A Hong Kong flat with a very Japanese interior and hand-drip coffee

If ever Japan wished to broaden its cultural influence in Hong Kong, it need look no further than Ken Poon Yin-kong and his wife, Tina. They could boost the country’s appeal simply by opening a cafe in the comfort of their own home.

The couple’s 1,034 sq ft, three-bedroom apartment in Tung Chung, Lantau, is already some­thing of a “party house” for the neighbour­hood, says designer Keith Chan Shing-hin, founder of Hintegro, who explains that friends like to drop by for a chat and a cup of Japan’s finest coffee (something for which aficionados will know the country is fast becoming famous).

Their purpose-built “coffee bar”, which replaced a dining room, is perfect for such occasions. Set by the entrance, it segues into the sitting area and is a natural gathering spot.

“The living room was too long,” says Chan, who made the most of the dimen­sions by installing a high counter and, beside it, a lower dining table for sit-down meals. But all the action usually takes place at the work bench.

Designed with de rigueur white subway tiles and exposed shelving, this area – used to make drip coffee (see Tried + tested), espressos, matcha (green tea) and more – is special for another reason. To enable Chan’s clients to indulge their liquid interests, he doubled the number of power sockets in this zone and ensured it would accommo­date the 100-volt Japanese appliances they collect.