Asian Home Decor Ideas

The design world is rediscovering Asia and its ageless, classic design styles. Discover for yourself the beauty of combining Chinese furniture, art, and home decor accessories into your contemporary, traditional, or eclectic home and office design.

In this how-to or do-it-yourself (DYI) article, I use Asian and Chinese interchangeably, as China has traditionally dominated design style and furniture, but I fully appreciate that all Asian countries contribute their unique style and traditions.

An additional benefit of investigating Asian style home decor will be that you will discover the endless possibilities that each culture and tradition offers to each of us. Not only in designing our living spaces but also in the manner and way in which we see ourselves, each other, and our world.

Cream Home style

Cream Home style

Frank Lloyd Wright Home for Rent

"Amazing, Classic James Bond style home in Beverly Hills with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths!! This home is a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece!! Come and live amongst some of Hollywoods Stars and possibly meet them in person!! Demi Moore, John Levitt, Ashley Simpson, Mark Walburg, and John Boyd, all live only a few house away from you in this amazing home, located on a private gated street adjacent to Beverly Park where many more of Hollywood's elite live!!"

Hobbit-style Home in Wales

Hobbit-style Home in Wales

Bronte House

Designed by Chenchow Little Architects, this semi-detached house conceals its historical origins and suburban situation. Initially built at the end of the 19th Century, one of the few original remaining features are the sandstone walls at ground level. ‘Simply remodeling the house wouldn’t have given our clients what they wanted,’ says architect Tony Chenchow, a director of the practice.

The site, in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Bronte, slopes down dramatically towards the Pacific Ocean. ‘We wanted to embrace the view, but the original Arts & Crafts style home wouldn’t have allowed us to achieve this,’ says Chenchow. A contemporary first floor addition was ‘grafted’ to the house. Constructed in steel, glass, fibro-cement and encased with aluminium louvers, the first floor cantilevers above the original sandstone walls.

Mandalay 43C Class A Diesel Motorhome

Step inside the Mandalay 43C Class A Diesel Motorhome 2008, and you’ll be surrounded by a total environment that offers upscale amenities and captivating style. Built on a tag axle chassis, this Mandalay Class A motorhome is driven by a 425-HP Cummins ISL engine and comes equipped with an Allison MH 3000 six-speed automatic transmission. The 43C is a quadruple slide-out, with an kitchen/sofa and sofa/dinette slides in the living area and bedroom. It also features a dual UltraLeather hide-a-bed with air mattress, Ultraleather magic bed sofa, a free-standing dinette and a stackable washer and dryer. Base price of aground $300,000. Mandalay Motorcoach.

Holiday Rambler Scepter Class A Motorhome

Charming and sophisticated, the Holiday Rambler Scepter Class A Motorhome 2009 has style to spare. Offering a variety of artful exteriors, dynamic color choices and luxurious amenities, the Scepter will certainly fit your lifestyle. For 2009, this Holiday Rambler Class A motorhome is driven by a powerful new standard engine - the Cummins ISL 425hp with 1,200 torque. Outfitted with beautiful gloss finished cabinetry and gleaming polished solid surface countertops, the Scepter boasts top-of-the line appliances, a legless solid surface dinette with stylish upholstered chairs, an oversized wardrobe and a king-sized bed. Base price of $277,000. Holiday Rambler RV.

Damon Essence Class A Motorhome

The Damon Essence Class A Motorhome 2008 is the essence of affordable living! Built with a radius-corner domed TPO roof, upgraded gel-coated sidewalls and aerodynamic front and rear fiberglass caps, and driven by a 425-hp ISL Cummins engine, the Essence provides an ultra smooth ride. Interiors and exteriors boast a sleek and modern look. The rich, luxurious décor of ultra leather in the living area will surround you in warmth and comfort, and the kitchen is complete with upscale features like ceramic tile flooring, Corian countertops, single lever faucet with sprayer and an ultra leather booth dinette with laminate/wood edge table. Base price of $253,960. Damon Motor Coach.

