How this feng shui-friendly flat caters to the needs of a multigenerational family
This 1,752 sq ft 5-bedroom sea-view high-rise in Tai Hang, Hong Kong, was redesigned using the concepts of ‘shelter’ and ‘nurture’ by Grande Interior Design
Shelter may be fundamental for humans, but that doesn’t mean it has to be basic.
Matthew Li Kai-lung, co-founder and creative director of Grande Interior Design, has demonstrated that in the sophisticated use of natural materials for a multi-generational household of six. His brief for the redesign of their 1,752 sq ft Tai Hang apartment included not only the concept of “shelter” but also “nurture”.
“The family aimed for an environment that felt safe and warm,” he says. “And the living area needed to meet the needs and preferences of family members of different age groups while maintaining overall style consistency.”
The sheer number of rooms in the sea-view high-rise – five bedrooms, three bathrooms – meant that most were quite small, apart from the sizeable living/dining area. And yet, with Lorain Fong and finance specialist Jimmy Fu, their six-year-old daughter, a newborn second child and Fong’s parents living there, individual spaces needed to be retained. The challenge for Li was to make the rooms feel bigger.
In addition, he had to find a way to improve the feng shui by dealing with the multiple doorways opening into the living room.
“Sufficient storage was also important,” adds Fong, a full-time mum. “We were hoping for a consistent and homey atmosphere, without [the place] feeling cluttered.”
For the desired level of comfort, Li proposed using wood as the main design element, complemented by marble and various other stone accents. Decorative paint and wallpapers add visual layers.
