As someone who works in the property business, Paul Burke was under no illusions when it came to buying his first home in the city. He kept his criteria simple, practical and feasible.
'I wanted something central, I wanted something very affordable and I wanted it close to the gym,' says the affable Irishman.
What he found was a 650 sq ft apartment near Hollywood Road, in Central, that needed an extensive revamp to become the kind of party pad Burke had in mind. For that, he enlisted the help of Philip Fung, of C&D Engineering, who removed just about everything from the interior and started from scratch.
The design brief was straightforward. Burke wanted two double bedrooms, a private study and an open living area conducive to relaxed entertainment. He also wanted to maximise the space.
'Every cubic centimetre of this place is used efficiently, and that's the big thing,' he says.
The first change was to the extra-wide hallway. Fung narrowed it substantially to make room for a bathroom and a niche study along one side. The doors to both rooms are hidden behind panels of mirrors in various shades and widths. The long rectangular ceiling in the hall helps maintain an impression of spaciousness. Fung created a partial false ceiling, behind which long fluorescent tubes create an almost spaceship-like feel, enhanced by the mirrors. Passing through the hall feels a little like walking down a catwalk.