Visitors to the Kans' penthouse in Sha Tin may recoil at the glitz in the shared lobby of the residential development, where gold, marble, mirrors and chandeliers - the usual signifiers of wealth in this city - are employed to maximum, albeit taste-minimising, effect.
But enter the top-floor apartment and you understand why the family of four decided instantly that they should live here. 'Once I saw the light I loved it,' says K.Y. Kan, a businessman with an office nearby. 'I immediately had lots of ideas about what to do with the place.'
A two-level, 4,000 sq ft penthouse with a private pool on the roof and a long, open living area fronted by glass balcony doors along its entire width, the new property countered ideas Kan and his wife had about buying a house rather than an apartment.
'This is better for security reasons, management and convenience,' she says, adding that their 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son love the pool.
To introduce low-key elegance to the interiors, the couple sought the help of Bugs Design Consultants, which toned down its retro-chic style to give the home a modern-classical look with touches of subtle, timeless glamour.
The most dramatic change is visible in the master bedroom. Capitalising on the 14-foot-high ceiling, George Lam of Bugs Design raised the floor about two feet, to the bottom of the windows of the external wall. Light streaming through a huge expanse of glass now makes the room feel like an eyrie. 'And it's still a decent height,' says Lam, who also had wardrobes installed at the back of the room, fronted by a dressing table and more storage space, on the other side of which is the bed.