DOUBLE TAKE

A brother and sister living in the same apartment complex apply starkly different looks to their individual units

Sibling rivalry had nothing to do with the two radically different approaches taken in the design of their identical flats. Rather, it was their divergent lifestyles that dictated the contrasting choices of interiors. Older brother Mark Sutch, an executive at Cathay Pacific, wanted a bachelor pad that would reflect his love for wine, cooking and all things aviation. On the other hand, his sister Annabel Sutch, who is a veterinarian, wanted a relaxing family home to share with her husband, their one-year-old and the family’s menagerie of pets – an Italian greyhound and three cats. “They’re family, so they wanted to stay together,” explains Ronny Lehar, the owner of Leehar Home Ltd, which designed and renovated the two flats. As with all of his projects, Ronny sees a project from

start to finish, working on the design and crafting 3D drawings before getting his hands dirty in the renovation process. As both a commercial pilot and owner of a growing interior design and renovation business, Ronny was able to combine his life’s passions when working on Mark’s home. The finished flat is a testament to the masculine aesthetic, with a colour palette comprising dark chocolatey-brown leather, handsome solid-wood finishes, and accents in sleek steel and chrome. The tailored interiors are dotted with aircraft artefacts, including an eye-catching wingtip from the 1940s placed in the dining area, a captain’s chair taking

“It may not look like it, but the layouts of the two apartments are practically identical”

pride of place at the head of the table, an in-flight drinks trolley used as a side table in the kitchen and an aeroplane switch panel adorning the shelf. In the living room, a pale blue wingback chair is neatly tucked beside a makeshift bar stocked with vintage Scotch, and there are photos in remembrance of their late father, a celebrated Swire chairman who is commemorated in both of the siblings’ apartments.

Upstairs at Annabel’s, baby Imogen bounces about inside the bright and airy interiors. Annabel has the same armchair as her brother but, in this apartment, it’s surrounded by children’s toys, scattered about. The warm and inviting space is adorned with accents in cherry hues, bir dspeckled patterns and playful designs. The convertible high chair and wire pendant light in the dining space, as well as the meticulously organised ornaments showcased on the built-in shelving in the living room, capture the family’s taste for eclecticism. It may not look like it, but the layouts of the two apartments are practically identical.

Both have an open-plan living space, two bedrooms and a convertible study, which was outfitted with custom-built furnishings by Ronny and his team. While Mark’s extra bedroom is convenient for when his daughter visits during school holidays and for other guests, little Imogen’s adorable nursery is awash in pinks and pastels. There are other key similarities, too, such as kitschy Union Jack accessories found around the homes showing their common heritage. At first glance, the two living spaces couldn’t be more different, but upon taking a closer look the similarities become more apparent. It’s clear that both sister and brother are cut from the same cloth.