Hong Kong Man Redesigns Apartment With European Arches

Desmond Wong, owner of a furniture and lighting store in Hong Kong, self-designed his apartment, dubbed City Veil. His idea was to remove the space from the cacophony of the city without obstructing his view or the flow of the movement. Located in the trendiest neighborhood of Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island, the apartment reflects his vision of calmness over chaos. The City Veil apartment shows the beauty of a small space that can never feel too small if designed smartly.

Although he lives alone in the apartment, he designed it keeping a young couple in mind so that he could rent it out in the future. The original floor plan of the house consisted of two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a storage room, and a balcony. However, the current plan opts for an open-plan layout, one master bedroom, a kitchen, a storage cabinet in the living space, and a bathroom. Everything is seamlessly outfitted in a 559 square feet of living space.

According to Wong, his design ideas were mostly inspired by Wabi-Sabi, nature, earthy textures, and clean lines of European arches that soften the edges and exude harmony into the space. Upon entering, the expansive living room, layered in soft texture, functionality, and accent pieces, awaits. The living room has a sofa, vast storage behind the sofa, where everything has a designated space, and a feature wall lamp.

The walls separating the space create an added sense of privacy. Wong considers the natural flow of light and air the most important aspect of any home. There’s a balcony accessible via a glass sliding door from the living room, offering plenty of natural light, fresh air, and stunning city views. On the balcony, a decking platform has been installed at the same level as the interior flooring for the continuity of the living space.

The use of sheer curtains lets the light pass through more freely and keeps the views unobstructed for Wong whenever he’s relaxing on the sofa. To bring a sense of lightness, his apartment incorporates an earthy color palette, clean lines, and large, panoramic windows. Not only this, Wong has kept all of his accent pieces on the lower half of the unit, avoiding visual clutter, while all the furniture pieces are lifted off the ground to enhance the sense of lightness in the room.

The reason Wong has an extendable dining table in an expansive living room is that he loves having friends over. This dining table usually seats four people, but when extended, it can seat up to eight. It’s a perfect gathering space and a hub to stay connected with friends and family, while sharing meals and creating memories.

Since the kitchen was relatively in good condition, it was left untouched. He only had the door removed for easy access and usability. An arched door frame was added in the kitchen, which is currently in alignment with the rest of the house. The kitchen is equipped with a U-shaped countertop, stovetop, refrigerator, microwave, oven, and washer-dryer unit below the countertop. There are plenty of cabinets to store essentials.

The two small bedrooms were joined to create a more functional and spacious bedroom. The result is a breathable master bedroom with a bay window, keeping the room well-lit throughout the day. For an immersive working session, a marbled desktop with drawers and a comfy chair is installed by the window. Alongside a practical workspace, there are two full-height cupboards with a platinum mirror used to act as a full-length mirror.

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According to Wong, the apartment gets a lot of reflected light from the buildings outside, whereas the platinum mirror softens the light in the space. His hydraulic queen-size bed lifts to reveal an additional storage space underneath, perfect to stash extra belongings that have nowhere to go. When nature calls, the bathroom is right beside the bedroom. There are no windows in the bathroom, but the use of neutral hues and white marble exudes tranquility. It has a vanity sink, toilet, and walk-in shower with green tiles, creating a feeling of spaciousness. Meanwhile, the antique bronze fittings add a luxurious touch.

Perched on the 31st floor, Wong’s City Veil apartment is a reflection of his habits and what he truly needs. According to him, it’s important in life to contemplate what works for you, how you want to live, and how much you want to live. And only with this examination can you truly bring solutions and ideas to incorporate in your living space.