Name: Xing
Location: Bellevue, WA
Size:1800 sq. ft.
Years lived in: 4.5
After we saw Xing's home in the '06 Fall Colors Contest, he offered to show us more of his fascinating, eclectic house. Xing clearly knows not only how to mix and match pieces and styles, but how to spot deals -- many of his finds are from Craigslist, eBay, and his travels. Take a look. (And don't miss Xing's current Seattle apartment, where he's moved since this tour.)
AT Survey:
My style: As cliched as it is, eclectic, but hopefully not cluttered (most of the time, when I get around to cleaning it.)
The inspiration for my home: Elle Decor, Travel
Favorite element: The remodeled master bathroom. It feels nice to shower in the morning while light is pouring in from the eastern facing window, and not have to shower in a tiny 30x30 shower stall any longer.
Biggest challenge in designing my home: Since it is an older house, the ceiling is the old standard height of 8 feet, so I tried my best to make ceiling feel higher using recessed lighting, floor to ceiling curtains and lower furniture.
What friends say about my home: It feels urban even though it is in the suburbs, or "it is comfortable."
Biggest embarrassment in my home: The yard.
Proudest DIY: The kitchen cabinet replacement.
Biggest indulgence with respect to my home: All windows are replaced.
Best advice given or received: Used or antique furniture often is much cheaper than new furniture of the same quality, and has more character. Except that reupholstering old furniture is much more expensive than buying new ones. So other than upholstered furniture, I usually want to buy used.
Dream source for stuff: High end furniture stores.
Resources:
Appliances:
• IKEA
• Lowes
Hardware:
• IKEA
• I found some old hardware when I was on a biz trip in Beijing
Furniture:
• Craigslist
• eBay
• IKEA
• Restoration Hardware
Accessories:
• Travel
Lighting:
• IKEA
• B&H Photo & Video
Paint:
• Ralph Lauren
Flooring:
• Original floors
Rugs and Carpets:
• Craigslist
Tile and Stone:
• Home Depot
• Lowes
Window Treatments:
• IKEA
• Craigslist to find someone to custom make something
• Friend to help sew
Beds:
• Craigslist
• IKEA
Artwork:
• Oil painting I painted myself
• Photographs taken during travels
Other:
• Michaels (art and crafts)
Thanks, Xing!
(Edited from a post originally published 08.07.07)
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Great craigslist finds! Are the white curtains IKEA Merete, by chance? They're exactly what I want for my 8' ceilings.
This place is breathtaking. I love it and wish my eye was as capable of seeing how such disparate pieces can come together to make a balanced whole. Just lovely
It's SO beautiful. Somehow he made everything works together. I really like the contrasts and the colors. Also LOVE how he pulls the reminders from his travels for his home. I wonder how much time he spent on C's L & ebay to find all these great stuff?
Cheers,
Cindy
i can't imagine the amount of time it took to do all this. i'm most in love with those wood floors. those iron chairs in the backyard are also a dream, but does anyone ever sit in the one on the right?
this is def a catalyst to make me want to take a closer look at white furniture.
what a smart space! you did a great job :) love the bedroom!
What a beautiful home!
I just lost my comment just now when my window closed. Dammit. I was basically saying that I love your place. I want it.
I want it bad.
This home is simply breathtaking. If I were to visit, I would never leave. I am so in love with the home, I barely no where to start.
The amount of love that went into creating this home is evident. Your art is incredible, and I love the ethereal nature of your paintings, I love the Buddha statutes and driftwood.
Somehow you've taken disparate objects and created a cohesive look. I love the restrained elegance and simplicity.
Great work. I am so happy we got to see more of your place.
nice colors and textures.
you did a wonderful job and have some awesome finds. good work! you can tell it wasn't rushed, or thrown together.
Wow, this is really awesome--it brought a smile to my face. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderfully original place. It is beautiful! It's the kind of place I strive for. Definitely one that is created from years of "living."
A couple of questions, though: The sink seems too shallow, does it create oversplash? And do my eyes deceive me or is one of the green iron chairs missing a leg?
