Artful Living with Tacchini, SHANG XIA, and USM

Image Courtesy of Tacchini

Welcome to a world where your home transcends the ordinary, especially during Art Month when creativity flourishes. Embrace the art of curation as you transform your living space into a chic sanctuary, where every piece tells a story and every corner exudes elegance. With Tacchini’s modern craftsmanship, SHANG XIA’s blend of heritage and contemporary flair, and USM’s sleek modular designs, curate a space that’s uniquely yours.

Read on and get inspired to curate a space that’s uniquely yours

Art month celebrates the fusion of creativity and culture. How does your brand blend artistic vision with functionality?

As CEO and Art Director of Tacchini, I always try to focus on three key areas: ensuring the highest standards of craftsmanship, prioritizing sustainability, and fostering strong collaborations with designers. I have an unbridled passion for research, archives, and history. Rediscovering pieces and stories from the past are an instinct that has been with me since I was a child. That's why since 2010 with Tacchini I have embarked on the path of reissues of iconic pieces from the past. Establishing a dialogue with contemporary designers or the heirs of past masters allows us to create products that resonate with current trends, respecting our heritage and rediscovering timeless aesthetics. This approach reflects the brand's core values: quality craftsmanship, technical innovation and sustainability. The synthesis of respect for tradition and openness to innovation has allowed our brand to evolve and stand out in the design landscape. Some emblematic examples are the reissues of Le Mura sofa by Mario Bellini and of Dialogo, Pigreco and Sempronia chairs by Tobia Scarpa:
through enhancing the classic design and collaboration between new designers, these pieces have become icons of the future. In this way Tacchini creates durable products that respect the environment and natural resources, combining art and functionality.

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Many people view their living space as a canvas for self-expression. How can our customers create an artful and personalised living space with your products?

At Tacchini, we believe that good interior design is about creating a space that is personal and timeless. This is precisely why our pieces - the result of combining craftsmanship, sustainability and design - are made to balance comfort and style and offered in a wide range of colours, ranging from neutral and classic tones to vibrant and contemporary colours. Colour selection at Tacchini is always linked to the spatial, historical, cultural and emotional context in which we operate. Each colour communicates different feelings and, when combined in a palette, generates precise suggestions.

What easy, impactful home decor changes (eg. Hardware updates or accent walls) would you recommend to our customers for an instant interior upgrade?

A well-chosen upholstered piece can serve as the heart of the living area, the space where we spend most of our time and create meaningful moments. Thoughtfully selected accessories bring personality and warmth, while lighting enhances the ambiance and highlights key design elements. The key is to strike a balance between creativity.

Many people view their living space as a canvas for self-expression. How can our customers create an artful and personalised living space with your products?

Tea Room: Gathering for tea is a cherished Eastern tradition. Our Da Tian Di tea tables, with their classic design, are crafted from carefully selected black walnut wood to create serene tea spaces where every moment can be savored. Our Bridge Collection Porcelain and Bamboo Weaving Tea Set is a best example of SHANG XIA’s tea culture. Bridge represents the connection and conversation between people, tradition and modernity. The exquisite integration of porcelain and traditional bamboo weaving techniques brings a touch of modern innovation to Chinese handcraftsmanship. Designed for refined enjoyment, they introduce moments of relaxation and tranquility into the fast-paced rhythm of modern life.

Image Courtesy of SHANG XIA

Living Room: Drawing from traditional Chinese culture, we fuse exquisite craftsmanship with innovative design to create modern reception spaces. Through simple forms and practical functionality, we embody Eastern charm while offering comfort and contemporary refinement. SHANG XIA’s Da Tian Di Collection Carbon Fiber Chair, placed together with Twilight Collection Bamboo Marquetry 4-Panel Screen with Black Walnut, successfully blends modern design into tradition, presenting an artistic balance of fine living art. We aim to create a contemporary living space that is comfortable, concise and expressive at the same time.

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What easy, impactful home decor changes (eg. Hardware updates or accent walls) would you recommend to our customers for an instant interior upgrade?

Incorporate one or more pieces that represent your cultural identity and carry cultural legacy forward to future generations. The impact of home décor change lies in discovering and preserving classic Chinese crafts through a contemporary lens. With over a decade of research and experience, SHANG XIA specialises in core craftmanship techniques such as eggshell lacquer, Xipi lacquer, woodworking, carbon fiber, bamboo weaving, porcelain, bamboo marquetry and tea brick wall design.

Carbon Fiber: Our Da Tian Di carbon fiber furniture series exemplifies the balance between tradition and innovation. Lightweight yet incredibly strong, these pieces blend classic aesthetics with modern materials. The carbon fiber chairs weigh only 4kg but can support up to 130kg, demonstrating the perfect fusion of elegance, durability, and cutting-edge technology.

Art month celebrates the fusion of creativity and culture. How does your brand blend artistic vision with functionality?

The name “SHANG XIA” is rooted in ancient Chinese poetry, symbolizing a bridge between the past and the future, and representing the complementary nature of tradition and modernity. The concept of SHANG XIA encompasses the rich history and eastern cultural heritage, aiming to preserve and revive traditional crafts while incorporating modern design elements.

Through advanced technologies and traditional craftsmanship, SHANG XIA creates products that celebrate China’s magnificent heritage through timeless designs that will endure for generations. Our pillar product series, the Da Tian Di Collection Carbon Fiber Chair combines Ming-style aesthetics with contemporary design, using carbon fiber. Despite its thin and lightweight structure, the chair is incredibly strong, symbolizing the perfect blend of artistic vision and functionality. The Da Tian Di chair is a testament to SHANG XIA’s innovative approach, showcasing how we extract inspirations from tradition and create products that interpret a modern fine living lifestyle with contemporary technology.

What easy, impactful home decor changes (eg. Hardware updates or accent walls) would you recommend to our customers for an instant interior upgrade?

Image Courtesy of USM

I would say try to design a chic trolley, side table and a cabinet for your loved vinyl and whisky to start the journey with USM world! Easy and flexible way to decorate your space and USM will evolve with you as times change, tailoring its functionality to your exact needs.

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Many people view their living space as a canvas for self-expression. How can our customers create an artful and personalised living space with your products?

Image Courtesy of USM

Change is the only constant in life. USM modular system makes all the designs follow your heart. USM doesn’t provide fixed furniture, it provides a flexible system to meet your needs and personalities. Doesn’t matter if you want to use it as a functional furniture, an art piece or even an outdoor installation. The modular system equips user to meet head-on a wide array of changes - including size, colour, function. If your storage needs expansion, we can work with you to add new ones with the exact functionality you desire. When redecorate, one can add modules or panels in a new accent colour to match the updated decor.

Art month celebrates the fusion of creativity and culture. How does your brand blend artistic vision with functionality?

USM has been family-run for generations. We have modularity and precision built into our DNA, the quality, durability and modularity of our product, coupled with its timeless beauty and modern design style gives it a real longevity, that is of real value to the circular economy. There is no doubt USM Haller furniture system is recognized globally as a modern design classic, even though the product is 60 years old this year! The clear thought of the architect Fritz Haller and Paul Schaerer, the then owner of USM with the engineering and manufacturing knowledge combined to produce a visionary product – an art. And brings its circularity of design, has done so for 60 years and will continue to do so well into the future.