Downsizing Hong Kong empty nesters mix the old and new
A riot of colours and textures ensures a couple of empty-nesters in Ap Lei Chau have plenty to smile about, writes Catherine Shaw
Downsizing doesn’t have to mean a change of style. When Jeff and Debbie Blount relocated from their 4,200 sq ft family home in Tai Tam to a four-bedroom, 1,500 square-foot apartment in Ap Lei Chau, the couple simply adapted their colourful and eclectic style to suit the smaller setting.
The decision to downsize a year ago was led by two major lifestyle changes: the couple’s two daughters had left home to attend university and Jeff had a change of career, from practising law to running a property company investing in Myanmar.
Their must-have checklist was simple: the new home needed to have a sea view and be within walking distance of Jeff ‘s new office, in Wong Chuk Hang.
“The apartment has a wonderful view, so even though the balcony is relatively small, it still feels light and airy,” says Debbie, who added comfortable wicker chairs and a collection of blue-and-white plant pots.
The couple travel extensively, but even though it’s an empty nest Debbie wanted the apartment to retain a strong sense of home. She decided to decorate using furnishings and artefacts repurposed from their previous home – including items from her blue-andwhite porcelain collection, mementos from family travels and contemporary paintings by their favourite artists – combined with new furniture selected to fit into the space.
The downside of downsizing – deciding which items to ditch – was avoided by shipping their remaining possessions to their holiday home in the United States.
New furnishings in the Hong Kong home include a pair of bright emerald green sofas from Ikea, to which Debbie added a pair of intricately woven cushions to add a touch of luxury and extra comfort.
“I am not a minimalist!” she laughs. “When I go into a beige home or hotel room, I think it is pretty but I like to live with colour.”
The couple, who met in their hometown of Alexandra, in Virginia, have lived in Hong Kong for 21 years and have accumulated many treasures during their time in Asia.
Deciding what to keep for the apartment was the main challenge but, Debbie says, being disciplined about what would work in the smaller space helped.
“It required thinking about things in a different way,” she says. For instance, a pair of antique Chinese side tables now act as a coffee table, an antique cabinet’s interior has been cleverly adjusted to store shoes while another hides a cocktail cabinet.
Of course, the girls’ approval for the move was vital. “We love Hong Kong and so do the children, so they return home regularly for their breaks,” Debbie says. “We think ‘third-culture kids’ need roots somewhere, so it was important that they liked the apartment and felt at home, too.”
Happily, here small doesn’t mean diminished, as Debbie’s exceptional attention to detail and love of colour means the home is full of treasuredmemories, from rugs found in Morocco to ornaments, paintings and collage works from around the world.
A guest room now accommodates a four-poster bed while a television room accessed off the same corridor has been transformed into highly flexible space with a day bed for extra guests.
The biggest challenge? Books.
“We love books; it was very hard to downsize those,” she says.
“Downsizing can be disruptive, as you move away from familiar surroundings, but the payoff is a new lifestyle with more freedom.
“Moving from a house to a high-rise apartment is a big change, but we can now very easily just lock up and travel, while having a friendly new space to call home in Hong Kong.”
Styling: David Roden
TRIED + TESTED
Debbie Blount added a whimsical touch to each room with a colour co-ordinated tassel that also helps identify the apartment's keys. Here, the master bedroom door is adorned with a beaten silver and blue silk tassel (about HK$200) picked up in Marrakech, Morocco.
