Classy gold lines and striking dark walls emboldened with confidence merge with delicate details and round shapes in this penthouse suite. The designer is from Paris, with a family history that stretches from jazz musicians to furniture designers and architects. However, it has been in the east where Thomas Dariel has made his mark, satiating the Chinese thirst for cutting edge design.

Art Deco in Shenzhen

This penthouse suite is the top floor luxury apartment of the Yinhu Lanshan residential compound. It’s nestled between a perfectly manicured garden, in the bustling economic city of Shenzhen (just across the border from Hong Kong). Despite it’s location in the east, the building itself has a strong sense of Chicago about it.  The interior was designed with a vintage Art Deco look, complementing the bold Cubist shapes of the building.

Art Deco is without a doubt considered to be one of the most gracious and elegant periods in interior design. Here, the aesthetic bursts with intricate details that are subtle yet beautiful. A thin-framed freestanding lamp floating effortlessly to the side for instance. Or the marble and copper side table, blending patterns and textures together unusually.

The bowls were found at the local market; what a find! I especially love how they work perfectly with the pattern of the carpets, reminding me of the Art Deco lines used to depict sunshine.

The Chesterfield style sofa in the living room is the Chester One by Poltrona Frau. Simple in white, the sofa softens the rich wall colors. Notice too the huge print above the fireplace by surrealist artist Kay Sage. It works effectively to draw your eye to the architectural lines and curves of the room.

Going Geometric

Influenced by technical advances of the time, and the striking shapes of pioneering machinery and aviation, Art Deco features a lot of straight lines and geometric designs. These patterns are undoubtedly the calling card of this apartment, echoed in the customized rug by Dariel Studio, as well as in the shapes of the windows and walls.

The circles and angles create a striking contrast with the range of furniture, blending these two opposites together. Also take a look at those window blinds! Such a striking idea, and looks really fascinating from the outside too.

Outdoor Living

The swimming pool and exterior poolside landscape were also designed by Dariel Studio. The designer opted for sun loungers and plants that offer a simple line of site from inside.

All That Glam

Elsewhere, the kitchen is part of the open plan dining room, with marble polished floors, countertops and a blue hue that matches the leather panels found elsewhere in the home.

The bar stools are by Mater, tucked in a line that echoes the copper finish Utzon hanging lamps by &Tradition.

The serenity of the home can be found in its connection and flow from room to room.  Surprisingly, the overall aesthetic offers continuity between the different design styles. This has been helped by the use of a color palette that repeats and works together as a whole.

In the study, geometric patterns on this feature Cole and Son wall are softened with a custom designed mirror. The QT Chair from Stellar Works mixes solid wood, steel metal and a soft sturdy cushion that sums up many of the overall textures and patterns of the apartment.

The unusual yet curiously balanced Anhui Emperor Desk from Banmoo floats on the custom made patterned rug.

Total Luxury

What luxury penthouse is complete without a spa and massage room? The geometric walls and doors are designed with a calmer look compared to some of the more domineering colors and patterns of the home. Lighter woody tones are otherwise matched with soothing grays.

Polished faucets from Axor match rather beautifully with the room’s marble countertops.

In the master bedroom, blue and brown intermingle with similar designs as the living room. Hanging bedside lamps are becoming more common to see in the bedroom, and here is no exception. Rich wood walls matched with a blue velvet sofa ooze opulence.

The dressing room area on the other hand is a bright space that captures all the liveliness of the jazz age that inspired it.

Final Thoughts

You could feel like you are stepping back in time 90 years for the striking resemblance to Art Deco interiors, were it not for how well the influence has been cleverly adapted for a contemporary penthouse design.

Mixing lavish materials produces striking results. As does balancing heavy colors and designs against delicately floating geometric furniture pieces.

Overall, it’s fascinating to see how design in China is incorporating worldwide inspiration and how Thomas Dariel has infused his style into this project. Above all, it’s creative and inspiring, playing with beautiful design elements from history to give them a contemporary edge.