When Jennifer Robins and her husband bought a duplex in Pok Fu Lam six years ago, they knew it needed some serious attention. Full of ideas, they took on the project themselves; working with a contractor to rip out walls, install a new kitchen and bathroom, replace the floor and open up the 2,700 sq ft space to make the most of the expansive sea views. The result was good but not great. 'It was always a lovely flat but I always felt it didn't come out quite as planned,' says Robins. 'There were some things that niggled at me. For example, I was not fully satisfied with the spatial flow and the bathrooms didn't function properly.' When she met Hong Kong and Beijing-based architect Frank Chiu of Atelier: China, she asked him to solve her problems once and for all. Chiu cast a professional eye over the place. It was not simply a matter of knocking everything down and starting over; it needed a subtle touch. 'I think the key point was to simplify and create continuity, and thereby spatial calm,' says Chiu. In practical terms, this meant pulling everything together by streamlining the materials used, emphasising the central staircase and the soaring double-height ceiling in the living room, building homogeneous cabinetry and turning the master bedroom, bathroom and dressing room into one cohesive suite. A central feature of the new-look duplex is the minimal staircase, which leads to the double-height ceiling void. 'Originally the stair had wooden treads and a glass balustrade with a timber handrail,' says Chiu. 'I replaced the wood with white composite stone, and removed the lower balustrade.' By paring down the materials, Chiu made the space more architectural and dramatic. Upstairs, Chiu replaced a low glass wall (which ran along the edge of the television lounge area and functioned as a balcony wall overlooking the double-height space) with a solid white brick and concrete one. 'This created more mass and definition and simplified the space. The stair has become an extension of this white space, enhancing the flow upwards and downwards.' This is an interior that highlights contrasts. 'Frank wanted to emphasise the idea of positive and negative space,' says Robins, pointing to the living room, with its white walls, a black feature wall and dark wood floor. 'Previously, the floor was light-coloured. I was not really up for pulling out a perfectly decent floor both for environmental and cost reasons, so the contractor said we could try sanding it down and staining it. We went from blond to brunette for just a few thousand dollars.' Chiu's idea of positive and negative space also relates to how the interior feels. 'The negative space is the double-height void in the main living space; it is empty and voluminous, all about contemplation,' he says. 'The positive space is in the areas for 'work', such as the study and the walk-in wardrobe. For example, the wardrobe is meant to be crammed to the hilt, working to the max so that the negative space can breathe in the emptiness.' To enhance the visual continuity, Chiu redid the cabinetry - in both the upstairs and downstairs living rooms, the study and the master bedroom - in a birch veneer that matches the dark floor. Not only does this help make the space more cohesive but it also provides display room for Robins' pieces of art and furnishings. 'Frank realised I had collected lots of objects over the years and there was never really a place for them,' she says. Such a minimal architectural palette and the simplification of materials work well with the Robinses' furniture - a mixture of design classics, custom-made pieces and objects found on travels across Asia and Europe. Robins feels that one of the most successful parts of the redesign is her master suite. Here, Chiu knocked down a wall between the bedroom and en-suite bathroom and replaced it with a glass wall and sliding door. By keeping the original bathroom door (off the corridor that leads into the master suite) he provided two points of access to the bathroom. The walk-in-wardrobe, on the other side of the corridor leading into the master suite, also benefits from two entrances. 'The idea is that you can walk around and through both areas so that the space flows,' says Robins. 'This area especially has made a great deal of difference to our lives.' 