When life in this neon-lit, mile-a-minute metropolis of ours gets a little frantic, sometimes all you need is a lungful of sea air and sand between your toes to regain perspective. It’s easy to forget that beyond the skyscrapers, almost half of Hong Kong is made up of protected parkland, all of which is relatively accessible by car or boat.

For interior designer Jo Lorenz and her husband, their escape from the hustle of Central turned out to be a bit more permanent than a Sunday beach session on Lantau’s Cheung Sha and sundowners and diner at The Stoep.

The Lorenz residence is a two-storey, three-bedroom house located in Cheung Sha Upper in the southern part of Lantau. Cheung Sha, Hong Kong’s longest beach, is just a stone’s throw away, and the rooftop lounge has glistening water views to the south and emerald mountain vistas to the north.

While we adore Hong Kong, we didn’t necessarily want it to feel like we were in Hong Kong at home. We wanted it to feel like you were stepping into another time or part of the world the moment you walk through the front door, says the designer. So the brief we gave ourselves was to design a provincial beach cottage.

There is a classic, blue and white colour scheme throughout the home that’s reminiscent of a Hamptons beach house, with the rustic country-style open kitchen and dining area on the ground floor as the focal point. We completely reconfigured the layout from four small, boxy rooms to one big, open and airy space with high ceilings and big windows, says Jo.

It’s easy to see the appeal, with the laid-back island vibe and outdoorsy lifestyle that seems a world away from the city’s tooting car horns and never-ending construction work. The designer adds, Here, we were able to build a home that feels like a storybook home – idyllic, charming and with all the makings of future nostalgia.

The post Sea Change appeared first on Home Journal.