bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Catherine Shaw

Text Catherine Shaw / Styling Anji Connell / Photography David Wong
 
Event planner and designer Emanuela Santi knows how to throw a party. She organised supermodel Naomi Campbell's 40th birthday bash five years ago and, more recently, the amfAR Aids-research fundraising gala at the Cannes Film Festival.
So it's no surprise that her 700 sq ft apartment, tucked away on a narrow Mid-Levels lane, is decorated with not only eclectic items collected from around the world but also intriguing props.
"My personal life and work are interchangeable," says Santi, who began her career in the fashion industry, working for Hugo Boss followed by Lane Crawford.
In 2011, with her now business partner, Stefan Santoni, she set up creative consultancy Tuff Consult. Santi is also the co-founder of accessories brand Susanna Valerio, named after her Italian designer mother.
Santi's rented apartment features a central open-plan living area with a separate compact kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom. The vibrant colours and imaginative settings of her events are echoed in this cosy retreat through a series of decorative pieces, including a rug picked up in Mumbai, India, a trio of vintage Moroccan mirrors, small side tables from Egypt and a custom-made lacquered coffee table from Vietnam.
Her favourite spot is the deep windowsill in the living room.
"I have all the things I love [on it], from Ming-style vases that I used to decorate my brother's wedding table, to my books and anything that inspires me."
The apartment is the smallest space she has inhabited, but, Santi says, the only challenge has been finding enough storage for her extensive wardrobe: one wall of the bedroom is lined with closets bursting with clothes, shoes and handbags.
The designer says many of the props from her events, which clients have left behind, double as decorative pieces in her office and home.
"I hate wastage and many of these pieces are extraordinary one-offs that remind people of a special occasion."
For daily inspiration, Santi turns to photographer and storyteller Tim Walker.
"His set designs transport you to a land where reality and fantasy are blurred. That is what I strive for."
For Santi, this philosophy often translates into repurposing old objects in interesting ways. For instance, an antique three-tier cake stand has been transformed with a cascade of grapes while a 2.5-metre-high mirror, propped against the wall, hides daily clutter tucked away behind it and acts as a large mood board when Santi works from home.
"I have to be somewhere completely quiet to think. I stick pictures and other inspirations directly onto the mirror," she says.
Santi was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and lived in Cairo, Egypt, before moving to Hong Kong in 1991. The globetrotter is a self-confessed magpie and her apartment is a treasure trove of objects: the surfboard propped up against a wall in the bathroom is a case in point.
Her bedroom, however, is a departure from this style, featuring a soft grey wall and a matching grey-and-white striped headboard.
"My mother and I painted [the headboard] in one afternoon," she says.
The small galley-like kitchen showcases a dash of theatrical creativity, with its retractable Chinese red linen and black lacquer dividing screen and artful arrangements of decorative plates with jewel-like faceted glassware by Mario Luca Giusti.
"I'm a producer," Santi says. "In the parties and events I [organise] it is my responsibility to create a fantasy, but the most important thing is to imbue a space with life. And that is exactly what I have done at home."
 

Window/work area The deep window ledge displays a vintage cake stand that Emanuela Santi picked up for about HK$1,800 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The two Ming-style vases were table props for Santi’s brother’s wedding. The traditional paintbrush (HK$500) was found at a stall on Upper Lascar Row. The vintage typewriter and sterling-silver vases were gifts. On the side table is a red vase (HK$11,000) from Baccarat (various locations; www.baccarat.hk) and a collection of candles (from HK$900 to HK$1,100 each) from Diptyque (IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2521 6799).

Living area The open-plan entrance, living and kitchen areas are delineated with key pieces that create distinct areas. The red linen-andblack lacquer room divider cost HK$2,000 and was custom made as part of a series for an event, as was the gilded mirror. The coffee table (HK$10,500) was found at SV Casa (9/F, 88 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, tel: 2327 9066). On the coffee table are two red lacquer book boxes (HK$1,500 each from Lane Crawford, IFC Mall, tel: 2118 2288), which Santi uses to store receipts, and a seated Buddha, which was a gift from her brother. The tea light (HK$900) came from Diptyque and the candleholder at the forefront was bought in Paris, France. The black vertical bookshelf (HK$9,500) was from atelier a (www.ateliera.it), in Italy. On the top shelf are two Japaneseinspired vases (HK$8,500 each) designed by Susanna Valerio for Lane Crawford. The Chinese trunk (HK$6,700) was from Chine Gallery (42A Hollywood Road, Central, tel: 2543 0023). On the wall are two Moroccan tablets (HK$1,200 each) that Santi picked up in Marrakesh. The Audrey Hepburn picture on the trunk came from Picture This (Prince’s Building, Central, tel: 2525 2803).

Living room Colourful cushions (HK$1,500 each, from Lane Crawford Home Store, Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2118 2288) accessorise a sofa (HK$9,000) from Ikea (various locations; www.ikea.com.hk). The Indian rug was bought in Mumbai. The Tin Tin poster came from Dafen Art Village (www.dafenvillageonline.com), in Shenzhen. The trio of prints above the sofa was a gift from Santi’s grandmother and the landscape images were painted by Santi’s grandfather. The traditional Chinese birdcage was a prop from an event. Similar versions cost about HK$600 at the bird market in Mong Kok (www.bird-garden.hk). The circular table was created by Santi’s mother, who designed a contemporary base to match a serving tray sourced from the Khan el-Khalili market, in Cairo, Egypt. The folding stool was bought years ago in Bangkok, Thailand. The blue and white ceramic stool (HK$2,000) came from Indigo Living (various locations; www.indigo-living.com).

Bedroom The bed (HK$7,500) came from Tequila Kola (various locations; www.tequilakola.com). Santi designed and made the Venetian-style headboard. The cushions are from C&C Milano (www.cecmilano.com) and cost from HK$990 to HK$2,800 each. The blue-and-white ceramic side table from Indigo is similar to the one in the living room. The wire-and-red linen lantern was a prop from one of Santi’s events.

Bathroom Santi stores her Australian Duranbah surfboard in the bathroom. The two Moroccan mirrors were picked up in Marrakesh. The blue-and-white ceramic stool is the same as before.
 

Adding volume Emanuela Santi sourced the Navigator collection library bookshelf wallpaper (HK$1,600 for 10 metres) from Rockett St George (www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk). The optical illusion of a vintage bookshelf adds a sense of depth to an otherwise small and confined kitchen space.



In eclectic Hong Kong flat, event planner makes feature of her props 

5 BathroomSanti stores her Australian Duranbah surfboard in the bathroom. The two Moroccan mirrors were picked up in Marrakesh. The blue-and-white ceramic stool is the same as before.

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Interiors & Living

A party planner has salvaged mementos from her events to create a space that both amuses and inspires


A party planner has salvaged mementos from her events to create a space that both amuses and inspires.


Hong Kong interior design