1 The dark stained floors and black wall give depth to the dining area. The walnut extendable dining table and chairs with slip covers are from Le Cadre Gallery (price on application; 11 Duddell Street, Central, tel: 2526 1068). The Edwardian mantelpiece mirror (HK$15,000) leaning against the wall came from Through the Looking Glass (137 Kensington Church Street, London, Britain, tel: 44 20 7221 4026; www.throughthelookingglass.co.uk ). The cabinetry, which is clad in birchwood veneer, provides storage and display space and hides the air-conditioners. 2 The open kitchen, designed and made by Kuchen (G/F, Lockhart Centre, 301 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, tel: 2845 9822) as part of the previous renovation, comprises grey Corian work surfaces and melamine cabinetry. Architect Frank Chiu of Atelier: China (tel: 9779 7153; 86 1371 555 773) updated the open stairway by removing a glass and timber balustrade and cladding the former wooden steps with white composite stone. The look is clean, simple and modern. 3 Adjacent to the staircase in the living room hangs a painting that was a gift to the Robinses by Kyoto-based American artist Daniel Kelly (represented through Hanga Ten, Hurlingham Studios, Ranelagh Gardens, London, tel: 44 20 7371 9677; www.hangaten . com). Beneath is a glass, wood and metal coffee table (price on application) from Le Cadre Gallery. The stainless-steel table lamp (HK$7,000) was purchased in Bali, Indonesia. 4 The palette of dark floors and white walls continues into the restful master bedroom. The My Darling bed and matching quilt and Curl side tables, all by Dialogica New York, came from Sol y Luna Lifestyle (16/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, tel: 2391 0689). The antique Japanese cypress and cedar chest of drawers was bought in Tokyo and the silk floor rug was purchased in Shanghai. The embroidered bedlinen is by Margaret Muir from Intohome (2/F, Prince's Building, Central, tel: 2814 7413; www.margaretmuir.com ). 5 The striking open staircase is the apartment's central design feature. At its base is a black leather chrome-plated Le Corbusier chaise longue purchased in London many years ago. Another design classic, the Trolley counterpoise lamp in chromed steel (HK$12,800) is a 1934 original by British designer G. Carwardine, purchased from Flea + Cents (1/F, 36 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, tel: 2528 0808; www.fleancents.com ). The Chichibio wheeled side-table is from Le Cadre Gallery. At the top of the stairs is a flexible Pipe Suspension light by Herzog & de Meuron (HK$6,200) from Artemide (shop 111, Ruttonjee Centre, 11 Duddell Street, Central, tel: 2523 0333; www. artemide.com). 6 A cosy, light-filled seating nook in a corner of the living room (note the light flooding through from the upper level thanks to the glass brick wall) contains two 1930s Shanghai-style elm armchairs (HK$4,100 each), made to order by Kenji Designs (1A Choy Lee Lau, 34 Elgin Street, Central, tel: 2851 1323) and covered by Larredo Interiors (101, Lucky Building, 39 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2886 0821). The grey velvet chaise longue (HK$9,000) is also by Larredo Interiors. The Noguchi-style coffee table and triangular stainless-steel fretwork standing lamp are from Bali. 7 The Mandarin Oriental-style master bathroom exudes low-key luxe. The Italian marble (HK$100 per square foot) on the walls is from Ka Yue Design (108 Lok Shan Road, To Kwa Wan, tel: 6178 9668); the rectangular basin (HK$1,200) is from Classic Bathroom Accessories (249 Lockhart Road, tel: 2802 0328). Chiu knocked out a wall between the bathroom and the bedroom and installed a glass wall. 8 The curved upstairs terrace offers plenty of room for relaxation. It has been kept simple, with a decked wooden platform (to the right) and Manolo outdoor easy chairs (HK$9,300 each) from Ovo (16 Queen's Road East, tel: 2526 7226; www.ovo.com.hk ). Tried + tested Black beauty The bold black wall in the living room was not something that owner Jennifer Robins would have chosen. But Frank Chiu of Atelier: China (tel: 9779 7153; 86 1371 555 773) persuaded her that it was the way to go. 'I wanted to give the living room more depth in that area,' he says. The surface is an effective counterpoint to the flat's predominantly white palette and makes a bold statement in contrast to the dark wood veneer and decorative accessories. A black-and-white portrait bought in London of British film director Derek Jarman, by photographer Stephen Pyke, hangs on the wall. The 1950s figurine lamp (HK$2,950) is one of a pair from Flea + Cents (1/F, 36 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, tel: 2528 0808; www.fleancents . com). The white bowl is from Le Cadre Gallery (11 Duddell Street, Central, tel: 2526 1068). Styling Vivien Jones
