Stark contrast: a striking black-and-white Hong Kong home
A work-at-home couple’s high-contrast apartment took two years – and many arguments – to complete
Hong Kong interior designer Mary Wong Ho-yan believes a home should reflect the people who live there. It’s a philosophy that informed the design of the 875-sq-ft Wan Chai apartment she shares with her partner, Greg, and their Mini Lop rabbit, Fluffy.
“It took two years of planning and construction,” Wong says. “There were a lot of fights.”
The upshot is a meticulously planned home in a striking combination of black and white marble (Greg) and warm wood (Mary), with a built-in rabbit hutch in the living area and even a “run” behind the sofa (Fluffy).
The apartment is divided into two open-plan spaces, public and private: a living room, dining area and kitchen, and, through a door, a bedroom, bathroom and double office. The original, conventional three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment was gutted to create a blank canvas, and the living-room ceiling raised by about 45cm.
Defining the space are strong diagonal lines. One starts at the front door, slashes through the kitchen island and angles up the wall units to the ceiling. Bisecting it is a second line that zigzags through the living space and into the private areas. On one side is wood, on the other black-and-white polished marble.
“We wanted practical flooring in the kitchen and something warmer in the living room. The diagonal lines extend the two areas into each other and make the space more dynamic,” says Wong.