Bamboo In Hong Kong

I have aspired to see China for many years and just recently returned after three weeks of immersing myself in some of the most wondrous sights of my life.

Oh sure, we saw the Terra Cotta Soldiers, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall – so why would I choose to post a pic of bamboo to summarize my journey? Because I’m a designer who finds tremendous inspiration from some of the least likely sources….I came across this cluster of stalks in Hong Kong and was struck first by the varying shades of vibrant green and secondly by the Chinese characters carved into their husks. I assume that they represent the names of the people who carved them. I’ve long found Asian calligraphy to be beautiful; I’ve even got a pair of very old and tall Chinese panels in my own living room.

As fantastic as the must-see sites are in China (and they are) I was most inspired by what I saw outside. We visited gorgeous gardens, and even their freeways and boulevards are landscaped to perfection. But perhaps most inspiring of all was a day that we spent cruising down the Li River. It’s a magnificent stretch on this planet that counts as one of the most beautiful places this designer has ever seen.

So when I’m asked if I will be incorporating inspiration from my epic journey through China the short answer is yes. The longer answer is I’ve always been inspired by Asia, Europe, and many places throughout North America as well. The difference now is if a client asks me for an imperial bed chamber that resembles one from the Forbidden City I’ll know just what to do.

And by the way, Chinese food over there is….  just food.