10 fabulous homeware stores in the French Concession
Working House
Working House's store is as spacious and attractive as the home you're hoping to create would be. The store carries everything from scented candles to cutlery to furniture. They also have a limited line of Danish designer Georg Jensen’s silver kitchenware.
428 Shaanxi Lu, near Yongjia Lu 陕西路428号, 近永嘉路号 +86 21 6433 3732, www.workinghouse.com.cn
Simple Mill
Retro electric fans, apothecary tables, Adirondack chairs, old-time wall hooks and other hardware items share space with Bodum glassware and Wolfgang Puck knife sets in this eccentric homewares melting pot. Hipsters and design lovers should check it out.
438 Shaanxi Lu, near Yongjia Lu 陕西路438号, 近永嘉路号, +86 21 6431 1811, www.simplemill.cn
Lapis Casa
For Asian-inspired candles, flatware, vases, lamps, chests and drawer units, head to this cozy little shop on one of the cutest streets in Shanghai. Restrain yourself until sale time and you could save up to 70 percent.
9 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu, 东平路9号, 近衡山路, +86 21 6473 1021
Kava Kava Home
Kava Kava Home melds a Ming dynasty aesthetic with contemporary functionality. Their cabinet and armoire collection is particularly impressive. An antique-looking cabinet that holds your wine? Done. They can also customize pieces to your specifications.
167 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu 安福路167号, 近乌鲁木齐路, +86 21 5404 3873, www.kavakavahome.com
Sun Home
Sun Home’s gorgeous Asian-inspired furniture and home decor are tastefully displayed in a comfortable space that you just might want to call home. Check out their eclectic seltzer-bottle collection. Added bonus: shop assistants don’t follow you around.
1-4 Taojiang Lu, near Yueyang Lu 桃江路1－4号，近岳阳路, +86 136 6160 9795
Top House
Don’t be deterred by the average-looking tea sets and mugs on display on the main floor at Top House; head downstairs where you’ll find Chinese furniture, lantern lamps, picture frames and mirrors of all sizes for very reasonable prices. If you’re good, bargaining is an option here.
1220 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Xiangyang Lu 复兴中路1220号, 近襄阳路号, +86 21 6472 7724
Ting
Well-worn chairs, cabinets, chests, lamps and mirrors are given new life at Ting. They look good as new, but be prepared to pay for quality.
No. 4, Lane 175 Wuyuan Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu 五原路4号, 近乌鲁木齐路,, +86 21 6283 2711, www.tingshanghai.com
Little Dragon (龙子)
Formerly Hu & Hu Sofa, this new Changle Lu location upholds the longstanding tradition of furniture craftsmanship handed down from one generation to the next. Thousands of samples exist, but you simply use them as inspiration to design your own. Little Dragon is a reported favorite shopping spot for Hong Kong actor Andy Lau.
15 Changle Lu, near Xiangyang Lu 长乐路339弄15号, 近襄阳北路, +86 21 5403 9867,
www.hu-hu-sofa.com
David Qian
Inspired by the Chinese flora, David Qian features exquisite hand-painted lamps and wallpaper as well as fabric and furniture. Most are hand painted on silk as well as more modern materials like vinyl and wood veneer.
201 Anfu Lu, near Wukang Lu 安福路201号, 近武康路, www.david-qian.com
Shanghai Yin Yuan Antique Furniture Co. (上海忆苑家具厂)
Friendly Mr Wei, the proprietor of Yin Yuan, does custom homeware at very reasonable prices. He can whip up just about anything you can imagine from cabinets and beds to tea tables and screens.
251 Yongjia Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu 永嘉路251号, 近江国西路, +86 137 6159 4312, www.sh-yiqing.com
