Raising the roof
The imminent arrival of scaffolding inspired a couple in Repulse Bay to create a dramatic open-air venue, writes Nadine Bateman
As Jane Straley prepares for an event on the roof of her 2,400 sq ft apartment in Repulse Bay, what's usually indoors has been moved outdoors.
Straley has transformed the area using not just garden furniture but items usually more suited to the living room, such as wool rugs and works of art. The effect is dramatic.
Straley, who works for a Cambodian children's charity after many years in the clothing trade, and husband Phillip, who is a partner in a management consulting company, are having a 'pre-scaffolding' party for 60 guests before contractors start renovating the exterior of the apartment block, which will obscure the view for a while.
Dominating the roof area is a painting by artist Guo Zuchang that depicts a group of gamblers. Says Straley: 'We love this painting but don't want to hang it in the apartment at the moment so we bring it out here for special occasions and keep it in a storage area next to the kitchen the rest of the time.'
Its vibrant tones are echoed in the boldly patterned rug from Istanbul, Turkey. Here there are also a chocolate-coloured leather sofa and a pair of antique Chinese plant pot stands. You have to wonder at the wisdom of exposing such items to Hong Kong's heat and humidity, but Straley defends her decision. 'Before we married, Phillip had bought a beautiful rug from Singapore and I had about six from places such as Cairo and Istanbul that I bought while travelling for my job in the fashion industry. Even though they didn't go with the style of our home, we didn't want to part with them so we kept them in storage for years. It's a shame to keep them hidden and this is a good way of using them.'
As for the plant stands, she says: 'They are 70 years old. They didn't have air-conditioning then and they survived. They've been up here since last September and we've had them for 10 years. I think they look better as they've aged.'
The Straleys have kept the apartment's interior neutral so they can add colour with their expanding art collection. The only major change was the incorporation of a kitchen into what was the dining area. There is a small adjacent enclosed kitchen that the helper uses, but the Straleys wanted one in the main living area and they chose to place the dining table by the window, so they could take in the glorious view while they ate.
There are works of art displayed in every room because, Straley says, 'Phillip and I are getting more and more serious when it comes to collecting.' A striking graphic by a Cambodian artist takes pride of place above the bed in the master bedroom, which has been kept neutral at her husband's request. 'Phillip does not like strong colours the way I do,' she says. 'I have my own room that is very dramatic.'
Her workroom, which doubles as a dressing room, incorporates yet more vibrant artwork plus rails of clothes and shelves of shoes and books. There are two sets of blinds - pastel green for the daytime and deep red for night. 'I wanted to create moods,' says Straley. 'It's a girl's space but also multi-purpose and my husband can sit in the chair and talk to me while I'm busy.'
Straley says working in the fashion industry meant she used to enjoy styling clothes and showing them off; she still does, but has transferred some of her creative energy to learning about art and interior design. 'My focus has shifted. I used to dress myself, now I dress my home.'
Kitchen The kitchen units and island were custom made by Eddie Ko of Legenda Interiors (12/F, Tower 2, Silvercord, 30 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2172 6872) for HK$130,000. The Philippe Starck hanging vase light was HK$44,100 from Flos. The portrait of Straley was a gift.
Roof detail The Spa Beach recliners (from HK$36,000 to HK$40,500 each) were from Dedon. The two artworks are hand-knitted handkerchiefs bought on the mainland years ago. The stool was bought in Bangkok.
Dining area The B&B Italia dining table was bought from Le Cadre Gallery years ago. The Matteograssi chairs were HK$8,500 each from Design Direction (43 Wong Ngai Chung Road, Happy Valley, tel: 2904 7232). The crystal light fitting above the table was bought several years ago in New York. The blinds were HK$2,250 from Renew (117 Queen's Road East, tel: 9253 7218).
Workroom The blinds cost HK$10 a square foot from Renew. The coffee table was custom made several years ago by Fung. The desk, whose design is inspired by a sewing machine table, was custom made a long time ago. The chair (HK$1,390) came from G.O.D. (4/F, Horizon Plaza, tel: 2580 2290). The red filing cabinet was also made by Fung several years ago. The rug was bought in Auckland, New Zealand, years ago. The ceiling light was purchased years ago at PLC (210 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2519 6275).
Sewing machines Straley's father was a tailor and she learnt how to sew at a young age. She started collecting sewing machines when she began her career in the fashion industry.
TRIED + TESTED
Up to the multitask The kitchen island is on wheels so it can easily be moved to any part of the living area, making it a multi-purpose piece of furniture. It can be used as a breakfast table, buffet table and even a bar. The built-in appliances came from Miele.
