Store de force: seconded nature
Living in Style celebrates the colours, contours and textures of tropical wood, writes Fox Daniels
One of the latest additions to the Sheung Wan end of Wellington Street is Living in Style, a furniture, lighting and home accessories shop with a focus on tropical wood. The store has a gallery-like interior of white walls and bright lights. Carver Lai, the founder, is an interior designer. Music, fast cars and design, he says, are his passions.
"I travel a lot in Asia. Being part-Thai, part-Chinese, I notice the differences in the way the two cultures live. Chinese homes are first and foremost functional, whereas in Thailand the homes are also about relaxation. I spend my time defining which parts of each culture can add a positive influence to my designs."
"Four years ago I decided it was time to turn my passion into a business and opened our flagship store in Tuen Mun. We opened the branch [in Wellington Street] in June and intend to open other branches across Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland. I'm in charge of developing the collections and the design. I sometimes work with other designers; in which case I adapt pieces so they are suitable for Hong Kong."