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Suji Owen

When Philip and Cindy Leung moved back to Hong Kong last summer,  having enjoyed years of spacious living in Canada, they expected it would be a challenge to find everything they wanted from a home: affordability; a peaceful location; sea and mountain views; a sense of space; and  within easy reach of Central. 
Surprisingly, they found a  Pok Fu Lam property that met almost all  their criteria. 
'It's very small but we loved the view and the big terrace,' says Philip Leung of his 1,200 sqft home. 'We use [the terrace] all the time;  it really extends  the living space.' 
The Leungs' two adult children moved back in with their parents, presenting even more of a space problem. Fortunately, daughter Andrea (andreajleung@gmail.com) is an interior designer who trained at the Parsons The New School for Design, in New York. 
Andrea set about creating three studio-style bed- rooms, each with a narrow section converted into an open bathroom. Sliding doors fashioned from old mahogany define the mosaic-tiled spaces and framed pictures on whitewashed walls extend the depth of  the rooms. 
In another innovative use of old wood, the wash- basins have been set into rustically carved coffee tables, creating a characterful feature to complement the slightly vintage vibe of the bathrooms.
Old-world charm and an easy opulence pervade the living spaces. Walls painted in deep reds and vermilions work with rich antique rugs and soft lighting to create a warm and energising atmosphere. The flat's unusual flooring contributes another subtle touch.
'We chose a coconut-wood floor because it's sustainable and very durable and I also love the slightly scuffed look it has,' says Andrea. 'It's got a bit of character.' 
Irregular waves of fine short grain show up through  the wood's dark stain and add another layer of vintage charm to the apartment.
The moodily lit surroundings provide an attractive backdrop to a rich and varied collection of antique furniture and artwork, many pieces of which are family heirlooms.
'It's just like a pawn shop - very eclectic,' jokes Philip, who agonised with his wife  about which of their belongings would make the cut for the downsize. 'We chose not to buy too much new. Coming from Vancouver, we are really into sustainable living. We're not wasteful people and we treasure what we have. 
'Antique furniture is a real interest of ours and over the years we have collected a lot of it,' Philip says. 'Fortunately, we can hang on to it as we also have a home in Toronto, but we could only bring  a quarter of our stuff to Hong Kong. We just don't have the space here.' 
Although the placement of belongings is part of Andrea's job, doing so with pieces she had grown up with was especially enjoyable.
'I do like modern styles but I appreciate tradition,' says Andrea. 'Growing up with my parents, I went to a lot of antique markets with them and I guess their passion kind of rubbed off on me. My brother wasn't into it but I really loved discovering all these old things with so much character. 
'That's what I like about our home: it has so much character. Everything has a story and is attached to certain memories.'
1 The living area, full of much-loved antiques and softly lit, feels cosy and inviting. A Victorian armchair upholstered in cobalt blue contrasts with the warm reds of the antique Afghan rug. The sofa, which has been in  the family for nearly 30 years, has been reupholstered three times.    
2 A pair of Ming chairs and a couple of Scottish tiger-oak chairs combined with a late Victorian  refectory table, bought years ago in Vancouver, create a stately but intimate dining area.     
3 A striking painting of a Tibetan mother and child presides over a Qing-era altar table, an heirloom, and  a display of family photographs.  
4 In contrast to the cosy warmth of the living area, the master bedroom is bright, airy and decorated in cool whites and greys. Above the bed, a patchwork (HK$1,200) from  Richie Decoration   (shop 7, Marina Tower,  8 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen,  tel: 2368 7133) has been mounted on a decorative frame  (HK$495) from  Shambala  (2/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau,  tel: 2555 2997).    
5 In the galley kitchen, a vibrant runner rug echoes the deep red of the cabinets, which cost HK$72,800 from  Royal Kitchen Design  (shop F, 3 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay,  tel: 2573 3993). The firm also supplied  the sleek  Silestone counter for HK$36,100, including a  Franke sink and  Gessi mixer. Adding an urban edge are steel-finish appliances, including an oven  (HK$19,800) and a dishwasher  (HK$12,000), both from  Siemens (Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street, Central,  tel: 2511 2323).   
6 The sizeable terrace, with its peaceful sea views, is made welcoming with modern furnishings brought from the family's Vancouver home, including a set of well-travelled chairs, purchased from a Happy Valley shop in the  mid-1980s.   
7 Each of the three bedrooms features an open bathroom that can  be closed off with sliding wood doors sourced from  Poly Chance  (271 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai,  tel: 2802 2001) for HK$5,500 a pair. The counters are made from coffee tables (HK$2,900 each, from Shambala) fixed to a base made for about HK$350 each. In Andrea's bathroom, a pale green stain on the doors and an elegant mosaic-tile floor from La Casa (HK$9,520; 175 Lockhart Road, tel: 2511 7880) lend the furnishings  a feminine touch. The  Kohler washbasin (HK$3,100) and  Toto toilet (HK$1,200) were  sourced from  Hop Lung Building Materials  (293  Lockhart Road,  tel: 2802 2273).
The good and the ugly
Good: After removing the tiles in the old kitchen and bathrooms, the Leungs were surprised by  the resulting 'popcorn' texture, which gave the walls a pleasing industrial edge. The effect was emphasised by painting over the pitted surfaces  in bright white.
Ugly: With so much attention to detail paid to almost every inch of the interior, the  mandatory green window frames stipulated by the building's charter stand out like a sore thumb. 'If I could have had my way, I would have installed black cast-iron window frames to go with the darker interior,' says Philip Leung.
Tried + tested
Tall order 
Finding practical storage solutions in small spaces is always difficult but it is especially so in bedrooms. In the room belonging to Cindy and Philip Leung's son, Justin, the bed has been raised to accommodate storage underneath and, above, a tall shelf unit has been installed to house books, DVDs and a few items of clothing.
Styling David Roden



Deep spaces