This Eclectic, Art-Filled Home In Mid-Levels Is A Work Of Art

This stylish home in Mid-Levels is a lesson in combining striking art works, textured interior design and distinctive furnishings

A stunning India Mahdavi tiled table makes for a splendid centrepiece in an apartment located in Mid-Levels. It was the first item of furniture that the homeowner chose for the flat, purchased from his favourite shop, Ralph Pucci in New York. Featuring tiles in bright shades of blue, green, white and yellow, the table draws the attention but doesn’t clash with the various artworks around the home, attesting to owner’s keen eye for style.

The 1,300-square-foot home includes two bedrooms and an open-plan living, kitchen and dining space. A balcony off the sitting area offers spectacular views, but it is upstairs, on the 1,300-square-foot rooftop, that outdoor living comes into its own.

Above A Samsung television that morphs into a painting blends in perfectly with the rest of the art works around the home, while the sculpture Clothing Bale 02 by Alex Seton is positioned at the foot of the spiral staircase that lead (Photography: Mitchell Geng for Hong Kong Tatler)

“This is the reason I bought this apartment, because it has a great terrace and it overlooks the whole of Hong Kong. I always knew I would have an apartment behind the Bank of China Tower,” says the owner, whose flat not only overlooks the iconic buildings of Central but also Hong Kong Park to one side and the Zoological and Botanical Gardens to the other.

Once he bought the flat, the owner sought out the expertise of Stanley Kwok, founder of architecture and design practice Stanley KC.

“There was virtually no brief,” he says. “I said to Stanley, ‘Look, I don’t have any pieces I have to put into the apartment. Just do what you need to do to make it look good.’ He came up with the concept and I then worked around it. I trusted his aesthetic as he had done a few projects before that I liked.”

Above An intriguing piece featuring mirrors and neon lights—2012 Nobel Peace Prize 12.10.2012 by Brigitte Kowanz—is the first thing that guests see when they enter the apartment (Photography: Mitchell Geng for Hong Kong Tatler)

Art Aficionado

The owner’s additions to Kwok’s textured, layered interiors have included numerous pieces of art. The first work of art that guests see as they enter the apartment is one titled 2012 Nobel Peace Prize 12.10.2012 by Brigitte Kowanz, a mesmerising piece featuring neon lights and mirrors. However, the statement-making work sitting above the sofa in the living room was the first piece that was picked for the apartment—T+85_red&blue_diptych, an imposing yellow, blue and red piece by Sydney based artists Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro, which complements the burnt orange hues of the nearby Moroso Lilo lounge chair.

Above An artwork by Lee Bul, Untitled (Mekamelencolia – Velvet #5 DDRG18LM), in the master bedroom (Photography: Mitchell Geng for Hong Kong Tatler)

Artworks continue throughout the apartment, but one of the highlights is a pair of green dog sculptures by Chinese artist Zhou Chunya, who often paints flowers but is best known for this acclaimed green dog motif, usually realised with a pink panting tongue, in both 2D or 3D forms. The sculptures reside on a mid-century modern console table, under the pink and white hues of the painting The Violet Hour by UK artist Clare Woods.

The palette in the living area might be full of colour but the hues are more muted and calmer in the bedrooms—such as the master bedroom, which has its own bathroom featuring a marble countertop in warm shades of brown and gold, paired with a display of Byredo products.

The vibrancy of the public space is further enhanced by numerous flowers, with the owner working closely with florists to realise the arrangements. “I love having floral arrangements in the house,” he says. And with his love for entertaining, it helps to create a welcoming environment.

Above The golden brown tones of the marble-clad bathroom in the master bedroom (Photography: Mitchell Geng for Hong Kong Tatler)

Above The colourful tiles on the India Mahdavi table (Photography: Mitchell Geng for Hong Kong Tatler)

A Place to Gather

“My favourite part is my living room, because I love having friends over,” he says. But he will often take guests to the roof, too, by way of the original spiral staircase retained in one corner of the apartment. In the afternoon cockatoos fly around above the terrace, while at night Hong Kong’s lights twinkle. “It’s such a good entertainment space during the day or at night,” he says.

There’s an outdoor fireplace for those times of the year when the mercury drops, but the space is also perfectly suited to other climes, with an umbrella to shield from harsh sunshine, along with a frequent cooling breeze.

Above A pair of green dog sculptures by Zhou Chunya reside on a console table that is paired with a stunning India Mahdavi table from Ralph Pucci and a chandelier from Apparatus (Photography: Mitchell Geng for Hong Kong Tatler)

Above The 1,300-square-foot apartment comes with a rooftop of the same size (Photography: Mitchell Geng for Hong Kong Tatler)

A home is constantly evolving and there’s more to be done, with the owner citing areas of empty wall that are primed for new paintings. But more than that, the focus for the near future is for him to learn to cook. “I have a full kitchen here, but I never cook,” he says, as his unused oven demonstrates. “The reason I wanted to have an open kitchen is because I want to have guests to dinner and entertain them with my cooking and chat. I have all the gear, the range, the tableware...” And then there’s that gorgeous Mahdavi dining table, which will make any spread look sumptuous.

Topics

Design Interior Design Art Hong Kong Stanley KC Luxury Homes Art Collectors Beautiful Homes

Tatler Asia

This Eclectic, Art-Filled Home In Mid-Levels Is A Work Of Art

Art Aficionado

A Place to Gather