Yin Jun, Boloni's VIP Director, invites us into his private home

Based on Italian design and German quality, Boloni is an upmarket Chinese version of IKEA. Boloni now has 300 stores in 87 Chinese cities, including post-minimalist "lifestyle museums" in Beijing and Shanghai, showcasing the very latest trends in home decor. With such design pedigree in mind, City Weekend decided to check out the home of Yin Jun, Boloni's Director of VIP Customer Management and Retail Sales.

Apart from the Porsche convertible parked in the driveway, Yin’s villa is unremarkable from the outside, fronted by a rusty gate and a dismal patch of grass. Through the lobby, however, is a house that demonstrates just how far Chinese home design has come, albeit design based on European ideals. In fact, with most of the decor supplied by Yin’s company, the place neatly doubles up as a Boloni showroom.

Yin sums up his second home as a great “leisure house,” perfect for inviting friends over, opening a bottle of wine and whiling away the hours. Contrary to your typical Chinese “warm” house, he says, which usually means a lot of furnishings and a cluttered layout, Yin’s home is defined by clean lines. “It is a real contrast to your typical Chinese house. I love the minimalism of this villa; the simple design is elegant and stylish while still very welcoming and comfortable. I like to think of this as my place for entertaining friends."

What happens next is a whirlwind tour of Yin’s villa. Beginning in the lounge, decked out in black wood, long leather sofas and a large legless table are bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun flooding through diaphanous drapes. While we're surrounded by European decor, the essentialist design evokes a more Japanese feel, as the neutral colors and geometric forms impart an understated elegance. The emphasis is clearly on clean, straight lines, with plenty of gleaming chrome, glass and mirrors, and discreetly integrated electronic gadgetry.

Near the wooden staircase, we noticed a pool of goldfish swimming in a black marble-encased pool, their fiery hues enlivening the stark coolness of the feature while the strong sunlight set off reflections in the still water.
Heading up, we eventually arrived in the loft, a pyramid-shaped area which no doubt serves as a rumpus room for adults, with velvet sofas, outsized cushions, video game consoles and a large movie screen. From the smile on Yin’s face, this has clearly been the location of an enjoyable late night party or two.

Back down on the ground floor, Yin opens the door to the TV room, the last stop on our tour. "This is my favorite chair in the house," he explains, while easing into a one-piece black leather recliner that perfectly complements the clean palette of white walls, cream-colored carpet, and floral prints in vivid pink and black. "If I want to relax after a hard day in the office, I make straight for this chair."

Despite the contemporary feel to his home, Yin is anxious to not let anything become outdated. "This villa is three years old," he says, "Soon I think I'll rip everything out and start again. That's the beauty of working for Boloni; I get to check out the latest, trendiest home products every day of the week. Who can blame me if I get big ideas?"

By Daniel Allen

Home Highlights

Pyramid loft: A cozy, comfort-oriented space on the third floor is decked out in bold colors, padded walls and subtle lighting. The projector, large screen and powerful stereo system make this a great room for digital entertainment. Yin Jun comments, “I always bring friends up here to watch movies and play Xbox/Playstation -- the only problem is getting them to leave early in the morning.”

Molded white table and chairs: Functional yet stylish, the clean, ergonomic lines of this furniture set by Boloni is perfect for the well-lit surroundings of a ground floor alcove, and contrasts nicely with the black rug, curtains and high-tech lighting. “This area is great for playing cards or mahjong with friends in the late afternoon -- the warm light really helps to set the right mood.”

Curved recliner: Once you overcome the feeling that you’re sitting in a dentist’s chair, this stylish, ground-hugging recliner by Boloni is surprisingly comfortable, and makes a great focal point for a room corner. Yin Jun comments, “I’ve actually dropped off to sleep on this couch on more than a few occasions!”