Coming across like the love child of Ikea and Muji, Emoi mostly works within a green and white colour scheme, but also weaves in the odd unexpected Chinese element too. Its environmentally friendly range includes a 100 per cent organic cotton product line, including shoulder bags and cloth-bound photo albums (59-129RMB). You’ll find something for just about every room in your home here, including bedroomware (such as bed linen from 499RMB). A particular highlight are the oddball decorations that include wall-mounted fishbowls (129RMB), felt vases (49RMB) and even blackboard-style ceramic mugs (49RMB) to doodle on while you wake up over your morning cup of coffee.
Run by German furniture designer Marianne Friese, Malilian offers beautiful and eccentric bespoke furniture. You choose the patterns, material and style, and Marianne will get the item to you in four to six weeks. Beware, though: materials such as refined Chinese silk, guinea fowl feathers, camel hair and Mongolian felt do not suffer slobs gladly. Pieces cost from 20,000RMB each, so you’ll want to take care of your investment. Consultations with Friese herself are by appointment only, and at the time of going to press she was moving her business to a new location, so book well ahead.
Expertly striking the sweet spot between cosy antiquity and crisp modernity, the furniture and goods at Lost & Found II – an off-shoot of its sister shop on 42 Guozijian Jie – wouldn’t look out of place in an English cottage. The lovingly designed Big Bear Sofa (7,500RMB) is one highlight. Sink into its corduroy pleats (leather is also available, but we can’t imagine it’s quite as cosy) and you’ll be tempted to go into hibernation right there. Also worth a look are the stackable Nuna Cabinets (3,570RMB and 3,750RMB), which would make a pile of Twilight novels look like classic literature. If you’re looking for fun decorations, head two minutes down the road to the original Lost & Found store, which is full of curiosities, including old Beijing and Tianjin street signs (128-350RMB), vintage clocks (300-600RMB) and a lime-green retro TV (460RMB).
Converted from the library of a Ming Dynasty temple, this by-appointment-only studio – run by design power couple Jehanne de Biolley and Harrison Liu – now houses a selection of antique and modern items. We love Liu’s multifunctional, versatile designs, especially the ‘Liu Liu’ chair (600RMB), which transforms into a lounger, a storage space and even a bed. De Biolley’s background is in antiques, jewellery design and couture weaving; her range includes ikat fabrics, each of which has a unique history and can make a great starting point for designing a room. Prices for items range from 500-5,000RMB. And if you’re still having trouble piecing your new home together, they also provide home renovation and interior decoration services.
To book an appointment with Harrison Liu, call 139 0124 6125.
If it wasn’t so beautiful and spacious, some parts of this three-floor store would be the spitting image of a little English antique shop. From brass-handled walking sticks (from 199RMB) and model ships flying the Union Jack (2,300RMB) to statuettes of Raj-era soldiers sporting dapper moustaches (690RMB), many of the items sold here are of an undeniably British bent. Odd, really: the owners are Belgian, Swedish and American, and the first ever Casa Pagoda store opened in Bangkok. The influence of Blighty doesn’t pervade the entire place, but the old-time tone does: note the colonial rattan chairs (2,800RMB), art-deco tea trays (650RMB) and vintage-style battered leather sofa (35,000RMB). The third floor has clearance items, and those spending over 20,000RMB in-store get 20 per cent off their bill.
This little red-brick bungalow is unassuming from the outside, but the items inside have an aesthetic magic that attracts people from all over the world. Featuring the work of six artists from across Asia, Spin Ceramics’s collection brings simplicity, elegance and the beauty of minimalism together in a waltz as gentle as a Chinese classical ballad.
One highlight is the adorable 12 Faces Vase Set (660RMB), with each vase having its own irresistible expression (‘silly’ and ‘resentful’ are our favourites, but don’t read too much into that). Meanwhile, the oddly named Green White Biscuit Wall-hanging Vase (520RMB for five) brings a breath of fresh seaside air with its whirly shell shape. Finally, the Lantern Candlestick Set (880RMB for eight candle stands) offers up a dreamy and romantic option.
The furniture in this store isn’t the cheapest in the city by a long shot, but those looking to settle down should give it a peek. The wide-open space features furniture from Gunnar Falsig, a 122-year-old Danish brand, which promises to ‘combine Danish modern furniture ideas and Chinese traditional furniture philosophy’. The Chinese element is restricted to a few carved floral patterns here and there, but the furniture is stylish and well made. Like Ikea, Qumei arranges its products into twee, home-like displays; unlike Ikea, much of its furniture is composed of solid oak, walnut and elm, although melamine and veneered items are available. This is sturdy stuff, but expensive: a robust wooden dining table can be picked up for 8,473RMB, while a rather refined-looking bookcase costs a cool 15,398RMB.
Qumei Furniture 29 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang district (6461 1709). Open 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm Sat-Sun. 朝阳区霄云路29号
While most of this small Sanlitun store (formerly known as Chang & Biorck) is dedicated to men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, you’ll also find a few treasures for the home. We love the silk and linen cushions (398RMB) crafted by award-winning textile designer Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg, which come in a variety of bright floral and patterned designs, and we were sorely tempted to snuggle up with the 100-per cent woollen blankets (798RMB). The seemingly simple but elegant ceramics in the store, including the blue lacquerware teapot (348RMB) and bone-china cups with matching metal coasters (108RMB), combine a strong Scandinavian aesthetic with Chinese influences. Plus, where possible, Biorck & Co is committed to using environmentally responsible materials and processes. Right on!