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Cozy Scandinavian home with Japanese Zen feel
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JOHN and Yasue Killian decided to fully upgrade their flat to benefit their living style and to ensure the happiness of their dog Buddy, a Bichon Frise.
The 40-something American and Japanese couple have lived in a Mid-Levels Flat in Hong Kong for more than a decade. The criteria for an ideal home was location, location and layout.
“This apartment satisfied the first two but the layout was inefficient and also wasted space,” John said.
It is low-rise, has an elevator and is private enough not to be affected by outside traffic noise. It also has the convenience of an easy commute and access to restaurants and shops.
After years of living in the flat, the couple decided to give their 1,000-square-foot home a new look.
“Our ideal home would be dog-friendly, have an open kitchen, dining and living area, separate pantry, maid and laundry areas, plus plenty of storage space,” John said.
“We met designer Clifton Leung when we decided to do a full renovation, as a partial job would not have satisfied all of our requirements. But, our architect was having issues with staff so we met with many architects around Hong Kong before choosing Leung. The Clifton Leung design is special because it was the only design to resolve all our requirements. And they did it in a unique way by changing the actual layout.”
The couple’s design brief was unique in that they needed a layout that allows a small dog to go everywhere, such as a platform bed that would also have storage below it. The kitchen needed to be moved and a new pantry and maid area created.
Leung generally likes to use features and seating areas at different heights so one can view the home from different vantage points. But for this project, he made things especially low for the dog, with steps up to the bed and dog flaps in the internal sliding doors.
“They had been living there for a long time with such a bad layout. The master bedroom had only one narrow window but the walk-in wardrobe next to it had a big window with a nice view. And everywhere there were low false ceilings, which made the place feel cramped and dark,” Leung said.
In order to make a spacious new layout, the designer removed the false ceilings and reverted the property back to a shell. He eliminated corridor space, two “tiny useless rooms,” created an open kitchen and uninterrupted sightlines through the length and width of the flat.
Leung said he always encourages clients to make sure they have enough space for themselves. He doesn’t like the idea of having a guest room but giving more space to the homeowners instead: for clothes, a bigger bathroom or an entertaining area.
Leung removed the second bathroom and the space it occupied, now part of a Japanese-style bed platform, in the newly expanded and light-filled bedroom. The extra-wide bed platform with storage was designed and made by Clifton Leung Design Workshop. The map hung above the bed showing Hawaiian islands always reminds Yasue Killian of the Hawaiian breeze.
The interior style has a minimal approach. Unadorned pale wood is the central feature of the interior, with wide-plank flooring and laminated wood cabinets in the living area that seamlessly wrap around curved corners and through into the bedroom.
With a thoughtful use of lighting and carefully curated furniture, the apartment, with unsightly columns and beams, is transformed into a cozy Scandinavian home with a Japanese touch.
The Japanese-style living room, which oozes Zen, with a faux fur carpet and Nordic furniture selection. The minimalist backdrop and soothing natural colors are complemented by the bubble-gum pink-colored Fritz Hansen sofa with rounded corners.
The Hay dining table and Muuto dining chairs strike a distinct Scandinavian note in the dining area, highlighted by a pair of Louis Poulsen pendant lights.
Leung placed only highlight pieces in sight but hid unappealing features such as air-conditioning units. He also had a similar take on the structural column in the middle of the open living and kitchen areas. He fitted a kitchen island onto the column so it became part of a low wall between the two areas rather than an impediment in the center.
The open kitchen allows the homeowners, both social butterflies, to invite their friends over for gatherings.
For this minimalist home, Leung also suggested in-window blinds for their clean lines and a fuss-free function.
“As the view on the living room side isn’t the best, the blinds are a good way of shutting that out but keeping the light coming in,” he said.
John added: “The end result was that we got everything we asked for. It’s truly a creative, classy design that is practical and makes living in Hong Kong so much easier. It has fully utilized every space.”
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