WHEN IT COMES to home improvements, Hong Kong isn't exactly the DIY capital of the world. Yet, as every do-it-yourselfer knows, many interior updates can be simple, inexpensive and effective - even if it sometimes means paying for help to complete the job.
Johnny Li, architect and designer with Nail Assemblage, focuses on lighting to make a fundamental change to any room. 'Lighting is important for mood and appearance,' he says. 'Instead of lighting the house with a bright hospital-inspired look, spot areas that need illumination the most.' Li advocates shining lights on paintings and other artwork, the area above a dining table and reading nooks. 'Definitely don't have a light on your garbage can.'
Mike Atkin of Head Architecture also likes the transformative power of lighting. 'Change from a single source unit to track lighting with adjustable spotlights in your bathroom,' he says. 'The increase in lighting levels is huge.'
Joey Lau and Alex Ha of A-01 Design offer several ideas for making bathroom enhancements. 'A tiled wall can be covered with tile filler then painted or left rough to give a cement-like finish,' they say. Because removing tiles is a big, often messy job, Ha and Lau suggest gluing a new layer of tiles over an offending existing layer. 'This can give the room a new ambience.' And rather than installing new sanitary ware such as tubs and sinks that may be chipped or faded, Lau and Ha suggest painting them using Coating Master, a ceramic coating that gives fixtures a new lease of life.
Hong Kong-based architect and designer Louisa Williams' low-cost and low-energy suggestions start in the kitchen. 'There are lots of basic and not-so-basic things you can do,' she says. 'Glass mosaic makes a great splash behind a hob and is simple because it doesn't require cutting. It can also be used as a floor covering.' The mosaic comes in 300mmx 300mm sheets and each tile is about 1.5cm square. It's easy to clean, has no tricky junctions and is applied with a white adhesive painted on the backing.
Williams also suggests simple techniques for updating kitchen cabinets. 'Even just changing the handles can make a difference,' she says. 'Or get rid of the handles altogether and clean up the look with good-quality pressure-release mechanisms.'
To change the look of wooden cabinet doors, Williams recommends spraying them with lacquered paint. For cabinets that are beyond redemption, replacing just the doors is relatively easy and cheap. 'There's a large range of door styles on the market, from vinyl wraps for a modern glossy finish to stainless steel, coloured or timber finishes.'