Inside an understated Hong Kong bachelor pad, where marble plays a central role in the interior design
Cocooned in a palette of earthy tones, this 1,000 sq ft Kowloon flat has been reconfigured to suit its new owner
For Stephen Tong Yiu-nin, creating the rugged sophistication of his home in West Kowloon was sparked by a daily sighting during his office commute to Central.
“There’s a huge marble wall in Alexandra House that I just love,” he says. “It’s got lots of texture and natural holes and little fossils. I was inspired by that, the idea of having a statement wall and designing around it.”
When it came to finding a new place to live, Tong, who works for a property management group, says he wanted a spacious place just for himself. “The bachelor-pad cliché, I suppose. I used to live in a loft in Los Angeles so I was after that kind of airy, relaxing space.”
Other must-haves included a luxurious hotel-style bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.
“I wanted something masculine and a little bit unusual – deep, earthy colours with lots of natural elements. I would have loved some outdoor space but in the super-convenient areas I was looking at, that’s rare.”
Tong decided that the search for his ideal 1,000 sq ft space would mean finding a standard three-bedroom flat with a convertible layout. Two years ago, he found the right candidate in a high-rise with a sea view above Elements shopping mall.