Modern meets minimalist in Japanese-inspired makeover of Hong Kong home that swaps bedrooms for office, media room and walk-in wardrobe
- Decades of past renovations were revealed in a Hong Kong flat stripped to its bones to make space for an office, soundproofed media room and walk-in wardrobe
- Traditional and modern elements were blended for a minimalist, clean and monochromatic look – there’s no ‘noisy’ marble in sight
When Australian James Reynolds mentioned to his friend Eugene Wong in November 2021 that he wanted a pandemic project, the timing was almost too good to be true. Wong’s flat was in dire need of a makeover and he proposed that Reynolds help him with the design concept and execution.
Reynolds, who works for a global retail brand, had done up several properties in the past and interiors are his passion.
Located in a 1960s Mid-Levels building on Hong Kong Island and nestled between two residential roads, Wong’s 2,300 sq ft (214 square metre) flat had bags of space but much of it was wasted on two disproportionately large bedrooms and a foyer. A third bedroom was dark and poky; the kitchen was enclosed; and the windows featured old-fashioned frames and brown-tinted glass.
Hankering after something modern, with a study and more room for entertaining, Wong (who grew up in Hong Kong and works in finance) readily agreed to gut the property and start over.
“We discovered renovation on top of renovation – 1960s style under 1970s under 1980s and so on,” recalls Reynolds, who planned even the smallest details, working closely with Wong and a trusted contractor and his team. “It was like peeling back an onion and interesting to see what would turn up next.”
Walls came down to allow an expansive living and dining area, stretching back to a sleek, open-plan kitchen (see Tried + tested below), with an island that is a magnet for guests during parties.
