Life Unplugged
Chef Esther Sham reflects on the importance of calming spaces, home comforts and striking that allimportant balance
“I can find it hard to fully unplug sometimes, even at home.” To anyone familiar with Esther Sham—mother, wife, and successful restaurateur and proprietor of Maison Es—and her work, this statement is unsurprising.
But Sham also makes those allimportant quiet moments a priority. “Having a few moments to myself, whether it’s spent putting together a floral arrangement or just lying on my bed, they’re some of my favourite activities,” she says. She describes that time spent unwinding in a relaxing environment, as “conscious, but quiet”.
It’s a description that applies equally to Mont Rouge—the newly opened residences that sit atop Beacon Hill in Kowloon Tong. One of the highest elevated residential complexes in Kowloon, Mont Rouge offers panoramic views of the peninsula.
The exclusive complex houses just 26 apartments, 14 houses and five villas away from the hustle and bustle of the city below. The low-density residential complex’s apartment buildings are just seven storeys high, and the series of villas and houses adds an air of exclusivity that’s hard to find even, across some of the city’s most prestigious addresses.
Mont Rouge apartments boast floor-to-ceiling windows offering expansive green vistas. “When I wake up, looking out to the mountains and trees, I feel like nature has been brought into the home,” says Sham.
Despite spending her formative years in urban environments, nature has always had a cathartic effect on the chef. “Spending time outdoors brings me a sense of balance. It helps me detach from my usual environment.”
Outdoor spaces, including spacious balconies and gardens, have been carved out at several of the Mont Rouge residences— of particular interest to Sham, who holds her weekly yoga practice very dear.
A private sanctuary overlooking the city, Mont Rouge was designed with particular attention paid to its environment; the urban retreat’s design has been influenced by its surrounding landscape and mountain views.
The south-facing complex is flooded with natural light, creating the perfect setting for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and picnics outdoors, says Sham, who aims to encourage her three children’s love of nature at every opportunity, even while at home.
When indoors, Sham says, the frenzy of the kitchen brings her a sense of release. While for many people the thought of preparing food for others can be stressful, she says, “cooking is very therapeutic to me ... when I cook, I have to be very present and very focused.
“Cooking is my love language,” says Sham, who feels most at ease when making a meal for her loved ones. Ultimately, she says, “being with the people I love—that’s what home means to me”.