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SCMP Reporter

A couple's unplanned visit to their old stamping ground in Pokfulam provided the impetus for a fresh start in familiar territory.

Returning to old neighbourhoods usually becomes a trip down memory lane but for Deborah Wong and husband Francis, a stroll through Pokfulam led to a fortuitous visit to a real-estate office and the purchase of a new home.

'My husband decided to take the day off from work to spend time with me,' says Deborah about that fateful day in February 2003. 'We somehow ended up at Residence Bel-Air.'

The ocean and mountain views afforded by the location  persuaded the Wongs, who first lived in Pokfulam after they married, to make the move.

The sparsely populated waterfront location  offered privacy and a resort-like atmosphere Deborah was eager to reproduce in their 1,684-square-foot flat. She was firm about one thing, however: there was to be no gold and nothing elaborate. Deborah wanted a Bali-inspired  ambience, similar to a spa, so she turned to Clifton Leung Design Workshop (formerly in.t Designs, tel: 3106 8384)

to create a minimalist urban oasis.

The inspiration for the flat's design is its wide unobstructed view of the  South China Sea and Lantau Island,  which is highlighted by the living room's floor-to-ceiling glass doors. They open onto a wide balcony facing west, and wooden shutter doors glide along a rail, allowing Deborah to control sunlight entering the room. 'I wanted the apartment's interior to match the view outside,' she says.

Francis was so taken with the panorama  he requested an open floor plan for the master suite. Leung's team tore down the suite's bathroom wall, replacing it with a glass partition. As a compromise between Deborah's desire for a soaking tub and Francis' need for a shower stall, Leung created a large bathroom complete with a slate-tiled, Japanese-style tub and a shower stall beside it.

Materials such as light wood and stones complete the spa-like ambience. To keep colours, patterns and textures to a minimum, Leung used white oak for the flat's cabinets and shelves. To replace the storage  lost when a hallway closet was  removed, he turned one of the three bedrooms into a multi-purpose study with large oak cabinets that provide ample space. Under the study's window, Leung installed more cabinets and a pull-out guest bed under a daybed, where Deborah likes to  read.

Bamboo and stones are  prevalent throughout the flat, albeit in unexpected places. Leung designed a large bamboo cover for the foyer's overhead light, air-conditioner and dehumidifier, and on the balcony he installed tall bamboo poles for a column effect. Natural stones are stashed in a variety of places - between shelves on the entertainment unit and affixed in clear resin on the foyer floor.

Versatility was important to the Wongs, who have two adult sons. The off-white sectional couch in the living room, for example, was custom made according to Deborah's request for seating that can be re-arranged to accommodate guests. The sofa and the dining table - the flat's two biggest movable pieces -  were her choices.

'Clifton originally wanted an almond-coloured long dining table,' says Deborah, but she felt a table with angles was too confining. Instead, she found a large round wooden table with a frosted-glass centre. 'In western cuisine diners at each side face one another but the two people at the ends are left out,' says Deborah. 'We eat Chinese cuisine, so I wanted a round table. This way, the family can see each other at meal times.'

'It's just the two of us, but I like having all this space,' says Deborah. 'I spend my mornings downstairs in the clubhouse, swimming or exercising in the gym, then I come upstairs to my own spa. I feel like I'm relaxing all the time.'

1 An open-plan layout  for the  living areas makes the most of a room with a view. A stainless-steel floor lamp ($2,250, from Leo's Collection, 48 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2572 6521), perched over the dining table, provides soft light for meals. The dining  suite ($9,000)  is from I&D Home Concept (Wing Cheung Mansion, 78 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai, tel: 3422 3338). The sectional sofa, which comes with a matching ottoman and cushions, was custom made for $28,000. The  shelved entertainment unit was   created by resting oak planks on  stacks of large stones.

2 To make the 2.7-metre-high ceiling appear higher, Leung installed two-metre-high solid wood door frames ($6,000 each). Two large ceramic vases (left, $18,000 from L&E, 188 Hollywood Road, Central, tel: 2546 9886; right, $8,000 from Chinese Arts & Crafts, 26 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2827 6667) flank the hallway to the sleeping quarters.

3 To enclose the balcony yet preserve the ocean view,    Clifton Leung built glass partitions and added a stainless-steel and glass bar  ($5,000) for  drinks. The bamboo poles ($2,400) are from Luk Yee Landscaping & Design (tel: 2799 8607) and the narrow rock garden ($4,000) is from Treasure Company (54 Tai Hang Estate, Tai Po, tel: 2656 7738). The steel-and-enamel bar stool ($1,800) was  a gift from a friend.

4 Deborah Wong kept the original kitchen and maid's quarters because both areas were fully functional. The style and colours of the kitchen's Surell  benchtops and solid beech cabinets were also in keeping with Leung's designs for the entertaining areas.

5 Custom-made white oak shutter doors ($18,000) were installed in the living room to filter the light that floods  into the west-facing apartment in the afternoon. The wooden tray is from I&D Home Concept ($300) and the crystal candy bowl is from Lalique  ($10,000,  shop 3, The Landmark, Central, tel: 2523 8281).

6 The original layout of the flat  positioned the master bathroom next to the bedroom, but Deborah wanted an ocean view even while in the tub. Leung  removed the plaster walls between the bedroom and the bathroom to create an open-plan floor for the master suite. The Italian porcelain basin by Hatria  ($2,600, from Sunny Pro, 193 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2156 0388) and Deborah's vanity table lead the way to the amenities.  The mixer is from Classic Bathroom Accessories  ($2,500, 249 Lockhart Road,  tel: 2802 0387), while volcanic slate tiles from Spain line the bathing area. The bathroom cost $180,000 to remodel.

7 Storage is important to the Wongs, so Deborah turned one of the three bedrooms into a study and storage room. Leung custom designed a cabinet system ($40,000) that provides floor-to-ceiling closets and desk space for a computer. For extra storage, a set of drawers is sandwiched between a daybed and a custom-made pull-out guest bed ($20,000).

8 To imitate the texture of bamboo, Leung used Japanese raffia paper  ($6,000, including installation, from Altfield Interiors, room 605, 9 Queen's Road Central, tel: 2524 4867) to line one wall of the master bedroom and rattan raffia paper  to cover the doors of the wardrobes. The custom-made bed ($15,000) is from I&D Home Concept. The walnut-wood flooring is by Boen, a Norwegian brand carried by Joyful Sky  (flat 1405, CRE Building, 303 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2152 0701). It cost $30,000 for materials  and installation.

tried & tested

turn to stone

Small details can make a great impression. As a contrast to the white oak entertainment unit and the apartment's white walls, Clifton Leung stacked large chiselled stones between the unit's two shelves. The stones, which can be purchased from shops that sell pet fish, help bear the weight of the 18kg oak-veneer planks affixed to the wall for extra strength. 'They fit in with the design's theme so well,' says Deborah Wong.

stylist Esther van Wijck



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