Tatler pays a visit to the Repulse Bay home of the founder of NC Design + Architecture—a feng shui master-approved sanctuary featuring shades of blue that celebrate the spectacular sea views
When Nelson Chow saw this Repulse Bay apartment for the first time, he was taken by its beautiful ocean views.
“When you look outside, the sea is right in the middle,” says the designer, who is the founder of NC Design + Architecture. The scenery that surrounds his new home—which he has dubbed the Beach House—offers a feeling of protection: two islands in the ocean provide a natural shelter for the waters, meaning the view is almost always of calm seas. Meanwhile, the mountains behind the apartment “look like they are gradually wrapping and hugging you”, something Chow says is advantageous from a feng shui perspective; he consulted feng shui designer Thierry Chow, a close friend, who advised him to get the apartment.
In case you missed it: Home tour: Step into Lynn Fung’s beach escape in South Lantau, Hong Kong
The 1,100 sq ft, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is in a low-rise colonial building, which Chow believes was one of the first residential properties constructed in the prestigious neighbourhood—it dates back to the 1950s. The thoughtful design of the apartment is a major attraction: most of the spaces in the home offer soothing ocean views. Two bedrooms bookend an open-plan space, which comes into view at entry. A balcony, accessed via the master bedroom, has privacy barriers, separating it from neighbouring balconies. “I spend a lot of time at home—it’s quite nice to be in this space,” says Chow of the balcony.
The home also has staff quarters located separately to the home—a design seen in some colonial buildings in Hong Kong and almost never in modern developments.
Read more: Home tour: Inside Hong Kong designer Sean Dix’s eclectic Southside loft