Shanghai Chic: East Meets West Washington DC

If your idea of Asian design is as simple as a smiling Buddha, it's time to get with it! A new version of this ancient style has emerged and is increasing in popularity. Carved wooden pieces and chinoiserie are great classic elements, but the new Shanghai Chic or Contemporary Chinese has a classy look that is versatile and can be mixed with several design periods. The streamline shapes border on minimalism, but there is a touch of warmth that makes it more approachable. The overall effect can be peaceful, playful or even glamorous.

This progressive style, like Shanghai itself, is a fascinating mix of East and West that blends to capture the modern spirit of China. There is a new energy that is expressed in clean lines and bold color. The unexpected simplicity works in modern and traditional interiors by just varying the finish selected.

Art Deco is the solid base for this style, rooted in classic periods made modern by 1920s standards. This time around there is a new twist and Art Deco is modernized according to 2008 standards. Simple design, lacquered finishes and nature-inspired materials are all evident. Often touches of Zen or Feng Shui are used to capture the attitude, but even here you will see a lighthearted approach.

It can get a little kitschy when this cheerful attitude is expressed in the accessories. Ceramic Koi, Foo dogs, Buddha statues and dragon motifs are all successful in pulling the style together. The pagoda architecture is interpreted in furniture shape as well as painted motifs. Fretwork that is traditionally heavy and dark is used in small proportions and often shown in a contrasting color or metallic leaf.

The Shanghai Chic color palette is bright, lively and based on classic Chinese colors. In China, red traditionally symbolizes joy, happiness and good luck. So, understandably, it is a key feature of this style. Red is also a key fashion color in this season of confusing economic times.

Yellow, another hot fashion color, is significant to the Chinese palette because of its representation of earth, the most important of the five elements in addition to wood, fire, metal and water. Green is essential as the hue that is able to cool down this healthy mix of hot colors. It symbolizes health, prosperity and harmony.

These bold colors must be balanced out with other strong hues. The use of orange, turquoise, violet and blue do this nicely. A room done in Shanghai Chic could have an invigorating mix of all bright bold colors. For those who live a more genteel lifestyle, the room can be predominantly neutral with accents in this palette.