Home comforts: designers impress with timeless treasures
H. D. Buttercup ventures beyond Los Angeles for the first time with a curated furniture collection at Horizon Plaza that “will soon become adored additions to Hong Kong’s homes”
The home is much more than a functional space to collapse into at the end of a long day. More than ever interiors are becoming a comforting antidote to the world around us and, as designers play with ideas and moods, homeware collections are offering an energising mix of inspiration with unique designs that add beguiling charm.
H. D. Buttercup marks its first foray beyond its Los Angeles base with a curated collection of furniture at Horizon Plaza that “will soon become adored additions to Hong Kong’s homes”, according to CEO and founder Evan Cole.
Collections fall into five main categories, ranging from coastal California and loft living to modern interpretations of mid-century design, all with a focus on forward thinking products that can redefine compact spaces.
New Zealand bed and furniture outlet Okooko puts the emphasis on traditional handcrafting techniques that help meet its philosophy of crafting sustainable furniture built to last. Wood is sourced from sustainable sources largely in New Zealand and the United States and is handpicked to find the best colour and grain match for each piece of furniture, while traditional techniques including solid wood machining and dowelling keep waste to a minimum.
We aim to create designs that are effectively timeless and can be handed down through subsequent generations
The workshop is a hub of traditional craftsmanship where skilled workers oversee the making of each piece. “Each maker is highly skilled with many years’ experience and see the making of each piece through from selecting materials to final inspection; each piece is hand-finished by the same craftsman,” says Rochelle Le Pine, managing director at Okooko. “We aim to create designs that are effectively timeless and can be handed down through subsequent generations,” Le Pine says. “Each piece tells its own story and has its own unique look, feel and personality, allowing it to become part of not just your home but also your heart.”
Homegrown outlet Red Cabinet began scouring the provinces of China two decades ago to bring antique furniture to Hong Kong homes. It has expanded its reach since then to European finds with many originating from 19th century France.
It also provides a bespoke range of designs created exclusively for the outlet that can be tailored to individual needs, including a children’s range of bedroom furniture that can be custom-built to fit the function and storage needs of urban living.
A well-made, traditional handcrafted wool or silk rug can be as much a piece of art as a painting, with the colours and styles reflecting the weaving history of the region, tribe or village that they are made. “As the world evolved so did the carpet’s colour, becoming fine masterpieces that are like paintings. Every knot is tied by hand and can take up to two years to make,” says Heena Mir, a consultant at CarpetBuyer.
Its stock of more than 5,000 pieces ranges from fine and contemporary rugs and Indian silks to those from Persia, especially Iran. These include the famed blue and white wool and silk rugs from Nain, Qum silk rugs famous for fine knotting, barely visible to the naked eye, and wool and silk carpets from the Kashan region. Mir says that “Persian carpets have and always will be the star of the rug world due to their historic weaving culture as well as thousands of years supplying and making carpets for themselves and the world, back to Roman days and before”.
“Weaving of carpets was their lifestyle and that’s what made them sustain their livelihood.”
While the right carpet can become a focal point, the selection process can be a lesson in geography and history.
“I always tell my clients to keep an open mind as we have so many types, colours and styles,” Mir says.
“Once the mind wanders and looks outside the box and gets more educated with the different types it helps to select the right piece which can transform a room.”
