Understated Luxury
Comfort and sophistication combine for this family home in Tseung Kwan O’s The Papillons, designed by E F Design.
Comfort and sophistication combine for this family home in Tseung Kwan O's The Papillons, designed by E F Design.
When this couple decided to search for a forever home for themselves and their young daughter, they had hoped to find an abode with similar sea views as their former digs in eastern Hong Kong Island, but within a newer property. Their answer came in the form of a flat in The Papillons estate in Tseung Kwan O, which immediately attracted the couple with its quiet, verdant environment and proximity to the Tseung Kwan O South Waterfront Promenade, granting it sweeping views of the South China Sea.
While the location was ideal, the 1,100square-foot space itself required a bit of work. Since the home owners' daughter is only six years old, they hoped to futureproof the space so that it would grow up with her. They decided to commission multidisciplinary design firm E F Design to revamp their new home—an easy decision, as they had admired the firm's designs for many years beforehand. E F Design spent seven months on the project, including ordering furnishings from overseas, and completed the home in April.
First off, the flat's original design was generic and lacking in personality, so the home owners decided to go for a style that design director Eric Fung dubbed “a European-style luxury palace”. Patterned silk wallpaper, golden steel accents, and high-quality finishes created an atmosphere of understated elegance. The couple particularly favoured white marble, and have it featured in the wall behind the TV in the living area, the foyer, and in the dining table.
E F Design decided to keep the original light oak flooring, which matches well with the soft, neutral colour palette. “Although the clients love an elegant design, they still wanted a feeling of home sweet home,” said Fung. “They love spending time with family and relaxing at home. Therefore, we chose cream colours to mix with grey, black and white and champagne gold.” Loose furnishings were sourced from overseas brands such as Natuzzi and Ulferts. The home owners didn't take any of their own furnishings with them, preferring instead to completely refresh their home's look.
The property also came with four bedrooms, which was much more than the family required. The couple reserved one bedroom for their daughter and another as a guest bedroom for their parents, who pay them frequent visits from mainland China. The remaining two bedrooms were merged to create a generous master bedroom. “The clients can now enjoy a king-sized bed with a better view and light source,” said Fung, explaining that the original master bedroom was limited in space. The added space also accommodated a walk-in wardrobe, a cosy sitting area with sofa and coffee table, and a state-of-the-art audio system. “The master bedroom is actually bigger than the living area,” Fung added. “The couple really wanted a nice private area where they can relax after family time.” The modern, newly renovated kitchen and bathroom, meanwhile, were left as is. Another major consideration was storage. The family have a large amount of clothing and other belongings, so E F Design created custom cabinetry to serve these storage needs. “There's a hidden shoe cabinet and marble-topped L-shaped cabinet for storage for over 100 pairs of shoes,” Fung revealed. Finally, more lighting was added—around the ceiling, along the cabinets, and a single dangling statement piece above the dining table—in order to brighten up the home. “Since the view outside the property is of the sea, it gets dark at night,” said Fung. The result is a comfortable yet elevated home that's bound to grow with the family into the future.
Although the clients love an elegant design, they still wanted a feeling of home sweet home.