Homeric Design mixes travertine with minimal and vintage sensibilities in this Tai Hang home to a pair of doctors.
When the lady homeowner came across a chic travertine bar top in a hotel, she liked it so much that she integrated the material into her own home. “The client has a refined taste and clear vision of how she wants her home to look like. That inspires us to use travertine as the main theme,” says Ray Hung, designer at Homeric Design.
The 30-ish couple, both of whom work as doctors, envisions a “mature and cosy home that doesn’t come off as overly opulent.” Under designer Hung’s watch, each element in this 980-sq.ft. apartment mingles to create an aura of elegance and gracefulness.
Hung guts the three-bedroom layout, turning it into two bedrooms so it better serves the couple’s needs. Weaving through the space is the travertine material: the dining table, bar counter and cabinet surface are all clad in the creamy, beige-coloured stone that embodies warmth and nostalgia.
A form of limestone deposited from mineral springs, travertine has become a contemporary favourite for interior decor since its emergence in the 1970s. “Given its vintage origin, applying travertine can risk making the home dull and old-fashioned if not done right,” Hung explains.
He balances it out with dark wooden material and natural fabric like linen and cotton. Black metal, for instance, punctuates the lighting pieces in the dining room and bar area as well as the dining table chairs; whereas the master bathroom makes use of marble.
