Swapping the city for the country: a Hong Kong interior stylist makes a bold move
Having made the move from Central to Clear Water Bay, a former fashion buyer with an eye for design finds a home with significantly greener views than those he was used to in the urban jungle
For a city dweller such as Harold Ho Wai-leung, who had lived all his life in and around Central, a move to the New Territories was a bold step. When the fashion buyer-turned interior stylist visited the Clear Water Bay flat that was to become his home, he was entranced by how green its surroundings were.
“I was sold on the view,” says Ho. “The original windows didn’t make the most of it, so I replaced them with bi-fold doors that make the green outlook an extension of the interior. I also changed the balcony ledge to brushed matt gold metal to match the doors and create a sort of bar.”
That wasn’t the only change Ho made to his 1,900 sq ft flat, which he moved into this year. Although it was newly built, he wanted to tailor the layout and decor to his taste and requirements. With plenty of ideas but “no talent for drawing”, he worked closely with a contractor for six months to convert what he had in mind into reality.
Since Ho seldom has guests to stay and didn’t need a dedicated study, he turned four small bedrooms into two larger ones with en-suite bathrooms. He enlarged the kitchen and substituted its brick walls with black-framed glass to make the space feel larger. He also changed the tiles on the external staircase to his private rooftop, which is accessed via the dining room, opting for on-trend monochrome geometrics. The steps from the dining area to the rooftop door were also remodelled.
“There was a regular block of stairs but they got in the way of the dining area,” Ho says. “The more organic shape of these stairs hardly takes up any room and looks so much better.”
Ho also purchased part of the lift lobby and enclosed it within his unit so he has both a front door and direct lift access. To make the entrance distinct from the rest of the flat, he lined the walls with smoked-gold mirrors, which visually enlarge the space and give it added opulence. A stuffed ostrich guarding its eggs offers another flash of flamboyance on entering the flat but gives way to a more pared-down, masculine look elsewhere.
“I didn’t want to walk through the front door straight into the main living room,” Ho says. “And I love gold.”
The Hong Kong flat that showcases a shopaholic’s treasure trove
With surprisingly high ceilings, the flat has the feel of a spacious New York loft. Ho wanted a look that favoured modern over vintage, although antique pieces, such as ornate, Victorian-look pendant lights, and bedside tables made from marble-topped ionic columns, are dotted throughout the flat.
“This is the first time I’ve lived in a new development,” he says. “The flat is fresh and clean and it just didn’t feel right to fill it with antiques, which is how my last home was furnished. You need to get a feel for a place and buy pieces according to its character and environment.”
The leafy, natural surroundings inspired Ho to create a tranquil home that is the antithesis of big city living. One of his favourite places to relax is on a Leya Swing seat.
“I travel the world in search of comfortable, practical and beautiful things that are ‘just right’ for a particular space and I like to try them out in my own home before recommending them to clients,” says Ho, who recently opened Holic, a boutique homeware store on Hollywood Road, so named for his love of shopping. “I am so crazy about furniture that I’d rather buy furniture than food.”
Dining area The antique British pendant lamp (HK$9,000); wooden table with stainless-steel cover (HK$19,000, made to order); Egoa dining chairs by Josep Mora for Stua (HK$5,500 each); bench seat by Freifrau (HK$15,000); Janua circular stools (HK$8,000 each); and butterfly cloche (HK$9,800), all came from Holic.
Main bedroom The antique chandelier and bedside tables all came from Paris flea market Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen years ago. The Treca bed base and mattress were HK$44,000 from Magazzini (1/F, Ruttonjee Centre, 11 Duddell Street, Central, tel: 2521 3282).
Bathroom The Marca Corona chevron wall tiles from Italy were HK$240 each from Hazelton Gallery. The Corian sink was made to order by Holic and cost HK$10,000.
Tried + tested
