Phuket Decor – Blume blurs living lines

PHUKET: When Ralph Lauren began his distressed fashion concept, Grace Carrey was part of the research and development team based in Hong Kong that sourced materials and processes for the American fashion icon.

Years later, having built up considerable R&D knowledge of Asian textile and manufacturing industries, Grace struck out on her own to bring Phuket a range of furniture that can adorn a home both inside and out.

Grace’s company, Blume Living, has a keen following from Hong Kong residents with properties in Phuket who buy her designs and have them shipped here to decorate their holiday homes.

Buying a Junk to live on in Hong Kong posed Grace the dilemma of how to decorate such a restricted space internally and exploit exposed deck areas onboard.

The idea of using outdoor furniture was her solution. Durable, lightweight and strong, the rattan designs also complemented the vessel’s wooden construction.

Now, Grace’s home doubles as a showroom for people to visit and see a working model of her furniture designs.

“My strength is in interpreting a design concept into a language that factories can understand and ensure nothing is lost in translation.

“Many of our designs use the concept of what we call ‘blurring the line between indoor and outdoor living. So our furniture is suitable for outdoor use, but doesn’t look out of place when put indoors.

“In addition, when you tie indoor and outdoor furniture together by using colors or the same material, you bring your outdoor space inside.”

There are two standard design types available from Blume; high density polyethelene (HDPE), used for the rattan look with a sturdy aluminum frame, and a teak wood effect with a stainless steel frame which offers a sleek contemporary look, popular in the European market and therefore suitable for design projects here in Phuket.

“My design last year was all about making the material look natural, and I used rosewood and bamboo effects in keeping with that concept. This year I am playing on the fact that the rattan is synthetic, so I am using colors to highlight this. By combining a few colors in a single chair, the finished products give a very fresh ‘Bistro’ look which can be customized with other color combinations to suit different themes.”

Rosewood is the most popular finish in Grace’s catalogue, with a texture and color that are strikingly similar to the real material.

“I have come up with some very unique finishes that nobody has. The first time a rosewood piece went through customs, the officer was so convinced that it was real wood, he held the shipment back until we literally set fire to a piece of furniture to show him it was not real wood.

“My bamboo finish is especially designed for the Phuket market. I believe it matches very well with the natural ropes or bamboo material being used indoors.”

Blume Living furniture already complements many Phuket residences, including those in Layan Gardens, Anchan Villas, Laguna Villas and many other private villas.

Blume Living is situated on the ByPass Road. For more information visit blume-living.com or contact mailto:blume-living.com.

— Neil Quail