Material Wonder
designer Frank leung’s guide to elevating your space with luxury materials設計師Frank leung指導我們如何利用豪華物料提升居所格調
Luxury means different things to different people. For some, it’s about filling their home with pieces by only the most prestigious brand names – think Fendi, Armani Casa, Bottega Veneta and Versace, to name a few. For others, it’s about residing in a heritage building that’s beautifully constructed and steeped in history and grandeur. If you’re looking to elevate your home to a lofty level, however, a tried-and-true method is to start with the materials that make up your space. From marble and mosaic to precious stones, fine materials can subtly transform the entire vibe of your abode – provided you know how to use them.
不同的人對「豪華」有著不同理解。有些人會覺得豪華就是利用知名品牌產品來點綴居所，例如Fendi、Armani Casa、Bottega Veneta、Versace等；有些則認為是住進一幢擁有悠久歷史和壯麗氣派的漂亮建築。假如你想把居所提升到更高尚格調，最實際的方法就是從粉飾家居的物料入手。由大理石馬賽克到珍貴石材，這些精緻物料能如魔法般改變你整個空間的氣氛——大前提是你必須用得其所。
Frank Leung, the founder and principal of Via Design Studio, is a master of luxurious design. In the afterglow of one of his most recent projects – a family home in Kowloon Tong that boasts a modern, Frenchinspired aesthetic – we sought his input on how best to infuse your space with sophistication through a judicious use of materials.
This Kowloon Tong home is a veritable extravaganza of luxury, possessing custom-made furniture, rich fabrics, and metallics. “In short, what we wanted to do was create this sense of comfort and elegance by putting together materials,” explains Frank. “We looked at contemporary Parisian residences for a continental European approach.” Every detail of the space has been given due consideration. Encountering the home’s entrance, you’re instantly met with an array of authentic, handselected materials that showcase an exceptional level of craftsmanship: onyx in the foyer, a patterned oak
Via Design Studio創辦人兼負責人Frank Leung在豪華設計方面可說是駕輕就熟。看過他最近完成的工程、位於九龍塘一間以法國風格為裝潢主題的現代居所後，我們決定向他請教如何善用各種物料，為家居注入精緻美感。
這間九龍塘住所新裝極盡奢華，由訂製傢具、華美布藝和金屬色調組成。「總括而言，就是融合各種物料，打造出這種舒適和優雅的格調。」Frank解釋說：「我們以當代巴黎居所為借鏡，定出歐洲大陸這個設計方向。」每個裝修細節都經過深思熟慮。一踏進住所大門便會見到多種精挑細選的物料，盡展非凡手藝：門廳上的縞瑪瑙、圖案橡木地板、亮漆木板
floor, and lacquered timber panels and silk Fromental wallpaper on the walls. “When you get out of the lift and look at the front door, it’s inlaid with shagreen panels with a lock and handle that has a heavy patina,” says Frank. “Without even entering the apartment, these things give you this sense of a very tactile, very crafted materiality.”
“The client wasn’t really up for superextravagant things, but they appreciate natural materials such as stone juxtaposed with glass,”和Fromental絲絨牆紙。Frank續說：「當你從升降機步出來，便會看到鑲有鯊魚皮背板的大門，而門鎖和把手則有著非常明顯的綠效果。還未走進室內，已感覺到來自各種物料的豐富觸感和工藝味道。」
「客人並不鍾情極豪華的東西，他們喜愛自然物料，例如以石材搭配玻璃。」設計師表
continues Frank. “We ended up commissioning a lot of stone work from China.” While Frank and his team looked to Europe for inspiration, homeowners in Asia don’t need to venture quite so far afield to kit out their dream home – plenty of brands and contractors in Hong Kong, in China and throughout Southeast Asia are ready to provide.
One might think that luxurious materials are all about perfection. But Frank observes that, lately, nothing could be further from the truth. “We’ve been doing a lot of work示：「所以我們從中國訂了很多石材回來。」Frank和團隊從歐洲文化中找尋靈感，讓居於亞洲的屋主們不必出走他鄉也能打造夢想家園——香港、中國和東南亞地區已有足夠品牌和裝修公司協助完成整項工程。
有些人認為豪華物料就是要完美無瑕，但Frank最近發現這並非事實。「我們曾無數次把不完美的幾何外形，如採用物件原形或不規則設計，配襯在整齊的背景上。」Frank
where you have a regular background offset with something that isn’t perfectly geometric – more organic or free-formed,” shares Frank. “For example, gradation in mirrors so you don’t get one smooth, consistent surface.” He recalls using wire mesh from France that’s manufactured to appear a little uneven and out of control. “There’s also distressed surfaces or finishes that gives you a less-polished kind of look,” he says. The key to fine materials, then, is just as much in how you use them as what they’re made of. //
分享說：「舉個例子，呈現多層次的鏡子絕不會擁有平坦表面。」他選用法國網格就是特意製成不平均和不規則的模樣。「市面上有很多仿損耗效果的面材和面飾，用來打造不完全亮澤的表面。」他指出，使用優質物料的重要之處，在於你如何因應其成份而恰當運用。//