Winging it

Text Charmaine Chan / Styling Esther van Wijck / Pictures John Butlin

When businesswoman Esther Ma spotted a sculpture of three little birds perched on a branch, she immediately wanted it for her new home, to represent her family of four. But there was one small problem: daddy was missing.

So Ma, who heads public relations firm Prestique, simply added a fourth bird to make up her nuclear unit (see Good Life cover).

“I bought a fatter bird but it wasn’t matte silver like the others so I spray painted it and used double-sided tape to stick it on,” she says, laughing. “You can tell.”

Ma’s “Chez HarvEst QT” duplex in Repulse Bay is positively filled with reminders of family: HarvEst is an abbreviation of her own and her husband’s names; QT refers to their daughters – Quisha, seven, and Tiqa, six.

And the initials of all four make up a striking art decolike symbol incorporated into the design of the banisters for stairs leading to the upper level (see Good Life cover).

Then there are the pictorial reminders of the family: “Those seven photos [on a wall beside the stairs] are the HarvEst story,” says Ma. “How we met 20 years ago; the first baby and the second.”

Such embellishments as well as Ma’s enthusiasm for decoration, are evident throughout the 5,900 sq ft, fourbedroom home, which includes a 1,300 sq ft rooftop with mountain views. Guiding her were Joey Lau and Alex Ha of A-01 Designers.

Although generally known for their cool, minimalist designs, the pair clicked with Ma, adapting their aesthetic in an imaginative collaboration.

“If you take out the furniture and accessories, you can feel our style here,” says Ha. “Like all our projects we used lots of concrete, wood, straight lines. We provided the backdrop.”

That includes concrete benches against large windows in the living room, an arrangement that tricks the eye into thinking the panes of glass extend from floor to ceiling. This level also accommodates a dining area and enclosed kitchen; Ma’s husband’s work space and a cavelike cellar; plus an open kitchen-cum-bar, where the girls can play at being grown-ups.

A window-side bench behind the bar provides space for the sisters to study recipes and prepare food.

“We do cupcakes, waffles, pizza,” says Ma, who writes the cooking instructions on a glass panel under the windows. “They can use the oven and mixer, but sometimes they just sit at the bar and order from the HarvEst drinks menu: fizzy soda water with cranberry juice, cream soda …” The girls are also the focus of the top floor, where each has a themed bedroom: Quisha, a “little mermaid”, sleeps in an aquatic setting with an oyster-shell bed; Tiqa, the “forest fairy”, has a romantic-themed room with a faux tree for a bed. Each also has her own bathroom: one is “Anna Sui-inspired”, says Ma, the other a bit Las Vegas, with mirrored tiles.

Between their rooms is a raised play/study area accommodating a piano and Cinderella-esque pumpkin that holds a television and computer. The platform, says Ha, is not just for fun; it also provides storage and creates a visual demarcation. The rest of the floor is taken up by the master suite, comprising bedroom, bathroom, Ma’s office – from which she can look down at the church where she was married – and a “noodle bar”.

“The noodle bar is for ladies only,” says Ma. “My girls and I eat dinner here when my husband is not around.”

The girls also watch television and do their homework at the bar.

“It’s much more cosy and we can have our girls’ talks in there,” says Ma.

But apart from her office, where does Ma go for a bit of “me time”?

“The rooftop,” she says. “I do Pilates, I read and I sunbathe up there.”

The roof is also her domain when the sun goes down.

“Last night, when the kids were sleeping,” she says, “I went up there to look at the stars.”

The three-bird sculpture cost HK$6,150 at OVO (60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2529 6060). The fourth, plumper bird was bought separately. With the help of A-01 Designers (22/F, Morrison Plaza, 5-9A Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2428 9568), Esther Ma designed the family logo that graces the banisters.

Dining area Beside the open living room is a dining area that boasts a wall lined with storage space. The dining table was HK$89,550 at Lane Crawford Home Store (Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2118 3668) and the theatrical chairs were HK$24,800 each at Farrington Interiors (31/F, World Trade Centre, 280 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, tel: 2808 1000). The chandelier was bought online through United States retailer Restoration Hardware (www.restorationhardware. com) for about HK$20,000.

Master bathroom The tub (HK$93,000) came from Arnhold Design (315 Lockhart Road, tel: 2865 0318). The tap and hand shower cost a total of HK$58,000 at colourliving. The slate feature tiles on the wall were HK$1,200 per square metre at Omega Tile (168 Lockhart Road, tel: 2828 3520) and the white floor tiles were HK$1,700 per square metre at Po Kwong Marble (276 Lockhart Road, tel: 2394 8999).

Play area A-01 Designers designed the fivemetre- by-four-metre platform (HK$55,000) with cutout space and storage. The green floor chair (HK$400) came from Jusco (Kornhill Plaza, Quarry Bay, tel: 2884 6888); the blue and red floor cushions (HK$600 each) from Simple (58 Ventris Road, Happy Valley, tel: 2573 2966); and the candelabra (HK$4,500) from Jacky Lamp & Wood (9/F, Horizon Plaza, tel: 2518 8000).

Tiqa’s room HK Sun Image (20/F, Prince Industrial Building, 106 King Fuk Street, San Po Kong, tel: 3529 2180) made the tree bed (which includes the bird cage and trees) for HK$45,000. Jacky Lamp & Wood made the chandelier for HK$4,500. The rug (HK$5,800) came from Tai Ping Carpets (Prince’s Building, Central, tel: 2522 7138).

Quisha’s room The oyster bed (HK$45,000) was made by HK Sun Image and the chandelier was made for HK$4,500 by Jacky Lamp & Wood. Wing Hang Furniture (89 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, tel: 2528 2252) made the footstool for HK$2,000. The carpet was HK$5,800 at Tai Ping Carpets.

Seeing the light A long mirror and acid-etched, sand-blasted piece of glass were installed along a three-metre expanse of wall in a guest toilet, blocking the windows but allowing light through. The diffused light and mix of materials and layers add visual interest to an otherwise standard bathroom.