80
majestic old trees. They found very good
quality artificial turf in the Netherlands,
which has become central to the family’s
recreation, and which they claim is the
best decision they made. “Throughout
the seasons we have a perfect looking,
perfectly draining grass pitch to play on,”
says the homeowner. Every family could
use a set-up like this; soccer goals, netball
posts, and tennis and badminton nets are
permanently ready, alongside a huge
trampoline.
When the two of them styled the
inside of the home, they kept it modern
and sleek, choosing to implement some
eclecticism with the incorporation of
character-filled pieces picked up on their
travels in places such as Brazil, Indonesia
and China. And the high, airy ceilings
and abundant natural light that floods
in and illuminates all three levels of the
home means the space works equally
well in winter and in summer. The ground
floor, which houses an open-plan kitchen,
living and dining room, has easy bi-fold
doors that extend the space outwards,
allowing close proximity to the lap-pool
and garden for social occasions.
The contemporary furniture in the
living room was primarily sourced from
Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. And for
interior purchases in Hong Kong they look
to Tree, Indigo, Inside and Timothy Oulton,
as well as any pop-up store they can find.
The second and third floors house
the children’s bedrooms, an additional
playroom, plus an impressively minimalist
master bedroom. The rooftop can be
used as an extension of the home and,
if the weather is good, the couple make
the most of it for quieter times spent
watching the boats on Lobster Bay. A
carefully curated selection of art and
books finish the home with bursts of
colour and individuality. Most of the
dynamic artwork in the home has been
collected on their various travels. With
pieces from Bali, Singapore, China
and New Zealand, the couple’s travels
and taste seem to make an excellent
backdrop and a strong product of
successful teamwork.
Undoubtedly, this house is a passion
for the homeowners and the home, as
an ongoing project, is always evolving.
The couple is very much hands-on – for
them, moving furniture around and trying
out different combinations with artwork is
all an enjoyable collaboration. “A great
partnership with Paul Cowling, master
craftsman builder, keeps us moving our
property forward, constantly playing with
different rooms and different ideas, inside
and outside,” says the homeowner.
Now that they have settled into the
house and life they wanted in Hong
Kong, the couple are looking forward to
renovating the children’s bedrooms as
they enter their teenage years. And then
there is always the fruit to pick on the
orange trees in the summer months. This is
an idyllic and happy life for a big family in
a bustling city.
