Designer Peggy Bels transformed this small, uninspiring flat in Sai Ying Pun into a home steeped in contemporary style.設計師Peggy Bels巧花心思，
Designer Peggy Bels transformed this small, uninspiring flat in Sai Ying Pun into a home steeped in contemporary style.
When Peggy Bels was commissioned to design this Sai Ying Pun flat in Ying Wa Court in 2017, it wasn't her first encounter with the building. She was here just a few years prior to work on a swish, three-storey penthouse complete with a rooftop. The only aspect this project had in common with the previous one, however, was its location.
While the client was attracted to the property for its lively surrounding neighbourhood, the space itself was a poky 550 square feet with an awkward layout. Hardly an ideal home—at least, not at first glance—but Bels is no stranger to transforming challenging spaces into stylish, comfortable boltholes. “I found it interesting to work on this single unit, making it as bright and spacious as possible,” she said.
The end result that Bels and her client envisioned was a contemporary, minimalist home infused with plenty of warmth. The flat originally comprised of two bedrooms, a bathroom smack in the centre, and a kitchen crammed into a narrow corridor. To optimise the space and allow natural light to flow better, they conceived of a one-bedroom layout with an open kitchen, dining and living area. To do this, Bels knocked down all the walls and completely re-did the layout.
The two bedrooms and bathroom were replaced with a master bedroom and ensuite bathroom, while a kitchen island was introduced into the dining and living area. The corridor was converted into a helper's room and guest bathroom. Instead of a wall, a glass partition separates the bedroom from the living area, granting an even airier appearance to the flat. “The unit has a great view, and opening the bedroom to the living room made it feel much more spacious and special,” said Bels.
Bels could hardly change the view in certain rooms, which featured nearby buildings, but she jazzed up the kitchen window with a window box and a tall plant, while blinds and a mirror were added to the master bathroom's window. Placing the bathroom sink in the window sill was also an efficient use of space. In the bedroom, the client wanted a bed on the larger side as well as plenty of storage. To perfectly fit the furnishings to the room, Bels designed the bed and wardrobe herself. She also built small shelves onto each side of the bed in place of night stands. When it came to colours, Bels eschewed your typical stark white in favour of a monochromatic mix of blacks and greys. “We put all the finishes I like in this flat: black finish on doors and cabinets, marble countertops, cement finishes on the walls and grey oak flooring,” said Bels, recalling that the client shared similar tastes, making her particularly easy to work with. “We wanted to make the flat elegant and warm,” continued Bels. “[We did that through] different shades of grey mixed with different wooden finishes, a wooden floor and soft fabrics.” The cement finish, when mixed with water, made for a milky and cosy colour too.
Additional colour permeates the home in the form of a navy blue sofa and bench in the living room, brass details in the cabinetry and lighting pieces, colourful cushions, and artworks that the client purchased herself. A bright painting by Spanish artist Alberto Sanchez takes pride of place above the bed. “I like to use black or dark cladding for doors and cabinets,” she added, hence the matching black matte lacquer on the glass partition and all the window frames. “These dark backgrounds allow light colours to pop, creating more contrast and depth.”
The end result that Bels and her client envisioned was a contemporary, minimalist home infused with plenty of warmth.