'I don't believe in creating a show flat,' says Li. 'I really like the client to participate. For every project I like to have the client inspire me, and to learn about their lifestyle and expectations.'

For the Ellises, a busy family with two children - Josephine, eight, and Benjamin, three - it was vital the house reflected their tastes. Says Li: 'Here it's all about mixing and matching different things and if some things are not absolutely perfect then that simply adds to the beauty of it.'

The Ellises' brief to Li was simple, but the 1970s apartment had not been touched for 15 years and there was a lot of work to be done. They wanted Li to open up the space and introduce as much light as possible. They sought an east-meets-west style (a reflection of their family unit) and wanted warm wood flooring. What they didn't want was white walls everywhere.

'In our rented apartment we had white walls and I always associate that with the fact it's not your own place,' says Gabby.

Li set about knocking down walls to create an open-plan living and dining area and enlarged the windows to allow as much light into the space as possible. He divided the kitchen into 'dry' and 'wet' areas - with a Dan Ryan's-style leather booth in the dry zone and a sliding door to seal off the wet area and the noises and odours of cooking.

A corridor leads from the living area to the bedrooms. Li has made the most of the space by replacing the corridor walls with storage cabinets clad with veneer.

The former four-bedroom space now has a three-bedroom layout, with the children's rooms on either side of the corridor and a master suite at the end. The suite comprises three elements: the master bedroom on one side, a connecting bathroom in the middle and a study on the other.

Li also installed a tall, Chinese-style screen that juts into the room just to the left of the entrance door. 'We felt that when you enter a home there should be a bit of a transition area,' he says, pointing out that, while most Hong Kong homes don't have the luxury of a separate entrance hall, it's possible to create the illusion of one. 'This screen is a design solution that serves to separate the interior from the entrance.'

For warmth, Li chose textured wallpapers in muted shades and dark walnut cabinetry. The furnishings - most of which were sourced by the Ellises - are predominantly dark wood, so vivid paintings and colourful accessories along with animal-print rugs and ottomans enliven the space. Additionally, the walls of the dining booth have been filled with family photos. 'They wanted a bit of fun with the decor,' says Li. 'I think their choices reflect their outlook.'

For the Ellis family, the renovation process was a positive one. 'One of the good things about working with a designer is that they narrow down the choices,' says David. 'They guide you on subjects such as brand ranking and quality and point out basic design concepts that you would not usually think about.'

The banquette seating area (for family get-togethers), the full-sized tub in the master bathroom (for David) and the expansive mirror-fronted shoe cabinet (for Gabby) have proved firm favourites.

'We've been in Hong Kong quite a long time now,' says David. 'It's nice to have a place just how we want it.'

2 The classic study has an academic air, with its desk and padded-leather armchair. The desk was made by Excellent Wood Industry D&C (1/F, Lai Shan Mansion, 19 Morrison Hill Road, tel: 2572 8111). The shelving unit was custom designed by Li & Co (tel: 2526 8326) and provides space for books and accessories. The curtains are from Altfield Interiors (2/F, The Galleria, 9 Queen's Road Central, tel: 2524 4867).

4 The rear wall of the master bedroom is clad with textured wallpaper from Altfield Interiors. The white bed linen was HK$16,800 from Bed & Bath (shop 206, Prince's Building, tel: 2522 5151). The pair of bedside lamps cost HK$3,450 each from Altfield Home.

5 Li installed a sliding door to divide the kitchen into a dry area, with banquette-style seating and a Corian-topped table, and a wet area for food preparation. The Corian is from Speed Top (518 Trade Square, 681 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Cheung Sha Wan, tel: 2392 2161). The walls of the booth are covered with photographs, housed in a selection of frames from Zetters (40 Hollywood Road, Central, tel: 2542 4269).

6 The spacious bathroom features a lava-stone wall and full-sized bath. The lava stone cost HK$7,350 from Sing Fai Marble (242 Lockhart Road, tel: 2511 8375). The shower employs a curved wall covered in mosaic tiling to enhance the dimensions of the space. A reflective aluminium ceiling makes the area feel roomier.

7 Dark walnut wood has been used extensively in the bathroom for continuity. The countertop and sink are by Kohler from Arnhold Design Centre (315 Lockhart Road, tel: 2865 0123). The sink cost HK$4,200.

tried & tested

master of disguise

A laundry area at home is essential but can be an eyesore. In the Ellises' home, the logical place for it was at the rear of the kitchen but the family didn't want it to be visible. Instead of blocking the area off with a solid wall, Johnny Li created a floor-to-ceiling kitchenware cabinet using walnut wood backed with tinted grey glass. It serves as a storage unit, hides the clothes-drying area and allows light through into the rest of the kitchen from a window at the back of the apartment .

styling Esther van Wijck