The LRM Inspiration this week has been chosen by Jan Smith, our Senior Designer. Jan is in love with all things Asian at the moment, and has fallen for The Opposite House, a luxury boutique hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Beijing, China.
“The name speaks for itself,” says Jan. “I love how they have mixed the traditional with contemporary and created a calming feel in a modern space.”Jan is impressed with how the design incorporates the four elements of air, earth, fire and water; for instance, an orange wall borders the pool, the ceiling opens up to a skylight and the play between water, light and metal is dramatic. The guestrooms (the hotel offers studios and penthouses only) combine the elements to great effect, using light from floor-to-ceiling windows, bamboo and light wood furniture and accents of long grass. Combined with crisp linens and soft towels, the rooms provide an indulgent but avant-garde experience. Jan is particularly fond of the bathrooms’ clear glass basins and Japanese-style wooden soaking tubs – “A person could soak right up to their chin!” says Jan.
The mix of contemporary and traditional is well done, comments Jan, and she likes how there is a lack of anything “frou-frou.” Ornate chandeliers are suspended within smoked-glass cylinders, guestrooms feature slate walls, kimonos of glass and metal are showcased in the lobby, and wire mesh panels are suspended from the ceiling.
“It’s not your normal hotel,” Jan comments. “The clean lines make the hotel modern, but they keep a distinctly Asian feel. I feel this is a great look that LRM Interior Design could translate well to a California contemporary home very successfully!”
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Right on !! Damn I’m getting addicted to your blog