Interior designer Luis Yan knew he was right for the job when it came to renovating a 2,000 sq ft Mid-Levels' flat. He was full of ideas but, most importantly, he had recently refurbished an identical space a few floors below. His knowledge of the building's quirks, he says, was invaluable because of the flats' odd shape.
'They're triangular,' he says, then corrects himself by drawing a three-leaf-clover-like configuration on a piece of paper and pointing to one of the leaves. 'There are three flats per floor. They're really difficult to use well.'
The 'strange shape' of the light-filled flat - which is wide at the entrance and tapers off into a narrow far end - isn't apparent until he points to curious nooks that he exposed to afford more storage space, or, in the case of the en-suite master bathroom, more room in the shower cubicle (which, as a result is L-shaped).
'Before, these spaces were just blocked off,' he says.
Luckily for Yan, his clients, a Hongkonger and her Australian partner, had few requirements beyond en- larging the living and dining areas and ensuring the interior was modern, eclectic and wowed guests. Other requests included an interesting colour scheme, drawers and doors that opened smoothly and bright rooms that would not need artificial lighting during the day. The owners also wanted a knockout 'something' at the end of the corridor leading to the three bedrooms (one of which is now a guest room, the other a study) and second bathroom.
Instead of hanging a conventional canvas on the wall, Yan, of Harmony Interior Design & Decoration, found a floral work subtly illuminated with lights that change colour. The work attracts the attention of anyone entering the flat, drawing the gaze past the open kitchen and living and dining areas.