Get the Look: Crazy Rich Asians”Palatial Family Compound
“Crazy Rich Asians” is sparkly and colorful; the story is heartwarming and heartbreaking; the acting is joyful, and the fact that this is the first entirely Asian cast of a major studio film since “The Joy Luck Club” makes its success all the sweeter (a sequel is already in the works). It also happens to be visually stunning.
The majority of the movie is set in Singapore, which main character Nick Young’s family basically owns. His grandmother (Ah Ma) lives at Tyersall Park, a stunning compound that doesn’t even show up on a map because it’s so exclusive; his cousin owns 14 luxury apartment buildings; and his mother resides in what I can only describe as a grown-up dream tree house. How on earth can you get this look without a bank account resembling the GDP of a small country? (We asked the production designer.)
There are so many beautiful settings in this movie, but I’m going to focus on the one that took my breath away: the Young family’s ancestral home, Tyersall Park. The palatial estate was decorated in the Peranakan style, “which originated in the Singapore Straits and features a hybrid of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, and European influences.”
Every corner of the house is impeccably decorated, however my favorite part was the entrance hall. You know those staircases that you just want to traipse down wearing a Cinderella-style ballgown? This puts those staircases to shame.
Start with color. Ah Ma has a mint green entry, which makes it clear that she is a force with which to be reckoned. The trim, the casings, the door, the stairway posts are all painted—it’s bold and it’s gorgeous. Traditional wallpaper breaks up the green.
Because this is overall a fairly traditional style, antiques and works of art are given places of honor and import. Ah Ma’s pedestal game is tight. And if you don’t have an antique vase to show off, get a cool decorative pot for a plant and put that on the pedestal. Succulent gardens, orchids, and bamboo are pretty options.
Bring in warmth with a subtle, traditional rug. Nothing too colorful here, since it’s acting as a grounding force. And make sure it fits the scale of the room. No doormats in this house, just big, luxurious area rugs (or a runner if you’re working with an entry hall). And voila: An entrance that lets people know you’re here to make a statement.
Get the look
- Wallpaper: Morris & Co Bird & Pomegranate Wallpaper, $215 CAD
- Paint: Farrow & Ball Dix Blue, from $40
- Chandelier: Classic Lighting Crystal Chandelier, sale $468
- Rug: Rugs USA Persian Vintage Rug, sale from $47
- Wood pedestal: Zahara Pedestal Plant Stand, $147
- Marble pedestal: Calcutta Marble Laminate Pedestal, varies
- Succulent garden: Faux Mixed Succulent Garden, $84
- Vase: Williams-Sonoma Yellow Hummingbird Vase, $150
- Bamboo plant: IKEA Artificial Potted Plant, $24.99
- Bamboo vase: Crate & Barrel Hewett Tall Ceramic Floor Vase, $129
- Hardware pull: Antique Brass Appliance Pull, sale $124