FOR Kate Swan Malin and Ian Malin, moving to a new place presents an opportunity for giving life a new direction and a new inspiration to home interior decoration as well.

The charm of their 223-square-meter apartment in the Mid-levels residential area of Hong Kong is in its harmonious blend of space layout, tasteful appointments and a colorful but refined palette. Warm accents harmonize with the white walls and wooden floors. Modern furniture pieces, with simple clean lines, minimize any sense of crowding and bring a sense of calm in this buzzing city.

The American couple moved to Hong Kong on New Year's Eve in 2007. "It was a great way to start off a new year. We had just gotten married in August and Ian's job was transferring him to Hong Kong from New York," Malin said. "I was working at Christie's in NY and since my job was on the corporate side doing public relations I was able to transfer my job as well. It was a dream that we could both be working in HK."

Their first apartment was on Kennedy Road in Wan Chai. "We loved it and were so sad to leave. It was a slick space with extremely cool details such as hidden door panels, glass walls and a funky curved wall in the living room. It was not large but extremely efficient and designed to maximize the small space in a very modern and creative way."

But when they were getting ready for the birth of their daughter Josie, the couple realized the previous flat was not going to hold them, the baby and all the visiting relatives they had lining up.

"When looking for our new apartment the key was space. We were looking for a four-bedroom home which would allow for a nursery, guest room and office for Ian since he is often able to work from home," the chic mom said.

"When we saw this flat in Mid-levels, we loved it," Malin said. "The first thing that struck us was the open kitchen which is very American. In the US they say the kitchen is the heart of the home and having it out and open makes it a central point in the house."

It's their gathering spot - it's here they feed their daughter, have a coffee in the morning, look through mail ... "and we love to entertain at home and the open kitchen allows us to prep food and drinks while still being part of the party."

The flat's condition was perfect. It had just been re-done and the couple was the first ones to live in the renovated space. "We didn't have to change a thing - everything was exactly as we wanted it," Malin said. "We also love all the storage space. I was continually shocked at the lack of closet space in most of the apartments we were looking at. When we saw this flat with all the built-in closets in every room we knew we had a winner."

The only changes they have made were the lighting fixtures in the kitchen, living and dining rooms. Each had a chandelier light but the couple looked for something modern and simple to match their taste.

"Our home is one that is, above all else, livable. Nothing is too precious. Everything is comfortable, colorful, not overly designed. We wanted something that is fun and inviting and not too serious," Malin said.

The homeowner wanted pops of color and an overall vibe that is warm and inviting. While the living room couch is a neutral color, it is paired with two lime green chairs and two sky blue chairs. The big red Oriental carpet somehow ties it all together. They pick colors that work in harmony, without becoming provocative, yet not falling into boring shades. It is a living area full of rich colors and interesting textures.

The dining room needed to go well with the boldness of the living room but not compete with it so they chose blue and linen as the color scheme with the upholstered chairs and the curtains in simple and clean-looking blue stripes that work well together.

The spacious, open kitchen stayed pretty simple - some bar stools, side table and art including antiques such as framed antique Chinese textiles, a large feng shui compass and some contemporary art.

"After we moved in we had everything made especially for this space. The couches, ottoman, occasional chairs, chaise lounge, the dining table and all the dining chairs were custom made," Malin said.

"For the dining room we designed a square table. Not only does it fit the space well but it's also incredibly communal. We have a lot of dining parties and having a 'head' of the table seems so stuffy, but we didn't want a circle or oval. The square just works," she said.

The sets of chairs in the living room were designed by Malin and her husband. "He designed the green chairs which were inspired by a pair we spotted in a high-end shop in town. The blue chairs were my own take on the famous Barcelona chair. I tweaked them to be taller and much narrower. They are one of a kind and we absolutely love them."

Overall, the couple goes for simple designs with uncomplicated lines. But they tend to make up for the simplicity with pops of color. "In terms of local influence, a lot of the knick-knacks around the house were picked up on various travels around the region, as was much of the art. And the big TV console is an antique altar table. I love the dark wood and detailed work," Malin said.

She said she spends most of her time in the living room and dining room where she usually sets up a portable office. "I am the co-founder of two websites in Hong Kong and generally work from home. So my days are filled with playing with and taking care of our daughter, and working on the sites. My living room serves as my command station!"

Malin runs two parenting websites - Yummy Mummy Asia (www.yummymummyasia.com) and Shop Yummy (www.shopyummy.com). "Yummy Mummy Asia started as a blog when I was pregnant but is now a full website and a complete resource for parents in HK," she said.

As the only bilingual parenting website in HK, it offers a daily blog, a calendar of the best things to do in HK for families and kids, advice from some of the city's foremost experts, special events, travel guides and their sought-after HK directory. Shop Yummy, a group-buying site that offers deals for mums, kids and families, was launched in April.

"I manage to keep a balance most of the time and make sure I structure my days and my meetings to be with Josie at her activities. We get out on a daily walk and you can often find us in the Botanical Gardens which is right down the hill from our home."