The clever use of space and lighting and a rooftop conversion have resulted in the ideal entertainment venue for a single man about town. A fabulous roof terrace with an expansive sea view, lots of greenery and a sense of open space were the selling points for the thirtysomething owner of a sleek bachelor pad in Pok Fu Lam. The light-filled, 1,800 sqft, two-bedroom space, together with the equivalent roof area, seemed to him to be ideal for a get-away-from-the-city sanctuary as well as the perfect party pad. To help turn his home into a designer space in which he could relax and host poker nights, and enjoy lazy Sunday barbecues on the roof with friends, he enlisted the services of interior designers Nathalie Edwards of Life Styling (tel: 6101 1272) and Lucie McCullough (tel: 6409 3434). Because entertaining was to be the primary function, McCullough and Edwards' design focused on creating original fixtures and furniture, and enhancing the space in terms of lighting. They wanted to introduce some understated luxury and glamour. 'Before the renovation there was a certain amount of light in the apartment. We looked to maximise on this and create a second entertainment area on the roof,' says McCullough. 'We wanted to engineer a different feel with the lighting in the lounge and brought in down-lights and some wall chandeliers to add a touch of glamour,' continues Edwards. Their aim was to realise a relaxed, elegant space. 'We achieved the relaxed feel by maximising the use of space in the living room and adding some oversized floor cushions,' says McCullough. 'And we achieved elegance in the choice of materials used: mirror, stainless steel, skins, velvet, silk and tweed.' In a bid to make the living space different from the quintessential bachelor pad, masculine raw finishes were juxtaposed with luxurious materials. For example, a raw cement wall in the dining room is combined with a stone-and-stainless-steel table. Candles have been suspended overhead (see Tried & Tested) to create sensual, seductive low lighting. In the lounge area, custom-designed chairs upholstered in men's suit fabric are mixed with gunmetal grey sheer organza curtains. This tactile palette continues in the master bedroom. 'It started off as quite a cold space,' says Edwards. 'We redesigned the wardrobe, put a soft-touch wool rug on the floor and juxtaposed soft furs with crisp 600-count cotton bedsheets.' And, of course, everything here functions by remote control. Audio visuals were important, so the duo built a false wall in the living room to allow the television to sit flush to the wall and conceal the wiring. They added a retractable screen and projector, to turn the space into a private cinema when required, and built speakers into the beams. On the roof, they made entertaining easy by installing a rooftop kitchen with a built-in barbecue. 'We also played with the flooring to create an interesting, fresh look with slate, white stones and wooden decking,' says McCullough. Lighting was added - essential for parties that stretch from day into night. For a touch of romance - and some shade from the sun - they used diaphanous curtains in weatherproof fabrics from Sunbrella (unit B, 1/F, Fast Industrial Building, 658 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan; tel: 2148 3423; www.sunbrella.com ), adding weights to the bottom for control. 'The roof is so cool,' says Edwards. 'It's a labyrinth of different play areas.' 1 The roof terrace is as perfect for lazy Sundays as it is for easy entertaining. The seating area has been covered with painted wooden timber. The all-weather wicker furniture (four-seater sofa, HK$27,800; three-seater sofa, HK$21,600; square coffee table, HK$3,200; rectangular tables, HK$3,000 each) was all from Suniture (unit 2615, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, tel: 2580 1263; www.suniture.com ). The windproof glass vases with cream candles are from Ikea ( www.ikea.com.hk ; various locations) and the springbok-skin scatter cushions were sourced in South Africa. The pool table was purchased from a friend. 2 In the dining room the cement wall adds a raw element to the design and juxtaposes well with the technistone-and-stainless-steel dining table, custom designed by Lucie McCullough (tel: 6409 3434) and Nathalie Edwards of Life Styling (tel: 6101 1272). The carved wood and stainless-steel set of eight dining chairs was also custom designed by the duo. In the corner is a standing lamp with a black linen shade (HK$5,800 from Ligne Roset, 16 Blue Pool Road, Happy Valley, tel: 2891 0913; www.ligne-roset.com ). The painting of the pig on the wall is from the owner's private collection and is one of his favourite pieces. 3 The living room, with its clean feel and luxurious textures, benefits from lots of light. In the centre is a sleek low-level coffee table, custom designed by McCullough and Edwards. It is flanked by a pair of masculine armchairs with men's suit fabric upholstered onto a chrome base, also custom designed. Adding a touch of glamour is a set of crystal candleholders (HK$800 to HK$1,100 each, from White Contemporary Homewares, shop 245, Prince's Building, Central, tel: 2526 8482). 4 The master bedroom features a clean palette to which warmth has been added with a wool rug, fur throws and crisp cotton sheets. The teak bed (HK$12,980) is from Tequila Kola (1/F, Horizon Plaza, tel: 2877 3295; www.tequilakola.com ). The zebra-skin clad bench with chrome legs was sourced in South Africa. On the bed is a bespoke 600-count cotton sheet-and-duvet set with silk borders. The set, designed by Life Styling, cost HK$2,500. 5 The vanity unit, with mirrored doors and white marble countertop, was custom made by contractor Gerald of Jade Decor (room 8, 1/F, Man Yuen Building, 2 Man Yuen Street, Jordan, tel: 9311 5749). The tap fittings are from Shun Lee Building Materials (244 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2598 0688). 6 Edwards redesigned the kitchen and created an oversized, mirror-backed opening to the dining room. The kitchen, with its high-gloss white lacquer cabinets and Corian countertop, was custom made by Treasure Kitchen Design (383 Lockhart Road, tel: 2892 2993). The floor has been clad in snow oak from Wonderfloor International (shop B, 271 Lockhart Road, tel: 2728 9373). 7 An internal, oak-clad stairway leads to the roof. The banisters have been removed to create an open feel and a sheer silk organza curtain allows light to flood in. Hanging on the wall are two works by British graffiti artist Banksy ( www.banksy.co.uk ). tried & tested wicked wax For a seductive, yet deceptively simple take on the traditional overhanging light, Lucie McCullough (tel: 6409 3434) and Nathalie Edwards (tel: 6101 1272) opted for a chrome metal tray filled with large white candles over the dining table. This was a practical solution because there was no existing light cable. They custom designed a 70cm by 45cm tray, suspended from tension wires and filled with white candles from Ikea ( www.ikea.com.hk ; various locations). The result is a lighting system that has a hi-tech feel yet is decidedly low tech. In addition, the industrial lines work well against the raw cement wall. styling Esther van Wijck