Home of the week: a career oriented cosy reprieve

How a three-bedroom home in Hong Kong is transformed into a one-bedroom home, befitting of a hardworking, career-oriented executive

The custom-designed apartment focused on three main goals – achieving a sense of serenity throughout, enhancing the size of the space and making the most of the views and the light. Red Cover / Home JShow more

When the current owner first stepped into this apartment, she immediately saw past its run-down condition and fell in love with it. Located on Kennedy Road in Hong Kong, the 900-square-foot apartment was bathed in natural light and offered serene, verdant views – exactly the kind of dream home that she had envisioned to suit her lifestyle as an active, career-oriented woman – a cosy reprieve where she could get away from the buzz, but still a stone’s throw away from the city centre.

“It’s tranquil here but so convenient, and there’s this sense of privacy that’s hard to find in a lot of properties nowadays,” she confides.

She knew exactly what she wanted for the cosy space, and turned to Carol Ip and Tammy Ip of Ip Interiors to execute her vision. Known for custom-designing unique residences that are an extension of the homeowners’ personality and lifestyle, the design duo immediately focused on three main goals – achieving a sense of serenity throughout, enhancing the size of the space and making the most of the views and the light.

The renovations began with the removal of all the existing walls in the original three-bedroom apartment, reconfiguring everything to create an expansive living and dining area, a sleek open kitchen, a spa-like bathroom and a master bedroom.

“It’s very important to understand which walls you can knock down before you buy. I wanted a bathroom with a freestanding tub, as well as a guest bathroom, and in the living room I wanted a space for stay-over guests,” the owner explains.

Carol and Tammy took matters into their own hands, and custom designed a steel-framed sofa with a large pull-out bed for this purpose.

The owner professed a preference for neutral colours, so the designers chose a timeless palette of white, grey, taupe, beige and black as their main hues. In the living area, soft grey flooring and pure white walls create a seamless look that guarantees easy maintenance, while strong materials were chosen for the main furnishings.

Again, select pieces were custom-designed by Ip Interiors, and the results were striking – a wooden dining table with steel legs flanked by sleek benches functions as a spot for entertaining, as well as the homeowner’s workspace; meanwhile, a slate and steel coffee table in the living room (which was customised to fit a built-in flueless fireplace) is the perfect spot to park with a cup of hot cocoa during the winter months. Windows in the living room were enlarged to make the most of the lush, verdant views, while a pretty plant pot conceals the fireplace when it’s not in use.

“I like cooking simple meals and inviting friends over, so that everyone can just hang out and mingle. The space is great for that because it’s so open,” says the owner.

In addition, Ip Interiors also conceptualised the uber-functional kitchen, which features a cabinetry system cantilevered on a concealed steel bracket that extends from the wall. The space is sleek but functional and is fitted with Siemens appliances. “The lack of a sturdy base really helps to enhance the visual space,” Carol Ip notes. “There’s that seamless, airy feeling that is often rare in apartments of this size.”

Other interesting design features include a unique Corian reflecting pool fitted by the windowsill which allows for floating plants and candles to set a peaceful ambiance, and a striking entrance door made in black steel with a solid timber handle. “The door sets this space apart from the rest of the world, and as soon as the homeowner sees it, she knows she is back in her own haven,” say the designers. In the bedroom and bathroom, wood was used to pave the floors, creating a warmer, more natural feel. The bedroom was decked out in neutral hues of white and green to complement the views outside, and contrasts nicely with the smooth white surface of the Agape tub and curvaceous washbasin in the bathroom. “This is my relaxation haven and one of my favourite parts of the home,” says the owner.

Stylish, yet clutter-free (with the help of some clever concealed storage), this bachelorette pad’s chic personality is further enhanced by a unique choice of accessories. An Ingo Maurer pendant light makes a strong statement above the dining table; elsewhere, friends and family can attach their notes and messages onto a cool lamp by the same designer. And an intriguing piece of art by San Francisco’s Ward Schumaker makes a statement on the wall.

For the guest bathroom, the owner was able to find a vintage Chinese mirror from an antique store in Hong Kong, and on a corner wall in the kitchen, she has creatively applied a magnetic layer to display framed photos of her family and friends.

So how happy is she with the overall result? “I thought I’d be hard to please but I’m completely satisfied,” she beams. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

* Red Cover / Home Journal