A 'ghastly' apartment - which happened to have a desirable terrace - has been transformed into a spacious family home, thanks to the owners' imagination.
When it comes to finding the ideal home, it's vital to look beyond first impressions. Laurence Lloyd and his wife, Pat Yin Mei-fong, did just that when hunting for a family-friendly abode. Topping their must-have list was outdoor space for baby daughter Amber, so when they found a 1,000-square-foot ground-floor flat in Pokfulam with a 1,300 sqft terrace, they overlooked its 'ghastly' interior.
Dark and poorly laid out, the apartment had chopped-up rooms featuring low ceilings, brown-tinted windows and a bedroom where the kitchen should have been. The couple were unfazed; the terrace was going to be worth the effort.
Lloyd, managing director of branding and communications consultancy Citigate Lloyd Northover, has a graphic-design background, so although he was visually savvy, he knew professional help was needed for such a major refurbishment. 'When it comes to design, I work in one dimension. I don't think in 3D, so I needed someone to sort it out for me.'
Lloyd was introduced to architect Ed Billson of MAP (Metropolitan Architecture & Planning, tel: 9384 0870) and the two worked on revamping the space. Lloyd's friend, and fellow architect, Paul Scroggie project managed the collaboration.
The major refurbishment issue concerned the installation of an open kitchen off the living space to create a flexible living/dining zone looking towards the terrace. The open kitchen was key to the success of the interior and proved effective in creating space and modernity.