In a chic, urbane Hong Kong studio apartment where even the light switches are luxe, clever work-from-home and storage solutions stand out
- A studio flat was all a Hong Kong beauty executive needed. Her interior designer found clever storage solutions to let the 470 sq ft Tai Hang home shine
- Everywhere the emphasis is on practicality – the dining table doubles as a work-from-home bench – and high-quality finishes to create a jewellery box of a home
Even the smallest jewellery box can hold precious gems.
That thought bubble hovered above early discussions involving the renovation of a newly bought seventh-floor flat in Tai Hang, on Hong Kong Island. With a footprint of only 470 sq ft (about 390 sq ft – 36 square metres – net), the unit might have been lacking in space, but, it was hoped, it could shine from inside, especially with an upgrade of the good number of windows.
That the stand-alone, roughly 30-year-old building had one flat per floor held instant allure for buyer Dany Stomborn, who appreciated her private lift lobby. Even better was being able to personalise this area to make a statement entrance.
A studio flat was all Stomborn, a frequently travelling executive in the beauty industry, needed for her Hong Kong base. But a number of ad hoc, internal partitions had been added over the years, seemingly to provide storage. For help, Stomborn turned to interior designer Britta Butler, whose first move was to remove the partitions.
When designing such a small space, says Butler, design director and founder of B Squared Design, taking out as many barriers as possible is key. However, clutter is also the enemy.
“The challenge is coming up with ways to provide enough storage so as not to have stuff everywhere,” she says. A walk through the flat reveals Butler’s clever solutions.
