Store de force: Archetypal

The contemporary lighting, furniture and home accessories store stocks original designs by both rising stars and trendsetting brands. We speak to founder Desmond Wong Wai-chung.

"I wanted to do something different and more refined. I initially wanted to bring designs by fresh British talent, such as SCP, Decode London and Lee Broom, to Hong Kong. Although there were - and still are - some interesting furniture shops here, I felt they were selling the same products and I wanted to give more beautifully designed options in an affordable price range. The Ulrik ash stool, from SCP, for example, starts at HK$1,710. I stock brands from various other countries including in-es.artdesign, from Italy, Resident, from New Zealand, which created the versatile stackable Tangerine chair (HK$6,240), and EOQ, by Michael Young from Hong Kong, who is considered one of the top 10 designers in the world. I choose products I love, so I hope the Hong Kong market loves them, too."

"Archetypal is all about the most original and optimised form of an object or product. I don't believe the world needs thousands of chair [designs], for example - just a few that work really well. The name embodies the ethos of the company and how we choose the brands we work with. We are architectural, design-conscious and informative, and celebrate design integrity and craftsmanship."

"I studied conceptual design in London but interiors and furniture are my first love. I love the intimacy and the interaction between objects and our daily lives. Take the suspension light Cyrcus Lavagna (HK$6,590), by in-es.artdesign. It is coated in a blackboard resin. The kids can draw on it; you can write your shopping list on it."

"We select the most iconic and representative products from our brands and display them at our pop-up shop, currently inside Zodiac Lighting in Causeway Bay. People can see our full collection on our website. It acts as our interactive catalogue and people can contact us directly if they want to make a purchase."

"Stylistically, we are a bolder and fresher version of Scandinavian and Japanese designs. They are ideal for young professionals and families, who seek interesting, good quality items. Our products are built to last for generations but, at the same time, they retain that contemporary look. We also carry items that are a work of art in their own right, such as the Heritage Boy Carpentry sideboard (HK$187,500), by Lee Broom, which is fronted by an artisanal carpet. The carpets are 100 per cent wool and manufactured on traditional Wilton looms, a technique that dates back to the early 17th century and one that only a few factories in Britain continue to use."