Hong Kong model’s welcoming apartment in Tai Hang
Malaysian Angie Ng, who says she would rather buy furniture than clothes, has managed to balance style and comfort in the rental flat she shares with her partner
Angie Ng Chin Li is no stranger to style. The Malaysian model has travelled the world in the name of fashion, visiting the most vibrant of neighbourhoods and coming into contact with top-end design. So you’d be forgiven for thinking that her home would be a magazine-perfect, state-of-the-art pad in a highly desirable location.
But no; “I can’t stand those apartments that are so neat you feel scared to sit down or touch anything,” Ng says. “It’s important to me that my home is comfortable and that people feel welcome the minute they step inside.”
Nor does she feel that a prestigious address is particularly important. Her home is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom rental in Tai Hang, a neighbourhood that won her heart with its friendly, community vibe. She has lived in various apartments in the area since she chose Hong Kong as her base nine years ago.
“Coming from Penang, which is a smallish city, everyone pretty much knew everyone else,” she says. “It’s that inclusive, almost family feeling that makes me feel so at home here.”
Ng’s 1,000 sq ft apartment had been newly renovated when she moved in last April but it was empty. She invested in Ikea railings and had them fitted into the flat’s tiny third bedroom, turning it into a walk-in wardrobe. She also enlisted the help of Christie Simpson, a fashion and interiors stylist, and creative director of homeware store iDecorate, to help her visualise where and how to place everything.
Although pieces such as the sofa and coffee table were custom made for the flat, Ng and her partner, James, already owned most of the furniture. She confesses that she would now rather buy furniture than clothes and prefers to invest in classic pieces.