THERE'S SOMETHING fishy going on here. This you surmise on entering the 3,000-sq-ft home of Peter and Jenny Lau and their six-year-old daughter Tamara. Is it the huge aquarium facing the entrance, filled with 20 different breeds of saltwater fish? Perhaps it's the two other freshwater tanks in the living room and study. No, it's the fact that this Mid-Levels home is completely devoid of kiddie clutter. Among the tasteful wood finishes, chic taupe furnishings and cream-wool carpeting, there is nary a sign of young life. Where is the prerequisite plastic detritus, the Barbie dolls, the Powerpuff books, the Disney videos? 'Here,' points out Daisy, one of four domestic helpers (yes four - no doubt a contributing factor to the orderly state of affairs). She looks as if she's leaning against the living-room wall, but one nudge against a push-latch mechanism and floor-to-ceiling doors open to reveal an entire wall of deep shelves, filled with a CS Lewis-style cornucopia of delights. There are shelves of comic books, cupboards filled with sports equipment, piles of spangly fabrics and neatly stacked Tupperware boxes filled with sparkly beads and sequins. And that's just for mum and dad. Concealed within hidden storage space elsewhere is a library of children's books that would put the Urban Council to shame, stacks of board games (some unopened), and even a shelf dedicated to blowing bubbles and another to novelty sticking plasters. 'I hate clutter,' admits Jenny, owner of an upmarket Central fashion boutique. 'Having somewhere to hide it all was one of my main requests when we moved in. And I wanted an enormous bathroom, as I spend most of my time there.' Her final requirement was a loft-like feel as she has an aversion to doors and feels claustrophobic in small spaces. She also felt nostalgic for the loft she stayed in while living in New York. For Peter, a keen diver and lover of aquatic life, myriad aquariums were his main criterion. Satisfying the brief was down to architect Norman Chan of BTR Workshop (tel: 2763 9980), a childhood friend of Peter's, who was also best man at their wedding, and contractor Chung Shun Engineering Co (tel: 2522 1876). 'Like most of our projects, we wanted to keep things simple, clean and precise,' says Chan. 'We wanted it to feel free and fluid with walls that can move and disappear - a very modernist principle of planning.' The capacious space, originally two apartments, was gutted to create a huge open-living area set on a slightly lower level which evokes a subconscious sense of demarcation. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, a BTR Workshop signature feature, then shut off the rest of the apartment when required. For both designer and clients, the bathroom is considered the most successful element of the redesign. 'It's definitely my favourite room in the flat,' says Jenny. 'I like the exotic Amanpuri feel of it, with the limestone walls, woods and my Christian Liagre sinks. I also love the fact that I can play music in the bathroom and in my closet [the audio system has been piped throughout the home]. I can change and come out dancing.' Other than in the bedrooms, there are no curtains in the apartment to obstruct the spectacular views of the harbour and the Kowloon peninsula. Also noticeable is an absence of art on the walls. 'We don't like a lot of decoration,' explains Jenny, 'so there are no paintings. We prefer living art, and we chose to decorate with the aquariums. Rather than watch TV, we just watch the fish. It's incredibly peaceful.' 1: Owner Jenny Lau admits she's not much of a cook ('I make fondues and breakfast mainly'), but the Laus do a lot of home entertaining. The serious cooking is done out back, while the gleaming Alno show kitchen ( www.alno.com ; available from Arnhold Design in Wan Chai, tel: 2865 0318, www.arnhold.com.hk ) stores a staggering array of Riedel glassware and Hermes crockery and the fridge is crammed with champagne. A Miele espresso machine (far left) is built into the cabinetry and a Eurocave wine fridge is housed in a stainless steel and marble preparation island. 2: Lau's favourite room is her 'Amanpuri-style' 150-sq-ft bathroom, lined in German limestone from Markway International in Central (tel: 2834 6663), with a Kohler bath set away from the wall so waterproof spotlights can cast a romantic glow from behind. 'Side' wall lights with asymmetric reflectors by Kreon ( www.kreon.com ; available from Bonaware in Mongkok, tel: 2455 5754) are set flush against the walls. 3: Cherry veneer lines the back wall of the carpeted master bedroom, furnished with matching side tables by BTR Workshop (tel: 2763 9980), an Apta bed by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto (available at Le Cadre Gallery in Central, tel: 2526 1068) and Murano glass Luxy lamps by Oluce ( www.oluce.com ). 4: Tamara's hand-painted bed, side cabinet and table-and-chair set were imported from A Bear's Place in New York (789 Lexington Avenue, near 61st Street, NY 10022. Tel: [1212] 826 6465). 5: At the other end of the show kitchen, a wafer-thin LCD TV (Sharp LC-15A2; www.sharp.com.hk ) has been built into the stainless steel wall, so the Laus can catch up on the morning news over breakfast. To its right is one of the flat's three aquariums. The opal glass-topped Angiolo table is from B&B Italia ( www.bebitalia.it ) while the Pollack armchairs with practical removable covers are by Vico Magistretti for DePadova ( www.depadova.it ), all available at Le Cadre Gallery. 6: Almost the entire apartment is open-plan, although huge sliding doors can block off rooms when necessary. The wenge veneer dining table was designed by BTR Workshop, while the Melandra chairs and Tight sofas are all by B&B Italia. At the far end of the room is another aquarium. Owners recommend WATER WORLD: Although aesthetically pleasing, architect Norman Chan would advise against closed fish tanks in the home. 'They're very difficult to maintain as lots of moisture get trapped inside. If you do want a concealed effect, make sure the tanks are very well-ventilated.' Also, make sure you construct a strong stand (Chan used steel) - once filled with water, the tanks are incredibly heavy. FISHY BUSINESS: The Laus employ a 'fish man' from Hoi Tsuen Aquarium who spends an hour at the apartment every day, feeding, checking the equipment and maintaining the acidity balance and temperature of the water. 'He's very passionate about fish, gives them names and loves them like his own pets,' says Jenny Lau. The firm charges according to the size of the tank, and the type of fish, but an average fee might be $1,000 a month for weekly visits (tel: 9017 2889). BLIND PASSION: Jenny is fond of the electronically operated blinds in the bedrooms, but on reflection would advise against them for homeowners with children. 'They love to play with the switches and turn them on and off, and then of course they break down and you have sunlight all day.' The motorised, cherry stained Venetian blinds are by Silent Gliss at A&S Furnishing in Kwun Tong ( www.silentgliss.com ; tel: 2345 1088). IN THE BALANCE: Although the Laus are not big believers in fung shui, they consulted an expert, 'just in case'. Fortunately, the apartment is situated behind a hill, symbolically giving it something to lean on, and the flat faces north-east, which is also lucky for the Laus - 'but only until 2004', laughs Jenny. She recommends Bok Yung whose charges compared favourably with other quotes (tel: 2728 5868, pager: 7116 8368 call 270).