Furnishing a new flat and want to give it some character? Horizon Plaza can be a good place to hunt for unique items of furniture. Some of these pieces are natural talking points.
At TREE on the 28th floor, all the signature pieces are made by hand and accord with a 'profits with principles' philosophy.
'Even our accessories are individually made - typically by co-operatives and local artisans - from the baskets to the ceramics and the hand-blown glass,' says managing director Kate Babington. 'I love sourcing individual items that have stories behind them and where the payment goes directly to the artisans.'
TREE describes itself as Hong Kong's first eco-chic furniture boutique and is big on 'reloved' furniture, all of which is produced from responsibly sourced wood that has either been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, directly supported through the Trees4Trees Foundation, or has been salvaged from sources such as old fishing boats, railway sleepers and bridges.
'Reclaimed wood has a quality and grain that can only come from mature trees,' says Nicole Wakley, the boutique's founder. 'These old, rescued pieces of wood are then reinvented into contemporary designs by skilled carpenters and craftsmen using traditional manufacturing techniques. The result is furniture with character - each piece has its own story to tell.'
The Ferum collection originates from abandoned Indonesian fishing boats. The original paintwork has been preserved, creating an eye-catching patchwork effect that means no two pieces are the same. Supported by double bars of black iron, these tables, desks and chests are given a pop art finish.
'Ferum came about as it really speaks to our ethos of 'reclaimed, recycled, reloved',' Babington says. 'By salvaging this wood, we are also able to give back to the communities and keep the local craft traditions alive. The idea that the wood has its own history and spirit and is now a beautiful and unique piece of furniture really appeals to customers and they cannot help but love it. It's one of our most popular collections.'