This Hong Kong Home Exudes Quiet Confidence
In making over this apartment, interior designer Greg Ling defined various spaces with their own materials palette and mood, succeeding in creating a space that is both calming and welcoming. Here he talks us through his vision for the space
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Greg Ling: The clients heard about our studio from a mutual friend. This is their first home as a married couple, and they were looking to renovate it. One half of the couple works in the construction material business and the other works in retail management, so they both lead busy professional lives but enjoy spending their leisure time at home entertaining friends and guests.
What was their brief to you for the project?
They were looking to make over their home from scratch. Practicality and storage aside, ‘calming’ and ‘welcoming’ were the key words they gave us to start the design process from. The creative process was very much a natural one, and after initial discussions with the clients we agreed on a soft, minimal approach for the overall look and feel.
What is the overall size of the space?
The apartment is about 150 square metres and has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, including an en suite.
What was the inspiration behind the colour palette?
The colour palette for this project is simple yet strong. Our intention was to bring in a few key tones and textures while keeping a timeless look. In general, each area is defined by its own materials palette and mood. For instance, we paired dark pewter green wall panels with light wood in order to lighten up the living and dining space, while we selected dark navy and light grey for the master bedroom to maintain a sense of calmness.
Where there any particular challenges or constraints to do with renovating the existing space?
The apartment is located on a low floor with an obstructed view onto a busy road, so we decided early on to install framed French windows throughout the entire unit. In doing so, we managed to create a barrier between the interiors and the view outside. Another structural constraint worth mentioning is the low ceilings, which we dealt with by creating a layered ceiling that elevates the sense of space while also camouflaging the existing structural beams.
Can you tell us about the materiality and design detailing?
We applied a herringbone pattern in two materials: in the entrance hall’s marble tiles and the wooden flooring in the living room. We went for a minimalistic approach in the kitchen and selected natural tones for the flooring and tiles. In the living room, we used custom lightweight concrete for the door panels on cabinetry, which now doubles as a design feature. My favourite element of this project is the built-in bar cabinet in the dining area. The pocket doors can be recessed into the sides, while back lighting highlights the bottles and champagne flutes on display.
Was sustainability a consideration and if so, how was that incorporated into the construction and design?
The clients wanted to incorporate sustainability principles into their home, so we picked materials and appliances very carefully in an effort to minimise waste and be mindful of energy efficiency in the long term. Insulated glass was used for all windows, while lighting systems with dimmers were selected so the clients could choose to turn individual lights on rather than having all the lights in a space on at once.
Images / Amanda Kho
Styling / At Liberty
