Cover A view of the living room of this home in Taipei, which features macaron-like pastel hues and a design concept inspired by Alice in Wonderland (Photography by Mark Lee)

Chains Interior created a whimsical “Alice in Wonderland“ concept for this memorable home in Taipei

Do you believe in fairytales? No matter your age, these fables continue to enthrall you with their wondrous stories and fantastic settings. Inspired by her love for these imaginative tales, homeowner Celine Lee built her own form of wonderland in Taipei, in an apartment where she lives with her husband and two young daughters.

With its inspired design, this Taiwan home combines an eclectic mix of influences, ranging from neo-classical, country style, modern details to hints of Mediterranean and Nordic elements. It also rejects playing it safe with staid colour-matching. The resulting interior is a realm of fun that the family can enjoy privately in the comforts of their abode.

Collaborating with design director Chen Lianwu of Chains Interior, this home is of great significance to both the designer and the couple. “When we bought the house, our eldest daughter just turned 10, and the next 10 years will represent a most precious golden decade for our family,” shares Lee.

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Above Homeowner Celine Lee, who loves traveling in Southern Europe and has a background in graphic design, which informs her remarkable use of colours in her abode (Photography by Mark Lee)

Before the children grow up and leave the proverbial nest, the home plays the role of a protector, serving as a safe haven that allows the kids to dream and play freely.

“Home” represents the destination where fond memories are made. These precious moments and details can be found in rooms, or hidden in drawers, corners, and corridors. The design concept of a “Macaron Wonderland”—named after the pastel tones associated with the French confectionery—results in spaces that appear almost like a watercolour painting, and appear as whimsical as the scenes found in picture books. 

The apartment is like a rare gem with its lofty proportions and jewel-like tones, and is situated in a private development in the Xinyi district in Taipei. It is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre; not only can you feel the lively atmosphere of nature with its interior design, the apartment is also equipped with a smart home integration system that monitors electricity use and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air, while accurately controlling the temperature and humidity.

Designer Chen Lianwu recalls the collaborative process of planning the space together with the homeowners: “At that time, we threw out a lot of ideas, and every time a detail was added or subtracted, we would directly modify it on the laptop, which could instantly present the most realistic rendering of this home.”

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Above A colourful cluster of Kartell Fl/y pendant lamps reinforce the macaron-hued colour scheme (Photo by Chains Interior)
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Above The reading room is a transitional area located between the living room and the daughter's bedroom. Here, the walls are adorned with flora and fauna motifs. (Photo by Chains Interior)

“Just like the rabbit hole that brought Alice into Wonderland, the construction of this home is like a journey of self-discovery, falling into one's own subconscious in a space that changes again and again,” shares Chen, referencing the titular protagonist’s fateful journey in Alice in Wonderland. The designer shared a similar state of mind when designing this house. “If Alice’s dream has colour, it should be as colourful, soft, and as sweet as macarons, right?”

Once the elevator door opens, a dramatic display begins. Visitors step into an entryway, where a purple Qeeboo rabbit chair catches their eye. One can imagine this bunny leaping into the dark jungle, as represented by the foliage-covered screen behind it. Next to it is a Boca Do Lobo emerald green cabinet, which features a pixellated form that brings a post-modern touch to the space.

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Above The whimsical Qeeboo Rabbit chair invites visitors to embrace the magic of fairytales. (Photo by Chains Interior)
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Above The bathroom presents a multisensory experience with its sprightly mix of patterns, colours and a fragrant blend of tuberose, lavender, jasmine and rose scents. (Photo by Chains Interior)

The idea of “returning to nature” has been a recurring theme in the realm of design in recent years. When applied to an interior space, these natural influences need not necessarily follow the mainstream design elements that evoke calm and quiet, as inspired by the pure and unadorned Japanese Zen style. It can also be macaron-chic in its colour scheme, breaking out of a rigid framework while boldly using lively hues and textures, and creating the look of a flourishing tropical rainforest indoors.

Among the many intriguing elements found in the living room is the exquisite custom-made wallpaper adorned on the two giant columns. It’s inspired by The Equatorial Jungle, an oil painting by the post-impressionist painter Henry Rousseau that is now located in the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Amid the dense foliage, there are beasts that hunt smaller critters. While visitors will delight in spotting some familiar species, this combination of large leaves, blooming flowers, animals, and birds were all originally from Rousseau’s imagination; the French painter created these depictions based on his references to picture books.

 
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Above The original two columns in the living room are clad in wallpaper inspired by The Equatorial Jungle, an oil painting by French artist Henry Rousseau. The Lapiaz coffee table from Boca Do Lobo is inspired by karst landforms. (Photo by Chains Interior)

Look up at the ceiling and you will notice that it reflects the whimsical theme, while alluding to the overlaps between both the fantasy world and reality in Alice’s dream. “The little sun [as represented by the pendant lights] forms a ring, bringing unrestrained heat and nourishing the equatorial plants seen on the wallpapered column,” says Chen.

This “ring” was specially customised by the designer for the home. Come nightfall, the lamp distinguishes the apartment even from a distance. When lit during the evening, it can be seen from the main road, being akin to a lighthouse beacon that brings the owners towards the direction of their home.

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Above The spiral design of the chandelier evokes the sense of escape—to fall into a proverbial rabbit hole, as inspired by the whimsical theme of this home

Upon entering the living room, guests who visit this wondrous home will encounter the playful dilemma of deciding which chair to sit on.

