EUROPEAN LIVING
Established in 2016, Septem Design operates with a small but intimate team of seven. Together they have undertaken over 20 projects, and while each were successful in their own right, 2018 marks the year Septem Design turned their attention to having their work judged by a panel. The ‘REA Interior Design Award 2018' is their first major award, and the company has seen this as an encouraging sign, setting their sights high and determined that this will not be their last winning recognition.
In the project that won them the award, the clients had a very clear vision from the get-go about what they wanted. Spacious and well-lit were the main requirements, as well as with a northern European flair, and designer Lucas Chu rose to the challenge. To keep with the European theme, Chu incorporated floral moulding throughout, a style element the client is already fond of, then juxtaposed this thematic softness with metal furnishings. Instead of clashing, the overall effect of the florals with the golden hues is a feeling of opulence steeped in nature. The clients also had some requests with regards to the project's efficiency to their lifestyle. They are a pair of young newlyweds, and the male partner would work from home, often till the wee hours. To fulfil their request for his work life not to affect his wife, Lucas had a study put in which includes a pull-out bed, so the husband can work and occasionally rest in the study as the need arises without disrupting his wife's sleep. In order to maintain the aesthetic of the overall design, the pull-out bed was designed to be concealed behind drawers and a covered door. Additionally, the wife had a much tighter grip on the design reins for the project than her husband did, so in order to balance the more feminine choices she made, Chu chose to use an overall colour palette of grey shades to inject some gender neutrality coolness into the home.
Chu mused that this was a particularly interesting pair of clients. Towards the beginning of a project, it is standard in Septem Design to show clients a 3D rendering of their project so they can better visualise their final product. This is only supposed to be an approximation, but after renovations were completed this couple followed the model to the letter, and sourced all the fine details such as lighting, furniture, decoration according to the 3D model they were shown. “I guess they just really liked our 3D rendering,” Chu chuckled, “but it must have taken them so much time and effort to find everything themselves!”
Personally, Chu has a strong liking for designing spaces with smart storage. “Not many people will ever complain about having too much storage, especially in Hong Kong.” Unless otherwise requested, he will generally try to incorporate a minimalist style with smart storage at the forefront. This personal style choice happens to blend seamlessly in with current trends. Chu tells us that most clients will choose a light colour palette, which is very much in line with minimalism. Nevertheless, Septem Design's motto is to always put the client first, accommodating their desires without letting personal preferences get in the way of their designs.
One of Septem Design's strong points is their attention to service. Prior to starting the project, Chu will calculate the overall budget for the client to consider; this sum includes an estimation for appliances, furniture, and fittings on top of the project costs. “This way, we greatly minimise the chance of clients exceeding budget and being frustrated, or worse, being in financial trouble.” Transparency is also a major focus for Septem Design. Instead of simply taking photos of projects' progress, where unsatisfactory areas can be avoided, Chu will produce for clients' reference a 360 degrees interactive view of units with no blind spots, so clients can gain a full understanding.
“It is definitely the age of technology,” Chu says, “and in order to be a good interior designer you would have to embrace that fully, with a willingness to change and watch your ideas evolve. It would not be right to deprive clients of a chance to experience fresh innovations simply because you prefer styles and ways of working from the past. Design has to be fluid!”