Dimensions
251 x 290 x 22mm
From architecture and symmetry to colour, lighting and wallpaper, 'Chinese Style' is a much needed source book of a subject that has fascinated the Western world since Marco Polo's travels to China in the thirteenth century and the emergence of Chinoiserie in the eighteenth century, a fascination that endures to the present day.
Beginning with a brief study of the ancient traditions of feng shui and Buddhism, the book establishes the fundamental principles of this culture. It then examines Chinese interiors, comparing ancient designs and customs with how they can be used and adapted for the modern interior.
The most fundamental aspect of Chinese design is space and layout, and the first chapter looks at architecture, symmetry, balance and contrast, as well as design techniques such as colour, lighting and wallpaper. Furniture, old and new, is the subject of the next chapter, as Bradley Quinn looks at laquer, wood and bamboo.
The final chapter examines nature and the integral influences of flowers and plants in Chinese design and discusses its impacts on room decoration. From reinterpretations of the classical hardwood furniture of the Ming dynasty to modern designs in bamboo and elm and the history of the incense burner, 'Chinese Style' is an evocative exploration of the design and style, art and culture of this rich, ancient world, offering ideas and information for the contemporary home.
