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Viv Jones

 
Text and styling Viv Jones / Photographs Jonathan Wong
 
Transforming a 300 sq ft Mong Kok apartment into an appealing home doesn’t sound easy but that was the brief handed to interior designer Debi Yeung-Salansy by a banker client.
Boasting high ceilings, a pair of balconies and two large windows, the one-bedroom flat, which was bought as an investment, had an airy feel despite its small footprint.
However, an awkward layout – the kitchen has the best view and the balconies run off the bedroom and bathroom – plus the need to create storage and space to accommodate a guest proved challenging.

“In a small apartment like this, the easiest way to maximise the space is to adopt a minimalist design,” Yeung-Salansy says. “Unfortunately, the owner doesn’t like that style, so I had to think again.
“Since the flat was to be rented out, it couldn’t be too feminine. The owner’s personal preference was for a more classic style. I also had to fit a lot of furniture into a small amount of space and an awkward layout.
How to do this without the apartment feeling cluttered was my main concern.”
Her solution was to have furniture custom made for the space and to use modern colours and Chinese-style pieces to create a contemporary look.
“Most importantly, we needed to make the apartment stand out in the marketplace to attract tenants,” Yeung- Salansy says. “It worked: the flat was rented out almost as soon as the last piece of furniture was installed.”
The tenant, who works as a model, says: “I’d seen other apartments in this complex but I just didn’t know what to do with the space.

“When I walked in here, I loved the design and it was an easy decision.”
Because the tenant spends a lot of time at home and enjoys cooking and entertaining, the large window seat in the kitchen/living area is a natural place in which to hang out with friends.
“It’s the smallest flat I’ve ever lived in but the design and all the storage space make it very comfortable,” she says.
Yeung-Salansy carved out a seating area in which to watch television; a small dining area, with a narrow bar table and stool; a kitchen; and a comfortable window seat that converts into a guest bed. In the bedroom, a hydraulic bed hides storage space underneath while two tall Chinese-style cabinets (one in the bedroom and one in the living area) offer further storage options.
“Much of the furniture – such as the sofa, TV cabinet and dining table – had to be slightly narrower than usual to work in the space,” says Yeung-Salansy, who also designed a portable ottoman that fits into the window seat, creating the guest bed, while doubling as extra storage (see Tried + tested).
The Chinese cabinets are extra tall to take advantage of the high ceilings and were each made in two pieces, so they would fit into the lift. For proportions’ sake, the designer insisted on keeping the larger piece on top, which proved challenging when it came to installation.
“To lift the much-heavier piece and slot it into the lower part was difficult, particularly in this small space.
That we did it without anyone getting hurt was an achievement in itself,” she says, laughing.
Painting the plain white walls in natural tones has added depth to the space and created a calm sanctuary in the bedroom. A sophisticated colour palette of yellow ochre, grey, olive green and tan enlivened with bright accents adds vibrancy and interest.
By packing a huge amount of creativity into such a tiny space, Yeung-Salansy seems to have met her client’s brief – just ask the happy tenant.

 


Double duty Debi Yeung-Salansy killed two birds with one stone when she created a generous guest bed and extra storage. The designer had mattress cushions custom made for the L-shaped window seat, into which neatly slots a matching ottoman, turning the seat into a comfortable bed. With a levered lid, the ottoman provides storage for bed-ding and is stashed beneath the shoe cupboard when not needed. The ottoman (HK$6,500) was made by Choi Designs.
 
 


Built to scale

Living area: The tall shoe cabinet (HK$8,500), television cabinet (HK$4,200) and bookshelf (HK$8,800) were designed by Debi Yeung- Salansy (tel: 2904 7897; www.debiyeungdesign. com) and made by Zhonghua Rui Antiques (Zhonghua Rui Antiques, Block 11, Yonger Industrial District, Tanzhou, Zhongshan, tel: 86 760 8628 3099). The light was sourced from Di-mension Living (www.di-mension.com) and cost HK$2,090. The rug was bought years ago from Avant Garde (www.avantgardehk.com). Yeung-Salansy had a narrow sofa (HK$15,000, including cushions) custom made by Choi Designs (4/F, Dominion Centre, 43 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, tel: 2866 6816).

Dining area: Yeung-Salansy created a small dining area in the narrow kitchen by designing an extra-slim bar table and high stools that fit neatly underneath. The table (HK$5,500) and stools (HK$1,400 each) were made by Zhonghua Rui Antiques. The Vaken glasses (HK$39.90 for a set of four) and pink seat cushions (HK$49.90 each) were from Ikea (various locations; www.ikea.com.hk). The bird candelabras were from Francfranc (various locations; www.francfranc.com.hk) and cost HK$300 each.

Living area: detail Yeung-Salansy found the bottles lamp (HK$900) in a shop in Zhuhai that has since closed down. The set of two nesting tables was purchased from Zhonghua Rui Antiques for HK$4,000.

Kitchen: The narrow galley kitchen, which was installed by the developer Sino Land, is fitted with wood veneer and stainless-steel units and a black granite worktop. The appliances are from Siemens (www.siemens.com.hk).

Window seat: With expansive views of Mong Kok, the generous window seat is a popular lounging spot. The blinds (HK$10,000), bolster and window seat mattress (HK$5,800 in total) were all made by Choi Designs.

Wardrobe: The white bespoke wardrobe was designed by Yeung-Salansy and made by Zhonghua Rui Antiques for HK$7,600. The yellow ceramic stool (HK$1,290) came from Indigo (various locations; www.indigo-living.com).

Bedroom: The upholstered hydraulic bed (HK$14,000), built by Choi Designs, provides storage underneath. The curtains and bolsters (HK$7,000 in total) were made by Shenzhen Curtain and Decoration (Lo Wu Commercial City, Lo Wu, Shenzhen, tel: 86 139 2657 3265). Yeung-Salansy bought the light for HK$1,200 in a shop in Zhuhai that has since closed. The mirror (HK$200) and the bedside lamp (HK$170) were from Ikea. The bedside table is part of a set of two that was bought from Zhonghua Rui Antiques for HK$4,000.

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Getting the proportions right helped one designer make the most of a tiny space


Getting the proportions right helped one designer make the most of a tiny space.
