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SCMP Reporter

AWARD-winning interior designer Thomas Chan thinks there are no rules governing successful interior design. Luckily his clients agree and give him a free rein in their homes.

  As a result Chan is not constrained by transient fashions and simply aims to give each client something unique.

  'I have no particular style, every project is something different, but I prefer the contemporary look - modern, simple, elegant and not too fussy.

  'But if a client wants a classical image I try to look for something new in that style,' he says.

  Chan, the director of Thomas Chan Designs and a former student of Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Swire School of Design, has been bringing elegance to homes in the territory since 1983.

  Although Chan is in a lucky position in that most clients leave the design concept to him, he admits this approach can be difficult.

  'The clients let me do what I want, but if they have a concrete idea it is easier for me to work,' he says. The irony is most of Chan's clients know his past work, but they want something new which looks totally unlike any other interior.

  Although Chan's designs are the epitome of elegance, he takes a basic approach to interiors.

  'The style of the house is important. For example, if it's a beach house surrounded by good scenery, the interior can be very simple because the picture outside creates a calm setting.

  'But if the house does not enjoy good views, something must be done in the interior to create its own setting, such as more work on the wall surfaces and furniture groupings.'   Chan's own home in Happy Valley, which looks out on the racetrack, is a good example of his approach. Here the designer knocked out the terrace wall and replaced it with full-length picture windows to let in maximum light.

  In the same way the original parquet flooring was replaced with natural coloured tiles, to blend with the view outside.

  At home Chan opted for neutral hues, and his wife Mary helped him decorate their house with a selection of sculptures and other artwork. 'The sunshine pours in at home, so I left out any exciting colours and opted for natural tones.

  'I also included timber finishes on the walls to match with the greenery outside,' he says.

  As far as trends in interior design go, Chan believes the territory is several years behind Europe.

  'In Europe people are going for natural fabrics and materials, such as cotton and rattan, for a more comfortable style without gimmicks, but in Hong Kong the majority of people still like a timber floor and a black leather sofa - a style from five or six years ago.

  'They are willing to spend a lot of money on an interior, and they prefer something more elegant and rich in style.'   And Chan's clients are certainly willing to pay top dollar for his unusual designs.

  Work on a 3,000-square-foot house on Karto Mountain, near Sha Tin, was completed for $2.5 million and design work on a 4,000 sq ft home in Clearwater Bay cost about $3 million.

  In the Karto Mountain project, Chan opted for a classical look with timber framed windows to complement, rather than detract from, the view out on to a landscaped garden and swimming pool.

  In the living room, Chan pulled the design together by subtly blending the furnishings with a luxuriant carpet in complementary tones.

  'The exterior of the house is quite normal and the client wanted a classical but simple look,' he says. The same constraints were exercised in the master bedroom where Chan chose a simple but elegant four-poster bed from Maitland Smith with a matching table, chair and screen.

  In the Clearwater Bay project, Chan was asked to renovate both the interior and exterior of the house - and the result is stunning.

  As Chan wanted to make the most of the home's spectacular setting, the exterior was transformed into a Mediterranean style villa by adding white alcoves, pillars and wrought iron fencing.

  One of the main tasks was transforming an ordinary staircase into a spiral design. Because the living room enjoys views from all sides, Chan did not want to retract from this and so opted for classical European style furnishings in toned neutral colours to prevent the interior from becoming too fussy.

  In the dining area natural colours have been selected for the cupboards and dining table set, offset by the terracotta floor tiles.

 As the bathroom has a low ceiling due to its location in the basement, Chan chose a sunken bath and mirrors to maximise available space and light.

  Here, as in most of his interiors, Chan successfully blends different materials and fabrics, such as wood, marble, upholstery and cotton. As Chan explains: 'I like to group together different styles of furniture and artwork.

  'In the last few years, as I've gained more self confidence, I have been quite free to experiment, so I follow no rules.'   It is in the pursuit of an individual look that Chan really excels and it is little wonder his clients keep coming back for more.

  But where does this designer, who has worked on projects in China, Toronto, Canada, and Hong Kong, look for inspiration?   Chan, twice a winner of an Asia-Pacific Interior Design Award, says: 'From past experience; briefings, overseas magazines, and sometimes from movies. But the best ideas come just before I go to sleep.' 



To create the stuff of dreams