City designer says small home spaces can be turned into stylish spots
Eve Mercier is teaching students to combine creativity and practicality in the home with her interior workshop on creative compact design
Interior designer Eve Mercier is on a mission to transform the smallest of spaces at home into highly functional stylish spots.
"A well-designed small space is one that has been carefully thought out with a focus on the essentials along with a strong sense of style," says the Hong Kong-based designer, whose Insight School of Interior Design offers an intensive one day workshop on creative compact design.
Mercier, who worked in fashion and at Christie's before joining Candy & Candy's luxury residential and commercial interior design team, says the course teaches students to combine creativity and practicality.
"It seems obvious but the first step we teach is how to think about what the space will be used for and by whom," she says.
Two case studies offer real-life examples of how to think outside the box. The first, by local designer Gary Chang, illustrates how he changes his 344 square feet Hong Kong flat into 24 different "rooms" using an ingenious and highly flexible, yet stylish, series of sliding panels and concealed storage.
Custom-built features maximise every square inch, explains Mercier. "A good local contractor can make built-in or fold-away beds and desks as well as create extra space with inset niches for storage or display. Even a tight corner can be turned to advantage with customised seating."