Bring Home Global Chic
The freshest trend in interior design takes cues from every continent.
Indigenous Style: Global chic décor gets its power from brilliant contrasts. At Reethi Rah in the Maldives, traditional Asian carvings are framed by polished concrete columns and a modernist stone fountain.
Left: A Moroccan rug by Safavieh displays primitive motifs.
Right: A one-of-a-kind, hand knotted rug by Safavieh is over-dyed in a luminous fuchsia tone.
The Lotus bar cabinet by Century brings Chinese taste to cocktail hour.
Simply put, global chic is a sizzling design trend that mixes furniture, fabrics and accessories from different parts of the world. But there’s a bit more to it than that. At its best, the style combines a pleasing mix of exotic, ethnic influences with luxurious elements. Those ethnic touches might consist of a rug woven in a traditional tribal pattern, an Ikat fabric used on decorative pillows, and weathered wood pieces from Southeast Asia. “It’s the combination of rough, rustic or funky pieces with sleek, tailored pieces that really gives global chic its punch,” notes Joe Murphy, Safavieh’s head designer.
Indigenous Style: Safavieh’s sustainable Jefferson stand is made from salvaged erosion teak—a rustic design that makes a great end table.
The black finished iron bench by Maitland-Smith has gilt accents and zebra-patterned hair-on-hide upholstery.
A shaggy Tibetan lamb bench by Outpost Original almost looks alive.
Part of the appeal of global chic is its endless flexibility. By blending rough with luxe, you inevitably get a room that’s not only a visual delight, but that also appears very distinctive and personal. And while the look is completely current, it suggests that a living space was built over time with treasures acquired during world travels.
Philippe Starck designed this sitting room for the Faena Hotel + Universe in Buenos Aires, where tribal stools provide a rustic counterpoint to Chesterfield sofas.
Left: A jewel-toned over-dyed rug by Safavieh is hand-knotted in an ancient pattern. Right: Lee’s rug ottoman brings a tribal touch to any room.
Rustic Counterpoints: a highly textured llama-wool throw by Pehuen is hand-crafted in Patagonia.
Global chic is not only an American decorating trend. As interior design becomes more globalized, the style can be found in some of the best hotels, resorts and fine homes the world over, as shown on these pages. In each case, the basic style of a room reflects local tastes and traditions but is enlivened by design influences from other hemispheres. “What all of these spaces have in common,” says Murphy, “is an air of relaxed sophistication that’s perfect for today’s lifestyles.”
Asian Flourish: the Shanghai credenza from Century features exotic wood veneers of Ziricote and Primavera.
Bernhardt’s Padma desk takes a cue from Indian design with patterned bone inlay.
The Tremont chair mimics tree branches in oil-rubbed bronze.
A bedroom in the Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, India, blends subtle wood tones with eye-popping color.
How to: Create Deeply Personal Spaces - The most delightful rooms to live in are deeply personal—beautiful, relaxing, filled with cherished objects and not overly “decorated.” While there are no hard-and-fast rules for creating deeply personal spaces, these eight guideposts will steer you on your way.
Brooklyn Revolution - When a couple got the chance to renovate an apartment on storied Montague Street, downsizing felt like an upgrade.
High and Mighty - Towering above Lincoln Center, this Deco-inspired pied-à-terre is all about the views.
