A cut above
Raoul Preller is nothing if not consistent. Like his own home and the handful of other properties he co-owns in Central and Western, his latest creation, on Old Bailey Street, is what he calls 'industrial rustic'. Surfaces are matte and colours are earthy, but there is an edge sharpened by stainless steel and reinforced by a loft-style aesthetic.
Part of Preller's Loftliving portfolio, the 980 sq ft walk-up flat, which was recently tenanted, bears many of his other hallmarks. Exposed bricks create feature walls, doors are crafted from wrought iron, granite covers countertops and smoky mirrors enlarge the space visually and bounce light.
A main attraction of the apartment is the partially exposed rooftop, which Preller says 'is all about entertaining'. It's the size of the apartment and separated into a lounge and cooling-off spot (complete with a shower and open tub), and a dining area with barbecue and counter, which houses a fridge and washer/dryer.
Hinting at the original configuration of the space below, the rooftop is bisected by a 'catwalk' - an elevated walkway where a party wall once stood. As he did with the apartment downstairs, which was originally two flats, the wall was demolished to create an expanse.
Preller says it was 'totally fortuitous' that he was able to acquire two adjoining flats and turn them into one, explaining that he jumped on the second apartment when it went on the market shortly after buying the first flat. 'You get a premium for creating bigger spaces,' he says. 'I was very lucky.'
Working with interior designer Monique McLintock, who has helped refurbish all of Loftliving's properties, Preller gave new life to the flat, which like many old apartments in the area was dilapidated and so crammed with rooms it was hard even to take measurements.
The pair made the most of the prime position, beside the Victoria Prison site, by replacing regular windows with two Juliet balconies: one beside the dining area, the other in the bedroom.
In this private half of the flat, a tried-and-tested layout was replicated with a counter accommodating his-and-hers basins behind an 'island' bed. Dramatic flair comes courtesy of an illuminated floor panel in this platformed area as well as mirrors suspended by wire on either side.
The design feature is complemented in the open kitchen, where wire from the ceiling supports a stone counter. 'The granite is about 80kg,' says Preller, adding that the wire is in keeping with the apartment's industrial look as well as being there for practical reasons. This aesthetic has worked well for Preller, whose apartments come fully furnished and include everything from cutlery and crockery to art and artefacts.
'It was a commercial decision to try to appeal to the widest audience,' he says, adding he has left behind his career in banking to concentrate on Loftliving, which he launched late last year.
'My perfect tenant comes with a suitcase and nothing more.'
And if that 'perfect' tenant couldn't be found? He would have moved in himself, he says, having created a living space according to his own tastes.
But Preller is also proud of what he and McLintock have achieved with 'New Bailey'.
'The beauty of playing with old spaces like these is that you get to create something unique,' he says.
Completing the thought, McLintock adds, 'With old buildings you have a shell you can work on to create something unexpected.'
1 Living room
Engineered antique oak (HK$55 per square foot) from Sunwood Building Materials (308 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2827 0990) was used on the floor throughout much of the flat. The sofa cost HK$7,825 from TREE (22 Elgin Street, Central, tel: 2841 8844). The television console was custom designed by Monique McLintock Interiors (3/F, Tai Shing Building, 43 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan, tel: 6779 3791) and made from hollow tree bark by King Power Engineering (313 Lockhart Road, tel: 2303 0522) for HK$6,500.
2 Rooftop
A 'catwalk', installed with downlights, divides the rooftop area. The lounge area is furnished with a sofa set with ottoman (HK$13,500), a large ottoman (HK$2,700) and an Olive Leaf sun lounger (HK$2,400), all from Patio Mart (16/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, tel: 2555 8988), which was also the source for the umbrellas (HK$5,499 each). Perfect for summer is the plunge bath, which features green granite tiles (HK$35 per 30cm-by-60cm tile) from Mosaic Tiles (353 Lockhart Road, tel: 2116 3002). In the dining area, the table and chairs, also from Patio Mart, cost HK$9,000.
3 Living area
Knocking together two flats allowed a spacious open-plan living room, dining area and kitchen. A Juliet balcony, which takes the place of small windows, improves ventilation and brightens the room. The dining table (HK$8,862) came from TREE and the chairs (HK$1,000 each) were from Marc James Design (16/F, Horizon Plaza, tel: 2189 7476). A feature in many of Raoul Preller's flats, the large light-grey mirror, with wrought-iron frame, was designed by him and made by his contractor, Chun Shing Construction (8/F, Wanchai Central Building, 89 Lockhart Road, tel: 2865 0081) for HK$20,000. The bar stools beneath the granite counter cost HK$1,100 each to make by Kai Ngai Furniture (328 Lockhart Road, tel: 2573 1196). The kitchen was built by the contractor for HK$50,000, not including appliances.
4 Living room detail
Flanking a painting picked up in Bangkok, Thailand, are two chairs (HK$5,000 each) from Aluminium (36 Cochrane Street, Central, tel: 2546 5904). The sculptural side table (HK$3,700) was from TREE.
5 Bedroom
A Juliet balcony invites light into the bedroom, which shares space with an open double-basin counter and en-suite shower nook. The bed was made by the contractor for HK$18,000. The basins cost HK$950 each from Mosaic Tiles.
6 Loo
Tried + tested
Rock the house
In the bedroom, behind the island counter with his-and-hers basins, a platform built to conceal the plumbing was turned into a light feature: white pebbles covered in resin, with tempered glass for support, are illuminated with tube lights placed underneath.
