of contrasts to the references he carries from the culture of his homeland.
The project
We now leave for the exploration of this project by Chris Shao. Here we present a penthouse in Shanghai, where the second studio of Chris Shao Studio LLC is located. As we mentioned earlier, this designer likes to work on the game of contrasts, and this project is no different. We will consider the use of the modern in a traditional environment.
As for the style, in this project, we have a contemporary style at the house’s base. This style is characterized by its simplicity, minimalist lines, and modern furniture. Usually associated with sophisticated and elegant environments. Chris Shao’s Shanghai Penthouse is no different. Let’s then browse through the rooms of this house and understand how the designer works with this contemporary style.
Serene and peaceful environment
What perhaps comes to mind at first glance is the balance of colors that Chris Shao has chosen for this project. White will be the main protagonist in this house, with beige and gray in the background. Throughout the entire house, we have spaces where these three colors reside in their fullness.
An excellent example of this is the main living room, where we have white, beige and gray commanding almost the entirety of the environment, such as the beige on the center table, the gray on the sofa, and the white on the magnificent pillars marble. Not only in these moments but almost in the whole environment, we only have these three colors, except for some decorative items, such as the plant in the center of the room.
In this way, we begin to understand how the designer intended to treat this space. This choice of colors immediately leads to a more minimalist space, where elegance will be conveyed not by the details, but by the lack of them. The clean and geometric lines are also visible right through this first division, referring to that same minimalist trend.
Where luxury is standard
After delving into Chris Shao’s color choices, the second thing that stands out the most about this project is the luxurious and elegant space that presents itself. Throughout the various divisions, we are increasingly impressed with the refinement that the designer has incorporated into this house.
Right through the entryway, we can see the giant door that leads to a clean space, with only two decorative items on the sides, one in stone and the other in wood, and a magnificent suspension lamp bringing the area to life. Another excellent example of this same refinement is the bathroom, where we have the same stone used in the pillars of the living room to act as walls, a trait of elegance that is impossible to get around.
To complete this idea of elegance, Chris Shao still reconciles the minimalist ideals that we mentioned earlier. Open and airy spaces, with functionality at the vertigo of the designer’s thoughts, put aside any exaggerations and extra pieces in the area. The other living room of this house is a clear design of this minimalist trend sought by the designer. We only have lighting elements in the space, a simple rug, a super uncomplicated sofa, a small center table and two armchairs, and all components are in the same neutral color tone.
We then present how Chris Shao and his studio work on their projects. In this specific one, we see a project where the contemporary is the basis, and with it, trends such as minimalism are transported. Style aside, here we have a reference project in terms of refinement and luxury. We have many more projects to inspire you on our project page, or visit TAPIS Studio to find the perfect rug for your space. Also, don’t miss all the news around Milan Design Week, inviting you to explore our NEOCOSMOS GALLERY.
