‘Dark and dingy’ Hong Kong apartment’s makeover turns it light and bright, with Japanese-style sliding screens, a cat room, his-and-hers bathrooms
- A couple’s first impression of a Wan Chai apartment wasn’t ideal, but they couldn’t stop thinking about its potential and gave it a second chance
- With the right design partner, they say, ‘possibilities exploded’. The result is a charming homage to traditional Japanese and Chinese design with a modern vibe
First impressions do not always count, as Wan Chai couple William and Ella Owen can attest.
Although the Hong Kong Island location was perfect for the home they bought after years of renting in the area, their initial inspection was underwhelming.
“It was raining, post-typhoon, and the first thing we noticed was that it was dark and dingy inside,” William says of the lower-floor flat in a 45-year-old building.
The vibe was off-putting but the potential of the 1,050 sq ft (98 square metre) flat niggled, so a few weeks later they took another look, this time on a sunny day. In December 2021, they decided to make it theirs.
“It was all about location,” William, a retired financial services professional, says. “What we could do with the place appealed, and when we got involved with Haven Design and Mary [Wong Ho-yan, design director] it became even more spectacular.”
The large living room, about 10 metres long, was a plus, but at the kitchen end it lacked natural light, something that Wong would remedy as she realigned some of the spaces to improve functionality.
