Cover The cosy living room features a Santa Cole floor lamp

Going home to this three-bedroom family apartment in the heart of the city feels like heading on a tranquil mountain getaway

Inspired by time spent in the outdoors in the US and Canada, the owners of this 2,200 sq ft, three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at the Pearl Gardens complex in Mid-Levels in Hong Kong wanted to recreate the feeling of a tranquil, lakehouse-like retreat in their home.

They asked Hong Kong-based Liquid Interiors—which is famed for its philosophies in sustainable design—to carry out an overhaul of the apartment, transforming it into an urban sanctuary.

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Above The living room features a Tree sofa and cushions, and Lulu and Georgia coffee table and side table

The southwest-facing spaces in the middle and back of the apartment, which were originally guest bedrooms, offer “picturesque mountain views with beautiful light”, says Liquid Interiors founder and principal designer Rowena Gonzales. Despite this, first impressions of the living room, which are by the entrance, was “night and day” when compared to the views at the back.

“The first time I walked in [to the home], the feeling was that no matter how nice the interiors were, the northeast-facing living room would never feel relaxing—because the dreary, dark views of tall, ugly and worn-down buildings,” she says.

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Above The living room is filled with natural light and dominated by soothing palettes
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Above The study, which offers beautiful green views

This prompted the designer and her team to carry out an overhaul of the home—one that included structural reinstatements—in a year-long process. “I knew that if we wanted a lakehouse feeling, which the client requested, we had to open up the living area to connect with the mountain view.” 

The guest bedroom connected to the adjoining living and dining spaces was transformed into a study. Here, the lush greenery of the home takes centre stage. Thanks to the pocket doors installed for this space, it becomes an extension of the living spaces in the home, creating a spacious feel. It also means the family can enjoy the green views from the living and dining areas, adds the designer. The space, chiefly designed for the daughter who works from home, has a library wall.

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Above The vases in the fireplace are sourced from Amara Living
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Above Rove Concept chairs and The White Company coasters and placemats feature in the dining room and kitchen

With the creation of a rustic look in mind, Gonzales installed solid wooden ceiling beams, arches and doors, transforming the look and feel of the home from one of a typical Hong Kong apartment built in the 1970s to that of a mountain getaway. Natural materials—like a stone feature wall and a fireplace mantle made of natural rough stone in the living room—dominate the space, while plants add colour.

Meanwhile, modern lighting—from floor lamps that drape over the living area to monochrome table lamps atop a console—provides sculptural lines that add visual interest. The use of these—along with pendants and wall lights, instead of recessed lighting—results in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

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Above Inside the kitchen with bright blue cabinetry

In response to the clients’ request for a space to facilitate quality time over home-cooked meals, Gonzales created an open kitchen design next to the dining room.

A sliding glass wall, positioned atop the kitchen island, separates the two spaces when partition or seclusion is needed. The dining room is anchored by a large wooden beam arch. Inside the kitchen, a bright pop of cobalt—which Gonzales says is a favoured colour for the family—adds a zingy yet sophisticated touch. A stone accent wall, brass handles and a Persian carpet give it a “cottage feel”.

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Above The "secret door" bookshelf is seen on the far right
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Above The bedroom is revealed behind the bookshelf

One of the most unique features of the home is a secret door concealed behind a bookshelf leading to the son’s room—something that Gonzales found most challenging to complete in this project. The feature was created in response to the son wanting “an element of surprise”, and also caters to what Gonzales describes as “a 007 personality” the son has.

Instead of crafting it from scratch, which would have required a substantial amount of time and could have ended with an unpredictable outcome, Gonzales and her team were able to source the item. It forms part of a long corridor that leads to the other bedrooms, with the rest of the walls also lined with display shelves and lower cabinets, which the designer created in a matching shade. The shelves give the narrowly shaped corridor a more open feel, says Gonzales. 

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Above The daughter’s bedroom, featuring a Louis Poulsden desk lamp from the Finnish Design Shop and Rove Concepts chair, is described by the designer as the space with the most contemporary design in the apartment

Wellness and sustainability are a signature of the projects Liquid Interiors undertakes, and Gonzales says her company puts the physical and emotional comfort of the clients at the forefront.

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Above In the master bedroom, the bedding comes from Amara Living

Aside from considerations made in the design of the home, such as the creation of spaces dedicated to relaxation and incorporating nature and art wherever possible, design touches include warm night lights that illuminate the space between the bed and the bathroom in the master suite.

In an effort to ensure a high standard of air quality, Gonzales says Liquid Interiors carries out tests in the residential projects it undertakes. These include assessments of ventilation, CO2 levels and humidity levels. Upon the property’s completion, the company conducts a fresh-air flush-out. Other eco-conscious touches include the use of non-toxic materials, such as low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and adhesives as well as formaldehyde-free plywood, plus refillable dispensers in the bathroom and kitchens, and the sourcing of green cleaning products for the clients.

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Above The showerhead is from Axor Design
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Above A minimalist, yet sleek bathroom

The most memorable part of the project, says Gonzales, was working with a “lovely family”.

“The parents really encouraged the whole family to be involved in the design and take ownership in their own way,” she says. “I loved how this home is a family creation.”

Credits

Photography  

Tracy Wong Photography

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