A Hong Kong flat where ‘everything is for sale’: designer’s home doubles as gallery

Eclectic style might seem the most free-spirited of interior-design trends but it is not just about combining mis­matched items and hoping for the best. Knowing which pieces will come together to create magic, rather than a mess, is a gift Studio 1618 interior designer Alfred Lam has, as seen in his 2,100 sq ft Mid-Levels flat.

“People either love it or hate it but I like to have fun with design,” says Lam, who was born in Hong Kong and trained in interior and spatial design at the Chelsea College of Arts, in London, Britain. “My home is an extension of who I am and what I do, and reflects my passions,” which include collecting vintage furniture and art from all over the world.

At home, Lam, who also owns furniture and home accessories store L’s Where, in Central, has mixed and matched his possessions cohesively. Think mid-century modern meets contemporary abstraction with a dose of art deco thrown in for good measure.

“My home makes a great showcase for art and furniture. It’s easy to execute my style here and show a client how something might look,” he says. “Everything is for sale. I don’t get emotionally attached to objects, so if something sells, I don’t have trouble replacing it.”

The renovation took six months, during which the flat was gutted and reconfigured. Lam moved in at the end of last year. While the fairly conven­tional living/dining room was kept as was, a breakfast nook was added at one end because Lam enjoys taking in the urban views each morning. What had previously been three bedrooms and two bathrooms was reapportioned into a master bedroom and large bathroom, a dressing area and an entertainment den, with an anteroom dividing the living and sleeping quarters.

“I had a guest bedroom in my previous apartment but it was such a waste as it was rarely used,” Lam says. “Converting three bedrooms into one wouldn’t be practical for a family but I wanted my home to work for me. My priorities included creating a spacious walk-in wardrobe and a separate entertainment room because one of my pet hates is having a screen in the living room.”

Colour unifies the home and is testament to how Lam has evolved as a designer. Previously, he says, he would have gone for the safer “blank-canvas white” option, but now he doesn’t shy away from bold colours. His favourite hue, green, features on the walls in the living/dining room, as well as on patterned wallpaper and tiles in the cloakroom. Even the kitchen, usually neglected colourwise, gets the verdant treatment. Here, tiles by Fired Earth decorate three walls while the fourth is covered in practical vinyl wallpaper featuring a lush tropical foliage pattern. The wallpaper also lines the door frame and is a pleasant surprise when one enters through the concealed dining-room door.

“Some people think I’m crazy to have such a busy wallpaper in the kitchen but it’s more interesting than a plain wall,” Lam says. “I like to experiment and play with design, texture and colour. If I get bored with this decor, I will change it. That is where the fun lies!”

Living room The hanging sculpture, by Tomás Saraceno, was acquired through Phillips auction house. In an acrylic box is a bonsai sculpture by Kohei Nawa, which, along with the striped painting, by Chen Yujun, was bought at a Christie’s auction. The Christophe Delcourt sofa (HK$160,000/US$20,400) and round breakfast table (HK$35,000) came from Le Cadre Gallery (Ruttonjee House, 11 Duddell Street, Central, tel: 2526 1068).

The Paavo Tynell table lamp (HK$48,000), ochre chairs (HK$68,000 for the pair), beige 720 Lady armchair by Marco Zanuso (HK$28,000), coffee table (HK$58,000), Gio Ponti lilac armchair (HK$68,000) and floor lamp (HK$45,000) are all vintage pieces from L’s Where . The rug, by New York’s ABC Carpet & Home, has been with Alfred Lam for years.

Living area detail The 1960s Italian lacquered rosewood cabinet (HK$98,000), bronze wall sculpture (HK$58,000), wall light (HK$5,000) and vintage Italian desk (HK$45,000) were all from L’s Where. In the television room is an ottoman (HK$48,000) by Hermès, above which is a large artwork by Li Qing that was bought through Christie’s.

Living area detail The artwork is from the Paper Drop series by Wolfgang Tillmans. The sideboard (HK$130,000) and wooden sculpture (HK$35,000) were both from Le Cadre Gallery. The lamp cost HK$9,000 from L’s Where.

Dining area A painting by Donna Huanca, bought from Berlin, Germany-based gallery Peres Projects, is complemented by Stack, a multicoloured sculpture made of orbs by Annie Morris. The Baxter dining table cost HK$180,000 from Le Cadre Gallery. The vintage Scandinavian chairs (HK$120,000 for six) and Laura Meroni pendant lights (HK$100,000 for the pair) all came from L’s Where. The chevron oak flooring cost HK$3,000 per square metre from Equal.

Kitchen The tropical wallpaper cost HK$1,500 per roll from Wallpaper+. The pendant light was HK$23,000 from L’s Where. The kitchen cabinetry was designed and built by Studio 1618 for HK$80,000. The stone island, by Top Star Building Materials Supply, cost HK$40,000.

Bedroom The Baxter bed (HK$150,000) and desk chair (HK$28,000) both came from Le Cadre Gallery. The desk (HK$120,000), by Pierre Paulin, and Kraft desk lamp by Ecart (HK$23,000) were from L’s Where. The curtains were HK$2,000 per square metre from Wallpaper+.

Dressing room The bespoke wardrobes and accessories island were made by Rimadesio for HK$900,000. The pots (HK$8,000-HK$13,000) came from L’s Where.

Bathroom The travertine marble walls (HK$1,500 per square foot) and marble flooring (HK$1,000 per square foot) were all from Top Star Building Materials Supply. The mirrored cabinet was designed and built by Studio 1618 for HK$30,000 and the basket (HK$400) came from L’s Where.

Cloakroom The wallpaper was HK$1,200 per roll from Wallpaper+. The green tiles were HK$300 per square foot from Fired Earth. The mirror (HK$23,000) and pendant light (HK$3,800) came from L’s Where and the Corian basin was HK$28,000 from Depot.

Tried + tested

Off the wall A work of art in its own right, the bespoke wallpaper (HK$48,000) on a panel behind the bed incorporates clever shading that makes the two-dimensional paper appear 3D. It was designed by Fromental, with modifications from Alfred Lam, and then hand-painted onto paper. The 1950s rosewood bedside table (HK$50,000 for two) and light (HK$7,000) came from L’s Where.