These distinctive seats include a wicker chair, which features woven flowers that seem to introduce elements of the outdoor garden into the abode. Homeowner Celine Lee enjoys sitting on the turquoise blue Bocca sofa in particular. This distinctive lip-shaped sofa originated from the work of surrealist artist Salvador Dali; it was originally designed by Dali based on the lips of Hollywood star Mae West. Later on, its design was reinterpreted by Studio 65 and produced by Gufram in Milan, Italy, with the piece now dubbed the Bocca sofa.

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Above The Bubble sofa from Roche Bobois, created by designer Sacha Lakic, expresses a balance between innovation, functionality and emotion. (Photo by Chains Interior)
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Above The Ligne Roset Ploum sofa designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec is accompanied with a painting by the homeowner in the living room. Both pieces show an elegant approach to the use of bold colours. (Photo by Chains Interior)
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Above The Kawai grand piano stands in contrast to the colourful furnishings in the dining area and living room. (Photography by Mark Lee)

On the other side is the Ploum sofa from Ligne Roset, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. The material is an ultra-high elastic foam and the sofa is dressed in an exclusive fabric, and features an unusual asymmetric form. The backrest on the right side of the sofa is slightly higher than the left side; the seat on the right is also slightly deeper in order to allow people on the sofa to have a closer conversation.

Another key piece is the classic Bubble ceiling-hung chair. It has a unique acoustic effect and acts like a cocoon to shield its user from the outside world; it is also one of the children’s favorite furniture in their home.

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Above A lime green sofa is among the other zesty additions found in this home

This lively home also plays host to various performances throughout the year. The homeowners value their children’s musical literacy; in addition to having a Kawai white grand piano directly imported from Japan in the living room, they have installed a Yamaha digital piano in the children’s bedroom where they can practice freely without the music volume affecting family members at rest.

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Above in the daughters’ room, the garden wallpaper echoes the natural theme of the apartment (Photo by Chains Interior)
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Above The daughters’ bathroom is equipped with a stylish vanity that centres the space, which is designed in the style of a backstage room. (Photo by Chains Interior)

The wife nurtures the children's aesthetic sense and intellectual pursuits through a tasteful mix of reading, travel inspiration, and food. In the parent-child reading area located outside the children’s room, there are various bubble-shaped suspension lamps from Kartell, and the pink walls are painted with bird and book motifs. The semi-circular macaron beads are wound around the edge of the wireframe like a string, leading the eyes to the paradisial sight of red flowers, willow trees, greenery, and butterflies in flight. The colourful mosaic wall and the water droplets form a unique tableau, forming a scene that appears almost like it is from a picture book.

For half of the year, the family travels abroad to experience all kinds of rich cultural experiences and to taste local delicacies. “You must join me on a journey to see the world,” declare the parents; it was the wife’s idea when she agreed to incorporate this romantic travel-inspired theme into their home.

The wife has fond memories of Spain and other southern European countries, and this is evident in their home design too. When guests visit the dining area, their eyes will be drawn to the Galloti & Radice Bolle chandelier. The bubble-like form of this lamp reflects Lee’s collection of hand-painted porcelain plates that she had personally sourced from southern Europe. The beautiful interplay of light and shadow from the lamp also becomes the most striking sight during suppers held in the dining room.

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Above In the dressing room, the children can take a cue from their mother’s fashion sense from an early age. (Photo by Chains Interior)

While the current location of the dining area was originally planned as a bedroom, but later this floor-to-ceiling view of the city is now reserved for the delicious core of the home.

“It seems that the Queen of Hearts is holding an afternoon tea! The dining table is decorated with sweet and pink macarons, and the outline of the chairs is that of the Baroque period in Europe. These elegant and romantic elements have been condensed into wall decorations. On the back of the Kartell Emilio Pucci Lady chairs are illustrations that depict the appearance of various cities. The plump forms of the legs of the table are like pink clouds, reflected by the mirror onto the table, creating the connection between the skies and the earth,” shares Chen.

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Above Kartell Madame Emilio Pucci Edition chairs by Philippe Starck are among the playful accent pieces in the kitchen and dining room. (Photography by Mark Lee)
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Above A colourful set of wall-hung plates, tableware and Philippe Starck's Kartell Louis Ghost armchairs contribute to the garden-like setting that is a modern ode to the tea party in Alice in Wonderland. (Photography by Mark Lee)

Each home reflects the owner’s life story and dreams. The wife regards the dining room as the happiest place for family gatherings, and it is also like a miniature design chair museum. It includes the famed Kartell Louis Ghost armchairs designed by Philippe Starck that are inspired by Louis XV's seat but feature a minimalist, transparent form full of Baroque influences.

Other striking seats include the Kartell Madame Emilio Pucci Edition armchair by Philippe Starck, which pays homage to the great Italian artist and designer Emilio Pucci with its lively pattern; this upholstery fabric takes a cue from the lively patterns, colours, and shapes seen on scarves from the fashion brand. At the same time, the architectural patterns express the charm of the four fashion capitals of Rome, Paris, Shanghai, and New York, and fully echo the wife’s love of travel.

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Above The hand-painted porcelain plates brought back from the family's travels are among the most meaningful works of art in this home. (Photography by Mark Lee)

This article was published in the December 2022 issue of Tatler Homes Taiwan, and has been translated into English and edited by Hong Xinying.


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Credits

Photography  

Mark Lee, and courtesy of Chains Interior

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