This ‘modern-rustic’ Hong Kong home was ahead of the 2025 design trend curve
A design-savvy couple created a cosy haven in Braemar Hill, using rich textures to enliven a neutral backdrop
Interior trends, like clothing fashions, come and go, but when Hong Kong couple Paul Siu and Coria Mok hit upon modern-rustic style for their new 2,110 sq ft apartment in Braemar Hill in 2023, little did they know they were ahead of a major curve for 2025.
“What I like to call ‘modern rustic’ is not something you typically find in Hong Kong homes,” says YC Chen, founder of hoo interior design studio, who collaborated with lead designer Natalie Tsoi Kit-wing on the nine-month project. “It is a relaxed, natural style but is more polished than you might assume.”
Extending the modern-rustic style, Siu and Mok’s three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment has a distinct New England coastal feel, with its palette of pale oatmeal, taupe and white, tongue-and-groove panelling behind shelves and on cupboard doors, herringbone-patterned oak flooring and a healthy dose of rich wood throughout.
Furniture is contemporary yet comfortable and the neutral scheme saved from being matchy-matchy by the use of different textures, including stone, marble, seagrass, cane and a variety of fabrics.
“My clients have two young daughters so it was important to create a welcoming home the whole family could enjoy without compromising on the look,” says Chen. “However, one of the hardest aspects of this project was finding authentic furniture and then shipping it back to Hong Kong. We got a lot of it from the United States as there was very little choice here and we custom made the rest.”