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Charm and collected

Collecting has long been a favourite hobby of Hongkongers. According to an ACNielsen survey last year, 47 per cent have a collection habit, ranging 'from mass items such as photos of movie stars, cartoon figurines and stamps, to more pricey goodies like watches'.

Where once it was a matter of simply putting treasures on a shelf, there are now far cleverer solutions. A creative display can turn a collection into a pleasing design feature that can become a focal point in a home.

Sometimes the answer can be found in existing fittings. Avid golfer Esther Ma used one-half of a built-in wardrobe to display her collection of golf balls from around the world. Custom-made in timber and glass, the new cabinet has turned a previously dark corner into a showpiece and a glamorous reminder of Ma's golfing holidays with her husband.

'I also like the fact that they're so nicely organised,' says Ma, the chief executive of a marketing and management consultancy firm.

For some collections, practicality rules. Carson Chan Kai-shun collects fine watches that are best displayed in purpose-built, temperature-controlled cabinets that can range in size from a cigar humidor to a refrigerator. They feature a timer mechanism that can be preset to automatically wind the watches to keep them going.

Chan, Bonhams' Hong Kong managing director and watch specialist, keeps his collection in a darkened room 'away from the children', but larger cabinets in oak, maple and glass can be the showpiece of a living room. Such cabinets range from HK$20,000 to HK$250,000.

Design duo Carol and Tammy Ip of Ip Interiors were commissioned to design a display for a client's collection of Japanese-style toy characters and figurines. He wanted 'something more special' than a traditional display shelf, so the sisters dug a recess for the cabinet in a solid masonry wall. A series of cantilevered glass shelves was installed on side runners to give the appearance of a floating collection, while a dark laminate back panel made the figures stand out. Lighting has been fitted to a wall nearby rather than inside the cabinet, and the shelves can be pulled out for cleaning or replacing items.

A couple also asked the Ip sisters to create a spacious showcase for their 30-year collection of crystal, glass and gold gifts. The clients wanted the collection to be viewed from all sides, but weight was a factor. The Ips used 12mm thick glass on the cabinet's top and sides and hung the shelves with stainless steel wire. Dark oak cabinets below the shelves provided concealed storage for the displays' boxes. A mirror at the base reflected the spotlights on the ceiling.

The Ips also designed a living room centrepiece display for cultural items collected during a client's trips abroad. They introduced two complementary textures - timber and linen fabric - as the starting point for the display.

A trio of panels was designed to slide back and forth as required, revealing either the owner's souvenirs or a flat-screen TV and audio/visual equipment. Individual halogen lights were fitted under each shelf to highlight the object below it, while the panelling also hid the audio-visual electrical cabling.

But what if you need a more flexible display option than a cabinet? Collections can be placed randomly around the room, inviting the eye to search for more. A group of seashells can look exquisite on a simple coffee table. Varying the size, height and materials on display can also attract interest.

A neutral backdrop is the norm, but if, for example, your glass collection is mainly blue and green, a bold blue background can be effective. Pottery also works beautifully against deep red, and African artefacts look stunning against chocolate brown, as long as you have the right lighting.

Carol Ip suggests putting small spotlights on different circuits so you can illuminate as required. Concealed fluorescents also allow you to create different moods, she says. For objects that can't take heat, you may need to use LED lighting, whereas directing halogen lights onto crystal will make it sparkle. Don't try to display everything at once, however. If you categorise the items into different themes, such as colour, texture or form, and rotate the display periodically, your prized collection will look even better, Ip says.

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