How an interior designer keeps his Hong Kong studio fresh and uplifting

The pandemic has redrawn the lines between work and home and few people understand the changing dynamics better than interior designer, creative director and art collector JJ Acuna of JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio.

“Anywhere you spend a lot of time needs to have a touch of domesticity. Whether it’s work or home, both places should be designed for comfort, for longevity, and to uplift your spirit,” says Acuna. “That’s what I did here,” he adds, referring to his rented, 1,200 sq ft (111 square metre) studio in Chai Wan.

Functioning as somewhere for Acuna to work on his designs, as well as a place to inspire and entertain his clients, the studio feels more like a lifestyle space than a traditional office. With a wide entranceway and 3.7-metre-high (12-foot) ceilings, it is large enough to house substantial pieces of furniture and numerous works of art without feeling cramped.

Originally an empty white void, the unit was transformed with the addition to the rear of two black-framed glass partition walls, which also create an area for storage and exercise. Acuna tiled the bathroom wall, added a sink and vanity outside the toilet, and fitted a small open kitchen. Wooden floors and large windows keep things light, flexible and houseplant-friendly.

“You don’t have to be in the creative industry to have a workspace that inspires you. Try to break away from a cold, commercial environment by bringing in warm lighting and warm materials like timber and lush greens. Display books that excite you. Throw in a drinks cart,” says Acuna, standing next to his well-stocked 1950s Gio Ponti drinks trolley. “And fill it with art that you love.”

Although he doesn’t like to label himself as a collector, Acuna has an enviable trove of contemporary Asian art, personally selected from artists’ studios and auctions, galleries such as Osage and Para Site, and art fairs, including Art Basel and Art Central.