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Peta Tomlinson

The interplay of sunlight and shadow makes for alluring spaces in this Hung Hom home for a family of four.
While some sharp angles in the irregular-shaped building posed design challenges, Edward Lau Tak-tai, director of ED Design, relished the opportunity to harness the passage of sunlight throughout the day.
Especially in densely built-up urban areas, maximising natural light in interior design can be beneficial for overall health and children’s growth,” he says.
Reducing reliance on artificial lighting is also more eco-friendly and lowers energy costs, he adds.
The 25-year-old, 1,400 sq ft apartment had been renovated previously, but was looking tired and dated when Thomas and Alice Chan bought it in March 2023. Happily, the floor plan was functional, with bedroom zones flanking a large central living/dining area, minimising the need for space-hungry corridors. And with the kitchen and helper’s room situated in two protruding “wings” on either side of the entrance, there were fewer doorways to contend with when it came to furniture placement.
This enabled the original four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom layout to be retained with only minor alterations. But for cosmetic reasons, the interior was gutted to allow for a more contemporary aesthetic.

After researching design styles, full-time parent Alice settled on a modern organic look prioritising natural materials and earthy tones.
“My husband’s work [in the fintech industry] is really intensive, and I wanted him to come home to a restful, relaxing environment,” she says. “I also believed it would be good for our children [aged eight and five].”
Lau agreed that this style was a good match for the apartment’s sunny aspect. “Natural materials work well in a sun-lit setting because the nuanced changes in light that occur throughout the day lend an enchanting character to the rooms,” he says. “This creates a beautiful trace of time, keeping the home ever fresh and timeless.”
The combination of deep wood tones with rattan elements, textured paint and marble created the sense of harmony and warmth Chan was seeking.
A wide foyer inspired Lau to create an “arrival experience”, his choice of a graceful arch giving the impression of moving from the portal into the living area. “Especially in a building that is architecturally angular, curves make the interior feel smoother and more fluid,” he says.

Continuing this design language, Lau also designed arches into built-in joinery – a buffet by the dining table; in bookcases behind the sofa – and chose loose furniture with the subtle detail.
Even the kitchen features arches in the glass-fronted overhead cabinets. Whereas the custom joinery elsewhere in the flat is crafted from wood veneer, wood­grain laminate was used in the kitchen for durability and ease of cleaning.
One jarring element in the home was a sharp, angular wall in the main bedroom. Lau softened its appearance by facing it with an extra wardrobe, adding mirrored doors to reflect the sunlight and views from a bay window opposite.
The room was also large enough to accommodate a work desk. While the children enjoy a bedroom each, the fourth, currently a playroom, can revert to a study for their homework needs in future years.
Eighteen months after the project was completed, Chan says the whole family enjoys the relaxing vibe of the home they’ve created. “We love the natural colours, the textures,” she says, “and the feeling of the sunlight streaming in.”

Living and dining areas
Marble-topped arched sideboard and matching rattan-trimmed television console, designed and made by ED Design. Dining table, rattan-backed chairs and sofa, from Decor8. Pendant light, from Nordlux. Rug, from tmall. Wooden side table, from OVO. Dakota ceiling fan, from Iconic Fan Company. Timber flooring, supplied by GPM & Co.
Main bedroom
Mirror-front wardrobe, bed, bedside table and veneer feature panelling, by ED Design. Siru pendant, from Future Lighting. Rug, from Ikea.
Main en suite
Laminate cabinetry with Corian top, by ED Design. Basin and tap, from Kohler. Mirror and towel rack, through Taobao. Wall tiles, from Fioranese.
Kitchen

Kitchen in woodgrainlook laminate with Corian benches, custom made by ED Design. Porcelain floor tiles, from Anta. Marble-patterned wall tiles, from RF Tiles.
Foyer
Timber veneer, rattan and marble shoe cabinet, and timber and rattan glassfronted cabinet, by ED Design. Table lamp, from St Louis. Floor tiles, same as kitchen. Coat rack, round rug and beanbag, through Taobao. Armchair, from Decor8. Floor lamp, from Ikea.


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Interiors

The light of day illuminates this Hong Kong family home in Hung Hom

The living and dining area of the Hung Hom, Hong Kong, flat designed by ED Design. Photo: Samson Lau 

Main bedroom. Photo: Samson Lau

Foyer. Photo: Samson Lau

Main en suite. Photo: Samson Lau

Kitchen. Photo: Samson Lau

How handcrafted wood creates rustic vibes in this Hong Kong home

The living room of the New Territories, Hong Kong, home designed by Hardwood HK. Photo: Eugene Chan

Dressing area. Photo: Eugene Chan

Kitchen and dining room. Photo: Eugene Chan

Hand-painted stained-glass back door. Photo: Eugene Chan

Main bedroom. Photo: Eugene Chan

Living area. Photo: Eugene Chan

Top floor en suite. Photo: Eugene Chan

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Interior designer Joyce Taufer has created as a quiet retreat for medical doctors Jade Li and Stanton Ho. Photo: John Sumang

Entrance. Photo: John Sumang

French doors were featured. Photo: John Sumang

The dining area. Photo: John Sumang

The bathroom. Photo: John Sumang 

The bedroom. Photo: John Sumang

Wood may just be the next ‘quiet luxury’ trend for Hong Kong homes

Professional musician Kelvin Leung’s Tai Wai flat was inspired by his alma mater, King’s College, and designed by Win Key Workshop. Photo: courtesy Win Key Workshop

Like the rest of Leung’s apartment, the bedroom favours rich timber hues for a British colonial touch. Photo: courtesy Win Key Workshop

“The colour of this timber also works well with the sunlight coming into the apartment’s windows from different directions,” says Studio Adjective’s Wilson Lee of this Parkview home. Photo: courtesy Studio Adjective

A combination of solid oak, oak veneer and oak-look laminate is used in wall panelling, joinery, flooring, even the ceiling, in this flat in Parkview designed by Studio Adjective. Photo: courtesy Studio Adjective

Studio Adjective sets the mood in the foyer of the apartment with a Japanese-style unit, which offers shoe storage and acts as a partition. Photo: courtesy Studio Adjective

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Tang chose cherry wood and ash for his client’s library space. Photo: courtesy Absence from Island

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The white houses at Kadoorie Hill, Hong Kong, are on a list of modern buildings that experts believe should be preserved for future generations. Photo: Edmond So

The prestigious King George V School in Ho Man Tin is a prime example of Hong Kong’s art deco architecture. Photo: SCMP Archive

A view of the primary school campus of Maryknoll Convent School in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP Archives

The junction of Yuen Ngai Street and Prince Edward Road West in Kowloon, Hong Kong, where stands the art deco property built by Crédit Foncier d’Extrême-Orient in the 1930s. Photo: Eugene Chan

An aerial view of Kadoorie Hill in Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy Kadoorie Estates

Elly Kadoorie. Photo: courtesy Kadoorie Estates

Kadoorie Hill undergoing early development works in the early 1930s. Photo: courtesy Kadoorie Estates

A detailed shot of the house at 20 Kadoorie Avenue in Hong Kong, commissioned by Sir Lawrence Kadoorie. Photo: Eugene Chan

The facade of the house at 20 Kadoorie Avenue in Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Chan

Windows along one wall of the house at 20 Kadoorie Avenue in Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Chan

Detail of a house in Kadoorie Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Chan

Detail of a house facade in Kadoorie Avenue, Hong Kong. Photo: Eugene Chan

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The light of day illuminates this Hong Kong family home in Hung Hom

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}A designer captures the movement of light through this Hung Hom family flat

A designer captures the movement of light through this Hung Hom family flat