Thanks for all the kind works.
Yes, the white curtains are from Ikea, not sure the name of it now.
The sink is relatively low, but it is very wide and big. It is about 24"x24", (not much smaller than original shower stall which was 30"x30"), so the water doesn't splash out that much. The sink is called "purist" wading pool sink.
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=&module=Lavatories&item=6406802&prod_num=2314§ion=2&category=16
But the large size of the sink actually caused a lot of problems for me when I was try to find a table to put it on. After removing the original shower space there is a recess in wall of about 32". To find a table/cabinet that is not almost exact 32" inches and at least 25 inches in depth was really challenging. Even though Kholer had a cabinet designed for the sink, it was two expensive and too wide. The Kohler's "Purist" faucet that was seems to designed to match the sink was also too expensive, (the sink was already a huge splurge), and I didn't want everything to match.
Yes, the green chair is missing one leg, but because it is made of solid iron and very very heavy, it is actually quite stable.
This is my all-time favorite style: Asian plus modern. I've rarely seen it done so well. Congratulations -- the place looks fantastic!
Beautiful.
The painting with the red gong behind the Eames chair (photo 8)--where is that from? I love it.
Do you sell your artwork?
YOU FOUND AN EAMES LOUNGE CHAIR AND OTTOMAN FOR $35?!
Your place is spectacular! My mouth dropped with every picture. You put everthing together so well!
Hi Alana, thanks for the compliment. yes, I painted that painting. Since I am not a professional artist (I work on video games), I am not represented by any gallery, but do I sell my paintings if people are interested to make an offer.
The "Eames" lounge & ottoman is not by herman miller, it is by Plycraft, so it is not original.
But I do have a pair of original 60s "Eames" aluminum management chairs made by Herman Miller, which was a real bargain for $100 each.
when i read, "eclectic Bellevue home" my first thought was, 'huh? the psych ward?' :-)
sorry, hit "submit comment" too soon. i love this home. it's amazing the treasures you can get for cheap when you know what you're looking for and when. excellent eye!
fabulous finds....I really enjoyed this house tour...thank you!
I do not know if I would fell in love wt the apt first or the person who created this amazing place and searched for all these wonderful pieces and put it together....
Each photo show the attention to details and a magical work on its own.
Brillant!!!
Your home is simply amazing! I can't believe the stuff you find in Craigslist and Ebay. Your style so beautifully reflects your travels and heritage. I would like you to be my personal shopper, and decorator, and....would you happen to be single?
Amazing - simply beautiful! I love how all of the pieces fit together yet are so different. It also makes me want to go look at Ebay and Craigslist!! :)
Tabitha @ http://www.fromsingletomarried.com
I am confused . Is Xing currently resides here or 700sqf Seattle apt? It would break my heart to learn that this beautiful house no longer exists.. :-((
This looks like a pretty fun place to live to me. Then again, I always wanted a purple room in my house.
New York Muhtari,
Sorry for the confusion -- I've tweaked the wording. Xing's moved since this '07 tour.
I.LOVE.THIS.HOUSE.
exactly our aesthetic; eclectic, with antiques and ethnic pieces paired with ikea and craigslist finds. the diy element is also impressive, and like us. we lovelovelove this place.
WHERE DID THE SHOWER CURTAIN COME FROM?!
ive been looking for a black and clear vinyl curtain for months. MONTHS!
please let me know!
and your place is great the eggplant color is so rich and balances the room so well.
Oh, man... I am heartbroken that this home no longer exists. The new apartment looks much less exuberant...
Thank you for the beautiful house tour. I love the antique iron chairs.
i love your vanity sink project... and want to have a go at it!
Wonderful! I like that it has so many far-flung finds but doesn't look cluttered.
Love the lockers!
~Lorrie @ MyDesignSecrets.com
What a wonderful home- a feast for the eyes. LOVE the iron chairs surrounded by simple lines of the tables out in the patio. Love the fantastic blend of Asian & Modern. There are so many inspiring shots for color, arrangements, styles. Thank you!