This Sai Wan Terrace abode blends restful living, sleek design and a bespoke music studio.

CLIENT BRIEF

The homeowners are a couple, who share the flat with their daughter, a musician. They desired a living space that was both restful and design-forward, reflecting their unique tastes. The daughter required a music studio for daily practice and composing. The entire family preferred to avoid edgy and bold designs.

CONCEPT & STYLE

The home embraces a mid-century modern style, characterised by simplicity, functionality, wood furniture, and sleek lines, as opposed to ornate detailing and gaudiness. Key attributes of this style include straightforwardness, optimism, cleanliness, and neatness.

Depth is a central theme for this project, achieved through the smart use of different woods such as walnut and rosewood. The design team also experimented with various shapes and sizes of home items, mixing and matching different materials and patterns to reflect the homeowners’ artistic background.

“Not a single colour appears twice here,” says hoo founder YC Chen. “Colour is crucial in all kinds of interior projects because it’s the first thing that catches your eye upon entering.”

CHALLENGE

The apartment’s irregularly shaped living room, influenced by the building’s organic forms, prevented the sofa from being placed parallel to the TV wall, posing a potential aesthetic threat.

SOLUTION

“Organic silhouettes provided the solution,” Chen says. Curves dominate the apartment – from the walls and mirrors to the tables, chairs, and home accessories. The team applied a rounded finish to cover an awkwardly placed corner behind the sofa, enhancing fluidity and echoing the soft corners of the window frames to amplify continuity.

Tips

Let there be pendant light
Don’t shy away from using pendant lights in the dining room, even with low ceilings. The lamp should be positioned at eye level to avoid seeing the base and being hurt by the light.

Softly glowing
When the ambient lighting is sufficient, dining room lighting can be moderate and evenly spread.