The great escape

For the owners, a tiny but welcoming apartment is more than a second home - it's their own private getaway. Outdoor living space may be a rarity in downtown Hong Kong but one flat in the heart of SoHo shows that with imagination and flair an urban oasis is possible. Dance instructor Ines Laimins renovated a Peel Street apartment to create a refuge for her and her husband. With a bigger apartment elsewhere, she wanted a bolt-hole in which to recharge and relax, and an exotic outdoor setting that would allow them to entertain in style. She opted for a small, second-floor, 500 sqft walk-up. In poor condition, it comprised the original apartment plus a tacked-on illegal structure covering what had once been an outdoor wraparound-style terrace. She called on Jennifer Newton of Newton Concepts (1/F, office B, 45 Elgin Street, Central, tel: 6718 5181) to handle the project, knowing the interior designer was experienced in handling renovations of old apartments in the area. Newton's first task was to dismantle the illegal structure and recover the outdoor space. She wanted to maximise the indoor-outdoor feeling. 'People often cite the pollution and the humidity, but really there is no reason why you shouldn't enjoy this kind of outdoor living [in Hong Kong],' says Newton. Because the apartment was to be used only as an occasional getaway, there was no need for a separate bedroom or extensive kitchen facilities. The space operates as a kind of studio, with a bed-cum-lounging area in the living room and two sets of French windows that slide open to provide a seamless transition to the terrace. Most of the usual functions of a home - dining, cooking, relaxing - have been moved outside, protected from the elements by large awnings. The space has a tropical, Southeast Asian feel. 'They were going for something sweet and exotic, something a bit more magical than a typical urban apartment,' says Newton. 'They were looking to capture a feeling rather than any particular style, although they love modern Asian style and a [British interior designer] Kelly Hoppen-type colour scheme.' Contemporary Balinese ambience abounds, with wooden decking, bamboo walls, statuary, pebbles and lots of tropical plants, including frangipani, orchids and mango. Yet the bamboo walls surrounding the terrace are more than just a style statement. Says Newton: 'The view here is pretty bad because it is quite low down. So we put the bamboo up and enclosed it all.' It keeps prying eyes out and provides a sense of seclusion. To give the apartment a modern edge, Newton used concrete extensively - for the industrial-style outdoor kitchen area, the breakfast bar and the sofa bases. 'Ines wanted the industrial feel of the concrete but she wanted it softer. I think it actually looks more like Venetian plaster.' Tactile materials and handmade objects also play a major role: antique teak furniture, rattan, linen, sisal, hemp and silk provide a softer, more feminine feel. 'I guess it is more sensual than most apartments and evokes the sense of escapism that the owners were looking for,' says Newton. 1 Doors slide open along the side of the living area onto the deck, reducing the division between inside and out. A large cream awning from Best United Engineering (flat 2B, Joint Venture Factory Building, 76 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, tel: 2344 9028; www.bestunited.com.hk) covers the decked area to protect it from the elements. A bamboo wall hides an unsightly view and shields the space from prying eyes. The antique teak table with galvanised steel legs is part of the furniture range from Newton Concepts (1/F, office B, 45 Elgin Street, Central, tel: 6718 5181; by appointment). The plastic rattan-effect chairs are from Intend (26/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, tel: 3527 0795). The decking is from Beauty Floor (272A Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 3427 8640). 2 Jennifer Newton of Newton Concepts designed an outdoor sofa that has a concrete base and hidden storage space. The bamboo-trimmed scatter cushions are part of the Newton Concepts lifestyle range. The antique elm coffee table (HK$3,000) was also sourced through Newton Concepts. The plants, which include mango, frangipani and money trees, cost from HK$400 to HK$1,200 each, all from Mong Kok Flower Market. 3 The tactile bathroom blends the industrial and the natural in its use of concrete walls and floor, black pebbles and an antique elm sink unit. The sink (HK$900) is from Luen Hing Hong Building Materials (236 Lockhart Road, tel: 2391 0356). The pebbles can be sourced from any garden shop in Mong Kok Flower Market. Newton installed a tall, slim bathroom cabinet above the sink and added mirrored doors to increase the sense of space. 4 The concrete outdoor kitchen, which is protected by an awning (not pictured), was designed by Newton. The industrial styling of the kitchen is softened by the use of contrasting textures such as bamboo and brick. The outdoor rattan-effect bar stools are from Intend and the barbecue unit is from Meatmaster Barbecues (www.meatmasterbbq.com). 5 The compact interior functions as a studio space and is dominated by a large bed-cum-lounging zone separated from the small kitchenette (to the left) by a waist-height brick dividing wall. An alcove behind the bed provides both shelving and a source of light. The cushions are from Jim Thompson (9 Surawong Road, Bangkok, Thailand, tel: 66 2 632 8100); the pair of throws, HK$150 each, are from Almeta (20/3 Soi Prasarnmitr, Sukhumvit, Soi 23, Bangkok, tel: 66 2 258 4227). The statue, HK$6,000, visible through the window, was sourced in Bali by Newton Concepts. Linen curtains, covering the door leading to the seating nook (see Tried + tested), have been used on all windows and cost a total of about HK$30,000 from Newton Concepts. The small handmade ceramic cups, HK$50 each, were found by Newton in a Bangkok street market. 6 The compact kitchen in a corner of the living area includes a sink, a microwave oven and a fridge. The kitchen cost about HK$20,000. Tried + tested Cosy corner A slim corridor running along the back of the apartment has been transformed from an unusable space into a cosy seating nook, perfect for reading or meditation. Interior designer Jennifer Newton (tel: 6718 5181) designed a concrete base, about 75cm deep and 35cm high, and covered it with a stone-coloured cushion. For continuity with the rest of the exterior, she installed a bamboo wall in the rear and emphasised the natural ambience by hanging six white plant holders overhead. The plant holders were found in Chatuchak weekend market (Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand). The white pebbles, which flank the wooden decking, are from Mong Kok Flower Market. Styling Esther van Wijck