Minimalist chic: a Hong Kong apartment shows how it's done
To create a clutter-free, minimalist retreat, a designer had to make every detail count, writes Kate Whitehead
It was love at first sight for Agnes Chan when, in 2012, she visited The Orchards, in Quarry Bay, to view a two-bedroom apartment with high ceilings and knockout views of Mount Butler. Despite buying the place four years ago, it was only last year - after the expiration of a tenancy agreement - that she could start renovations and move in.
"I like a clean, white look. It fits with my lifestyle. I like the simple life," says Chan.
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No surprise then that she is drawn to a minimalist aesthetic under which design elements are pared right back and clutter is forbidden. She had sought to achieve a similar decor in her previous home, a few minutes walk away, but the higher ceilings of her new place, which also boasts plenty of natural light, allowed her to fully exploit this approach.
"The flat is south-facing, which means it gets lots of light and is never cold in winter," says Chan, who works in property development.
She had a strong idea about the look and feel she wanted, but was open to ideas about how to achieve it. On the recommendation of an architect friend she persuaded Anthony Lei Chi-son, design director at EMCS, to take on the project.
"It's not often that a Hong Kong client requests a minimalist look. They usually want something busier, with more decoration, so this was a good opportunity to do something different," says Lei.