The moment Paul Dolan walked through the wide entrance of this three-storey, four-bedroom house in Shouson Hill, the Briton knew he'd found the ideal home for his family.
The 4,700 sq ft rented property boasted impressive views over Deep Water Bay, was elegant and offered room for all, including a 1,200 sq ft poolside room he knew could be transformed into a pink palatial playroom fit for a princess - or three.
His daughters Tara, 16, Issie, 13, and nine-year-old Amber agreed. Dolan chose the colour not necessarily because his daughters conform to some feminine stereotype, he says, but because it's fun. 'Amber and Issie play football, Tara plays hockey and they all swim - they're very active, energetic girls and I wanted a space that reflected that,' he says.
Recently divorced, Dolan, a managing director of an investment bank who works long hours and travels extensively, wanted somewhere special his daughters could call their own. He wanted them to have 'a bright, happy space' they could enjoy with friends. 'There's a limit to the time we can spend together and so I want us to do that in the best possible environment,' he says.
Interior designer Alexandra Lauren, to whom Dolan was introduced by friends, understood the requirements. 'Paul wanted me to create a gorgeous communal area so his daughters didn't just retreat into their bedrooms [but had] a place that felt welcoming, that they could really enjoy,' she says.
The starting point was a round, pink sofa - custom made by Lauren - to which she added other pink items and introduced flashes of bright colours such as lime green and white.