Minimalism is the only thing missing in a Mid-Levels apartment that manages to combine style and substance.
A refreshing reversal of the less-is-more design philosophy can be found in the Mid-Levels home of Alexander Baehr. Warm yellows, greens, scarlets and browns, rich furnishings and a host of decorative accessories fill his 1,800-square-foot home.
Baehr, whose company, Absolute Lifestyle, supplies made-to-order hotel and spa accessories, admits he does not have a minimalist bone in his body. 'My home is filled to the max,' he says. Lucky, then, that his job - travelling around Asia sourcing everything from ceramics to lacquerware to textiles - allows him to indulge his maximalist principles. 'I would have all this stuff anyway,' he says. 'But that's the great thing about the job - you can combine the two.'
Although Baehr's home is full, it is not cluttered.
The layout and design work to make the space warm, relaxing and cosy. Unusually, the apartment is long and narrow, having a corridor that links living sections at either end.
At first, Baehr was put off by the apartment's design, but after viewing numerous other properties, he realised it had potential. He changed the layout, built new walls and added fake ceiling beams. 'With such a division of space, it means you can really walk from one end to another,' he says. 'The layout also helps to make the space look bigger than it is.'