While belt tightening has been the norm in the economic downturn, luxury interior designers have still enjoyed ample opportunities to express themselves in Hong Kong.
Their services remain in strong demand in the luxury property market. The high-end interior design business does, however, have a special local flavour.
Requirements frequently centre on using materials that can hold their own in Hong Kong's climate.
People also rarely have the luxury of dedicating one space to one particular need, regardless of the size of their budget.
'Hong Kong work differs from elsewhere, especially in creating effective, multipurpose layouts in much smaller spaces,' said interior designer John Shostrom of JS Design.
Dealing with small and choppy spaces is a regular challenge. 'Storage is a very big issue here, as well as [the challenge of] creating effective furniture layouts with adequate space for a smooth traffic flow.'