As a renter, Chalmers was able to negotiate splitting most of the renovation costs with the owner, who also agreed to foot the bill for other structural projects, such as installing a new roof and rewiring the premises.

Entry to the home is via a ground-level reception hall, resplendent with treasures Chalmers has collected from around the world. Visitors are immediately wowed by the 4.8-metre high ceilings, original mouldings and a gracious staircase leading to the rest of the living quarters. The overall feeling of classic grandeur is scarce in Hong Kong residences these days.

The first floor contains a large hall area off which are a guest room with en suite bathroom, large living/dining room, master bedroom, kitchen/laundry and bathroom.

A second staircase leads to a roof-top terrace, where Chalmers' two dogs can bark to their hearts' content.

The house had been converted into office space before it fell into disrepair, so Chalmers needed to add a kitchen and redo the bathrooms to make it a home again. These renovations, and the addition of new French doors, the floor in the living room and other cosmetic touches, were done in keeping with the era of the house. 'The [rest of the] floors in here are teak and you just can't get that any more,' Chalmers says, 'so for the living room I picked a pine floor and had it stained to match the original teak.'

Other period fixtures that complement the architecture were added. Chalmers sourced a fireplace frame and mantle from a colonial Hong Kong house to replace the original piece, which had been removed. The large crystal chandelier presiding over the living/dining room was salvaged from an old home on Kennedy Road in Mid-Levels. These pieces blend in with the antique and contemporary furnishings that Chalmers has combined to give his home a timeless, though fluid, air.

'Decorating is an evolving process,' he says. 'Nothing is ever truly finished; I don't think something should stay static. And I'm good at buying.'

The white walls form an appropriate backdrop for Chalmers' treasure, the focus of which is Chinese

and Japanese silver. 'The material is beautiful and when you add the Asian influence, it makes it special,' he says. Chalmers also likes brush pots, textiles and other collectables.

Being in the home can feel like stepping back in time and that is precisely what Chalmers likes about it. 'You could be anywhere,' he says, 'yet I'm smack in the middle of Hong Kong.'

1 Derek Chalmers uses the grand front room of the house for his master bedroom and to display some of his favourite collectables. The art-deco bed was bought at a shop on Graham Street, Central, that no longer exists. The circa 19th-century Thai bronze Buddha seated on the desk was acquired in Bangkok. Of a similar era are the wall-mounted Japanese woodblocks; prints from Hanlin Gallery (Wilson House, 19 Wyndham Street, Central, tel: 2522 4479). The bed linen and curtains are from Wai Kee (22 Wyndham Street, tel: 2522 6528). The carpets came from various Hong Kong and Shanghai stores. The Chinese desk, wall cabinet and side tables were sourced through Philippe Chan (Asiart Corner, 9 Tai On Terrace, Sheung Wan, tel: 9831 4462).

2 The ground-floor reception room alerts guests to the fact they have entered a special home. This ample space is decorated with a mixture of items that represent the pan-Asian aesthetic of Chalmers' collection. The framed Japanese obi sash came from the Hanlin Gallery. The English art-deco cabinet was picked up in Shanghai and the Chinese cabinets and occasional table were bought from Philippe Chan.

3 The Chinese furniture in the living/dining room, purchased from Philippe Chan, gives the room a majestic ambience. The 19th-century Japanese doll on the side table was sourced from Hanlin Gallery. The 19th-century Burmese wooden Buddha in the hall, visible through the open door, is from Thailand. The Chinese and Japanese export silver had various sources, including Hanlin Gallery. The thick carpets were collected in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

4 This corner of the laundry room - one of the fanciest in town - provides a textured vantage point for the large upstairs hall and the living/dining area. The 19th-century inlaid Chinese screen was sourced through Philippe Chan, as were the Chinese carpets, which complement the Tibetan and Russian carpets collected in Moscow and Shanghai. The modern Burmese drawing is from Yangon.

5 The upstairs hall serves as a gallery for some of Chalmers' unique items. The Chinese bookcase and cabinet are from Philippe Chan, while the art-nouveau parlour suite at the end of the hall was bought in Brisbane, Australia. The Japanese obi and other textiles are from the Hanlin Gallery. The richly hued runner is from Moscow, while the large Chinese lanterns, which take advantage of the high ceilings, are from Macau.

6 The downstairs reception hall is graced with a 19th-century mirror that Chalmers purchased in Amsterdam. The blue-on-white Japanese and Chinese porcelain pieces are from Philippe Chan.

7 The stairwell leading to the first floor provides yet more space for Chalmers to hang his many textiles. The framed Chinese work on the left was picked up in London. The Japanese screen at the far end was acquired from a friend. The Chinese peasant top, purchased locally, was a steal at a few hundred dollars.

tried & tested

where one door closes ...

Before Derek Chalmers moved in, the original front room of the home had been converted into two rooms with an antechamber and the door had been removed. When he returned it to its previous dimensions, he obtained quotes for a custom-made door. 'Size was a big problem, as was the material,' he says about the generous proportion of the entryway. 'It would have cost a fortune to find one solid piece of wood.' Luckily, friend and dealer Phillipe Chan, of Asiart (9 Tai On Terrace, Sheung Wan, tel: 9831 4462), had a set of screens measuring approximately the height of the space. Chalmers added glass over the lattice for noise protection and he places a piece of fabric over the glass when guests are staying.

styling Gloria Wong