Tatler+ Hong Kong Tourism Board
From shopping for festive feasts to giving heirlooms and antiques a new lease of life, Laura Cheung and her family find uniquely Hong Kong ways to celebrate the Year of the Ox
“We usually spend Chinese New Year in Sydney with all of our extended family, where we have the tradition of going to people’s houses to bai nian [share greetings and well wishes], going from one house to another with all of the cousins.” Interior decorator Laura Cheung, of home decor and lifestyle studio Lala Curio, paints a picture of her typical Chinese New Year celebrations with an unmistakable wistful tone to her voice.
This year, her extended family—like so many others—will be celebrating from different corners of the world, from Australia and the United States to her own home in a quiet corner of Kowloon's Kadoorie Hill.
See also: Laura Cheung Of Lala Curio Designs Private Members' Club Pier 1929 In Wan Chai
Despite the unusual circumstances, Cheung is determined to make the most of the season. “It’s really such a pleasure that we get to spend Chinese New Year with our Hong Kong side of the family, so at a young age, our baby can be exposed to these traditions,” says Cheung. Cheung’s home—filled with bold statement decor and furnishings on a regular basis—takes on a further air of eccentricity over the festive period; flowers in full bloom occupy every corner of the room, and tablescapes ornately decorated and filled with food create a real sense of occasion for her loved ones.
While typical Chinese New Year decorations include the likes of narcissus and mandarin trees, Cheung tells us, “This year, we’re not just taking on the traditional reds, but also burgundy and purple and lilac, creating floral arrangements using amaryllis and more unconventional Chinese New Year flowers; creating something that still has an oriental flair to it.”