Flooring that brought back memories of Europe and a magnificent ocean view were enough to convince one expatriate she had found the perfect apartment.
The unadulterated view of the sea instantly struck a chord with British stylist Lucie McCullough, of Clapp-McCullough Styling, when she walked into what was destined to become her home in Pok Fu Lam. 'It's 200 degrees of sea,' she says. 'Never in my life will I get such a view again.'
The vista impressed her but she was also taken with the flooring, which brought back memories of her life in Europe. 'That tweaked my heartstrings. When I lived in Paris and Milan I always dreamed of having a beautiful town flat with herringbone parquet flooring,' she says. 'I couldn't believe it when I walked into this flat and it had exactly that.'
These two factors were enough to convince McCullough (tel: 6409 3434) she had found the perfect residence for herself, husband Ronan and their dog, Whistler. Because it is a rental, McCullough was loath to embark on a major renovation of the 2,200 sq ft flat. Luckily, the apartment already worked well space-wise. 'Architecturally speaking, the people who designed this flat did a very good job,' she says, gesturing to the long slim living and dining room, a study room off to the side, a triangular balcony and two good-sized bedrooms.
What she did do, however, was work to increase the sense of light and space by painting all the doors and cupboards white. 'Because of the relatively low ceilings these apartments can be dark, in spite of the view, so painting them white has made a big difference,' she says.
As an interior stylist, McCullough spends her days helping others to achieve comfortable and stylish homes, so it's not surprising her own place is a clever blend of the two. It works equally well as a relaxed or formal environment. 'I live and work here so it needed to fit both of those elements yet create a fresh oasis of calm for my husband when he comes home after work or from travels,' she says.