Inside a charity worker’s calming, welcoming Hong Kong home that hosts a steady stream of guests
A neutral palette, soft edges and plenty of comfy seating provide a warm atmosphere in this 1,700 sq ft Mid-Levels apartment
With a busy schedule of charity work and church meetings, as well as a steady stream of house guests, Abigail Koo needed plenty of gathering spaces in the remodel of her 1,700 sq ft, three-bedroom flat on MacDonnell Road, Mid-Levels.
Koo bought the property last year and, on the recommendation of friends, asked interior designer Chiling Leung, of Millwork Interiors, to create a calming yet welcoming space in a five-month renovation that was completed in April.
The first step was to reinstate the original balcony, which, as with many flats in the colonial-style building, had been converted to extend the living area. Counter-intuitively, the shortened living area feels more spacious than before, with new bifold glass doors extending the sight line out to the alfresco dining table and open views beyond.
Deep sofas in the living area provide comfortable seating for group discussions, and the adjacent dining area serves as a meeting space for Koo’s charity work with International Care Ministries, which supports rural communities in the Philippines.
My client’s tastes are simple and neutral – you won’t see any fancy wallpaper here – but good design is important to her
“I was a bit worried about fitting in a three-metre [9.8 feet] dining table but it was one of my client’s biggest priorities and it just about works,” says Leung.