VARIOmobil Perfect 1200 Platinum Class A Motorhome

Sure, we might be in the middle of a recession, but if you’ve got a few extra bucks floating around, think about splurging on the VARIOmobil Perfect 1200 Platinum Class A Motorhome! Sparing no expense when it came to including every luxe feature imaginable, the Perfect 1200 Platinum is built like a tough motorhome on the outside, but inside is designed in “bentART” ambience. Outfitted in cherry wood furniture, leather upholstery and high-tech conveniences, this VARIOmobil Class A motorhome also comes with a hydraulic operated car garage that can fit a compact car. Other features include granite flooring, Corian countertop, bar table with floor cupboards, extendable couch and rain shower in the bathroom. VARIOmobil.

Blue Bird Wanderlodge Class A Motorhome

Stronger, longer and meaner, the Blue Bird Wanderlodge Class A Motorhome 2009 rules the road! Boasting an aggressive front end and rear spoiler, the Wanderlodge is the evolution of luxury motorhomes and a bold statement of design. Powered by a new, redesigned, high-performance Cummins engine, this Blue Bird Class A motorhome generates over 600hp. And because you spend so much time on the road, the Wanderlodge offers all of the comforts and luxuries of home. Features include a stacked washer and dryer, exotic wood cabinetry, King Cross bed with innerspring mattress, leather upholstered recliner and carpeted floor. Blue Bird Coach.

Marathon Echo 1131 Class A Motorhome

Known for its first-class bus conversions, Marathon has just released the latest model in its Echo line – the 1131 Class A Motorhome 2008. Built on a Prevost H3-45 chassis, the Echo 1131 is a spacious triple slide-out that combines the amenities of a luxury home with the freedom of the RV lifestyle. This Marathon Class A motorhome’s exterior features an “ocean” backdrop on the driver’s side, complete with shimmering airbrushed ocean waves, while the passenger’s “earth” side, offers a palm trees on a sun-drenched beach – both are rendered on a glass-like, super-reflective finish. Unique design features include concealed drawer dishwashers, plasma and flat screen television monitors, underbelly entertainment centers, KVH in-motion satellite, Internet and telephone reception, and global positioning systems (GPS) with pilot and co-pilot monitors.

Chestnut glade pavilions

A stunning contemporary style home, designed by top architect Chris McPherson. Pavilion style with all of the north facing areas opening onto a huge deck complete with out door furniture, BBQ, sun umbrella. Floor to ceiling glass ranch sliders and bifold doors continues the flow of indoor / outdoor living . Clad with colour steel with Aliclad features fits in with the country environment yet has a more urbane and sophisticated appeal.

This huge tiled area features open plan living, dining and kitchen. Surrounded with floor to ceiling glass windows and ranch sliders that open the house entirely to the front deck. Contemporary furnishing compliment the style. Gas fire and underfloor heating, sun block blinds, TV, DVD.

An up to the minute, well appointed kitchen with all the latest amenities. A large island bench top runs the length of the kitchen, with bar stools make a great centre for socialising.

Located up stairs is this stunning bedroom suite, beautiful bed linen, and ranch sliders opening onto private deck, catching the morning sun. Has TV and own en suite, with double basins, large shower with two shower heads.

House Styles in North America and Beyond

Contemporary houses have many of these features:

• odd, irregular shape
• lack of ornamentation
• tall, over-sized windows, some with trapezoid shapes
• open floor plan
• natural materials such as cedar or stone
• harmony with the surrounding landscape

Also look for:

• Some contemporary homes have flat roofs. Other contemporary homes have gabled roofs with cathedral ceilings and exposed beams.

About Contemporary House Styles

"Contemporary" describes a catch-all style that can take on many different shapes. A Contemporary home can have the quirkiness of postmodernism, but it will not express the same kind of irony or humor you find in a Postmodern house. Some neoecletic homes are called "Contemporaries," but a true Contemporary does not use odd mixtures of historic deals the way a Neoeclectic house does.

Confused? Your most important clue is the windows: A Contemporary home will always have expansive, very tall panes of glass.