Garden Party
A short ferry ride away from Central is this hidden English-style cottage, commanding a grassy patch overlooking the South China Sea
A short ferry ride away from Central is this hidden English-style cottage, commanding a grassy patch overlooking the South China Sea
Enjoying the best of both worlds can be summed up as having a pied-à-terre in town and a charming cottage in the countryside. While it may be a dream for most, it’s a reality for Mary Mcbain and her family, who are fortunate enough to split their time between their sophisticated home base in the city and a weekend house on Lantau that’s simply a hop, skip and a ferry ride away. Their breezy island getaway is given a refreshing dose of lime and forest green hues, highlighting the sun-drenched scenery surrounding the home and reflecting a different side of the family. “The city house is in richer, deeper colours,” says Mary. “This is more about sunshine, the beach and sitting outside.”
Their breez y island getaway is given a refreshing dose of lime and forest green hues, highlighting the sun-drenched scenery
The contrasting interiors of their two homes are mirrored in the duplicity of Mary’s work life too. In addition to being a highflying financial executive, she’s also a business partner in home goods retailer, Inside, supporting the operations arm alongside founder Catherine Trotman. That role, which she began last spring, has reinvigorated Mary’s creative spirit and sparked her passion for interior decoration. It was by sheer luck that Mary and her boyfriend, Rob, discovered the house in Lantau that would become a spacious home to accommodate their four children. With the help of a contractor, the pair spent a year
The couple also adapted features common to coveted Cotswolds cottages but seldom seen in Hong Kong
overseeing the transformation of the Chinese village house into a cross-cultural gem that combines Chinese decorative elements with colonial accents, exemplified by the painted wooden window shutters. The couple also adapted features common to coveted Cotswolds cottages but seldom seen in Hong Kong, such as the wood-burning fireplace in the living room, an outdoor log shed, imported lighting fittings and the wooden staircase winding its way up the home’s four floors. Practicality was also principal to the design. Rob researched insulated tiling for the roof so that the master bedroom could block out the midday heat and insisted on doublepane windows to keep the home cool during the hot summer months. With a steady flow of visitors, the second floor was reconfigured to include three spacious bedrooms and a shared bathroom. The ample master bedroom and en suite bathroom occupies the entire third floor, and
“It’s completely changed being in Hong Kong, and even if we were to eventually move, I would never sell this house”
features a balcony overlooking the lush garden below. But the most showstopping views are seen from the rooftop, which has been redesigned to include a fireplace and cushy built-in seating. Below, the expansive garden is dotted with diverse tropical fruit trees that would rival any supermarket, with bananas, pineapples and mangoes growing yearround, and lychees, longans, limes and lemons growing further afield. It’s no surprise that Mary and Rob’s friends are eager to spend the weekends there – the Lantau home is an ideal base to get up close and personal with nature. “We love it,” says Mary. “It’s completely changed being in Hong Kong and even if we were to eventually move, I would never sell this house. We would always come back here.”