Within Larvotto’s collection of high-rise towers in Ap Lei Chau is a 1,862-square-foot flat defined by its fluid spaces, courageous use of colour, and alluring harbour views.
The brief for its designer, Artwill Interior Design House creative director Regina Kwok, was simple: The owners wanted an airy, colourful flat with an open plan so their dogs could run around as if they were outdoors. “They also love to vacation, so they wanted to incorporate some of their memories of their travels into the home,” Regina says.
The designer culled inspiration for the home’s radiant colour palette from Seville, the energetic, sun-kissed capital of Spain’s Andalusian region. More than its reputation for flamenco dancing, Seville is famous for its charming mix of Moorish and Gothic architectural styles.
“I incorporated bright, sunny colours as accents throughout the home to transport us from Southern Hong Kong island to Southern Spain,” Regina says, explaining that she drew inspiration from her clients’ love for travel, as well as the flat’s stunning view of the harbour. “From the use of tiles and accent walls to the open layout, I designed a vacation home for my clients as their sanctuary in the city.”
The entire home has been arranged with other family members in mind, in particular the couple’s pets. “They a deep love for their two small dogs,” Regina elaborates. The quandary, as in many of the compact, highly placed residences so prolific in Hong Kong, was in magnifying the spaces. One solution was the open layout that gives the dogs sufficient space for rest and play; Regina also created a continuous loop for the dogs to run through by building an accessible path from the breakfast nook and the bedroom to the large outdoor patio. “Even the furniture was chosen in consideration of the dogs,” says Regina. The bed in the master suite, for example, is built at a low height, allowing the couple’s pets to jump onto the bed quite easily.
Interestingly, Regina notes, the most “decorated” space in the apartment is the master bathroom — it is also where Seville’s design details are most apparent (if you watch Game of Thrones, you may find parallel aesthetic influences between its Dorne setting, shot in Seville, and the colours and tiles in this space). “Behind the sink, a beautiful tiled backsplash sits across from an accent wall with similar tiling, which you can glimpse from the mirror’s reflection,” the designer says. “The geometric layout of the mirror and partition wall layers a more contemporary pattern, combining the traditional with the modern.”
Photography courtesy of Artwill Interior Design House
See also: How Natural Light Makes This Breezy Beachside House Feel Even Bigger
