Walk into the Tai Po house of Peter Bennett and you are whisked away from urban Hong Kong by the charming French country kitchen, the garden bursting with blooms and the idyllic vista of quaint dwellings overshadowed by majestic mountains. The magic, however, required less fairy dust than down-to-earth ideas. 'So many times we thought about what we wanted and what we were trying to achieve,' says Bennett about the family home he and his partner planned for themselves and their newborn child. The clincher was the location. 'When we saw this view we wanted to be here because it's like Spain or the south of France,' says Bennett, who has bought and renovated many properties in Britain and Hong Kong but never before in the style he and his partner chose for their home. 'We thought we'd just have to change the house to give it that feel.' The ground floor of the two-level, 2,300 sq ft, 1970s house best reflects their priorities. Because the original kitchen was 'small and pokey', it was moved to the site of the old living room and now leads onto a tiled courtyard that abuts a flower-fringed lawn. 'It's the centre of our home, particularly with the baby,' says Bennett, explaining that he spends most of his time there, in the garden and, at night, in the family-cum-work room fashioned from what was previously a garage. Although Bennett is full of praise for his contractor, with whom he has worked on several other properties, it's clear that the 'new' house owes much to the couple's time and effort; 'We visited Lockhart Road about 15 times,' he recalls. Several folders of clippings from shelter magazines, which his partner pored over, attest to their clear objectives. 'From that we created this,' says Bennett, leafing through pages that show how colours, styles and specific designs made their way from different publications into their home. 'This was the kitchen we wanted,' he says, stopping at a picture showing a similar set-up complete with a rustic table illuminated by classic pendant lamps and a large ceramic sink set into a wooden countertop. 'All the contractor wants is for you to make up your mind so he can tell you the cost,' says Bennett, pointing to some of the small details he requested, such as the moulding on woodwork and spindles on the staircase banister leading to the top floor. Although, structurally, the upper level was unchanged, thought went into creating long-line views stretching from one end of the house to the other. From the master bedroom upstairs, there is an unobstructed view past the open dressing area, en-suite bathroom and landing through to the Juliet balcony on the far side. 'What we've done is to try to create a bigger feel,' Bennett says. Enlarging windows and glass doors enhances that effect. Building ample storage also helped to 'create' space. In the garden, which is a three-level affair, a waterproof area under a wooden deck is used to stash garden and other paraphernalia such as outdoor heaters. On the terrace, a large cabinet houses a second fridge and in the guest bathroom/laundry on the ground floor, the washer and dryer are hidden in purpose-built cabinets. The feeling of airiness is further enhanced on the ground floor by a glass entrance with a high ceiling that lifts the spirits. 'It's not a big house but it's got that big feel,' Bennett says. 'Part of it has to do with letting more light in and taking the ceiling as high as it would go.' It's clear the pair are happy with their home. How happy? 'All of this is exactly what we want, where we want it,' says Bennett, adding, 'I'd love to buy another house and replicate this.' 1 The kitchen was built by colour.living (333 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2510 2666) for HK$365,210, which included the cabinets, worktop, sink and built-in appliances. The Salvage collection table (HK$21,980), the padded chairs (HK$2,980 each) and the set of 1950s French pendant lights (HK$9,800) were from Tequila Kola (1/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, tel: 2877 3295). Merbau engineered wood (HK$40 a square foot; from Beautyfloor Engineering, shop A3, 272A Lockhart Road, tel: 3427 8640) was used on the kitchen floor and elsewhere in the house. 2 The living area features a Chinois sectional sofa that cost HK$26,875 from Tequila Kola and a coffee table (HK$5,500) from Old Shanghai (15/F, Horizon Plaza, tel: 3527 3135). The Malibu bar unit (HK$9,980) was also from Tequila Kola. In the corridor leading to the family room is a 20s Dutch colonial coat stand (HK$6,900), which came from Shambala (2/F, Horizon Plaza, tel: 2555 2997). Flanking it are armchairs that cost HK$3,980 each from Tequila Kola. Except for the small antique silk cushion (HK$980; from Xquisit, 76 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2526 1660), the sofa cushions (HK$480 to HK$2,100) and the throw (HK$3,200) came from Bed & Bath (2/F, Prince's Building, Central, tel: 2522 5151). 3 Light from the pendant lamp (HK$12,800; from Pearl Lighting Collection, 25 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2838 6606) throws a shimmering reflection on the ceiling of the landing, which is furnished with a couch that cost HK$18,900 from Tequila Kola. The side tables (HK$3,980 each) and green vases (HK$995 each) were also from Tequila Kola. The rubrum plant (HK$3,200) and pot (HK$520) came from Lung Shan Garden (Hong Lok Yuen Road, Tai Po, tel: 2651 2782; www. lungshangarden.com.hk). The painting, Early Morning, by Vu Thuy, came from Thanh Mai Gallery in Hanoi, Vietnam (64 Hang Gai, Quan Hoan Kiem, tel: 84 4 3828 7304). 4 Outside the kitchen, the terrace provides an al-fresco dining area, with a Salvage collection table (HK$18,980) from Tequila Kola, around which are yellow stools that cost HK$160 each from Old House Classical Furniture (24 Chan Man Street, Sai Kung, tel: 2792 7271). The red floor tiles were HK$10 a square foot from Hop Hing Lung Material (235 Lockhart Road, tel: 2511 3013). The Buddha statue (HK$5,840) also came from Old House Classical Furniture. Lung Shan Garden created the garden, complete with the lawn and plants. 5 In the master bedroom, the king-size Diva bed (HK$13,980) and throw (HK$2,480) were from Tequila Kola. The Tibetan altar stands (HK$6,900 each), which double as bedside tables, and the bedside lamps (HK$1,259 each) came from Shambala. The red dresser was acquired several years ago from Old House Classical Furniture. 6 The old-world charm of the en-suite master bathroom was enhanced by a basin cabinet (HK$8,100) and mirror cabinet (HK$6,750) made by contractor Ivan Chan of Lab Design and Consultants (21/F, Xiu Hua Commercial Building, 211 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2802 0668). The step ladder (HK$1,600) beside the American Standard bath, with an American Standard tap and shower, came from Shambala. The 30s Waterfall chandelier (HK$7,800) was from Tequila Kola. The light above the mirror cabinet (HK$1,200) was sourced from Future Lighting Collection (647 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, tel: 3540 5496). The black and white checkerboard tiles (HK$10 a square foot) were from Hop Hing Lung Material. 7 The lofty, glass entrance features an Italian Murano glass pendant lamp (HK$9,800) from Pearl Lighting Collection. The Salvage collection meshed mirror with two iron candleholders (HK$6,980) and the console table (HK$4,980) came from Tequila Kola. The floor tiles are the same as those in the en-suite master bathroom. Tried + tested Hiding hood Overhead cabinets were built to partially conceal the modern Miele hood, which would have seemed out of place in the country- style kitchen. The cabinet doors match the others in the kitchen, providing a uniform look. The kitchen was built by colour.living (333 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2510 2666). Styling David Roden
