Meow Meow

Daphne, who shares her home in Kowloon, Hong Kong, with her husband, faced a common challenge for urban dwellers: an apartment that hadn’t seen an update since its original owner moved in back in 1990, leaving it “aged and worn”. This particular unit, located in an iconic industrial area that has since transitioned into a bustling business district, also presented a distinct design hurdle with its irregular, diamond-shaped layout – a common feature in many large-scale private housing estates in Hong Kong. Her vision was clear: to create a cozy, bright, and neutral sanctuary that maximized storage, softened by the thoughtful integration of arches and curves.

Strategic Space Remodeling: The Foundation of Function

To truly unlock the potential of the apartment, Daphne initiated bold structural changes. She strategically demolished bedroom walls, a move that not only opened up the living area but also allowed for an expansion of the bathroom. A key to efficiency in compact spaces, all traditional doors were replaced with space-saving sliding doors, eliminating the need for swing clearance.

Upon entry, a cleverly designed small foyer establishes a distinct zone. A raised platform and shoe cabinet subtly separate the entrance from the main living area, drawing inspiration from the Japanese custom of preventing dirt from entering the home. Behind the main door, a full-height pegboard provides an organizational hub for everyday essentials like mops and grocery trolleys, keeping them neatly tucked away yet accessible.

The living area itself is a testament to custom design. The angled, custom-made sofa is specifically engineered for deep seating, allowing it to comfortably double as an “afternoon bed”. Integrated drawers beneath the sofa provide vital additional storage, contributing to a sense of spaciousness and comfort. Even an existing beam above the sofa was ingeniously incorporated, transformed into a decorative niche for personal touches. The thoughtful placement of a full-body mirror near the door offers a practical final check before heading out, while ample natural sunlight and strategically placed greenery enhance the room’s tranquility. The TV cabinet, lifted off the floor, aligns with the sofa’s height and contributes to a visually cleaner aesthetic.

Optimizing Every Corner: Kitchen, Dining, and Bedrooms

In the dining area, a step down from the living space, Daphne prioritized maximizing seating. A circular dining table was a non-negotiable, aligning with Feng Shui principles that symbolize family unity. Booth seating wraps around the corner, employing the same materials as the living room sofa for a cohesive look. For additional guests, two foldable rattan chairs are on hand, while a rattan sideboard with both closed and open storage serves as a stylish and functional snack station. A discreet, full-height white cabinet beside the seating seamlessly integrates into the wall, offering additional low-profile storage.

The kitchen, despite its challenging pentagon shape, retained its original sink and stove layout, a pragmatic decision to work with existing constraints. However, it was rebuilt with full-height cabinets to maximize every inch of storage, including a narrow vertical drawer specifically designed for lengthy cleaning tools like brooms and mops. To compensate for limited counter space, full-length bars above the counter keep drying racks elevated, preserving valuable working surfaces.

Fluid transitions are achieved through architectural elements. An arch elegantly connects the living space to the bathroom and bedrooms, allowing for discreet air conditioning placement above it. The bedroom entries are concealed by fluted panel sliding doors, designed to minimize the visibility of door gaps while serving as a unique design feature.

The main bedroom is dedicated solely to accommodating a king-size bed, with a custom-built elevated frame providing generous under-bed storage for infrequently used items. The three-panel fluted sliding door doubles as a full-height storage closet and a dedicated “dress-up and daily care station,” showcasing remarkable multi-functionality.

The bathroom reflects a Japanese-inspired design, separating dry and wet areas for enhanced functionality. The sink’s size and shape were specifically chosen to allow for a washing machine to fit beneath it. A frosted glass sliding door provides privacy for the toilet room, and the storage closet door can also be strategically used to cover the wet room’s glass door when needed. For durability and hygiene, the flooring and the ledge around the bathtub are crafted from Japanese Aomori Hiba wood, known for its strong anti-molding and antibacterial properties.

The second bedroom, currently a dressing room, exemplifies adaptable design. All furniture within this space is non-fixed, allowing for future transformation. An adjustable hanging system and storage boxes, cleverly concealed behind a curtain, create a flexible walk-in closet. To maximize the bay window area, a custom desk was designed with two shorter feet resting on the window ledge, making it light and easily movable. Further enhancing efficiency, a foldable ironing board is mounted on the wall, and a hidden full-height cabinet with stackable shoe boxes keeps footwear organized and out of sight.

The Power of Patience and a Vision Board

Beyond the physical transformations, Daphne’s project offers invaluable lessons in process. Her commitment to furnishing the apartment almost entirely with secondhand pieces meant the search for every desired item spanned an incredible 60 months – five years!. “The key is to have patience,” she advises, highlighting the dedication required for such a sustainable approach.

To maintain a consistent style and organized inspiration throughout this extensive sourcing period, Daphne relied heavily on a mood board created with MillerNote. She praises the platform’s user-friendly interface, abundant templates, and particularly its Web Clipper feature, which allowed her to save new ideas with a single click and ensure her vision remained cohesive.

Daphne Ho’s apartment serves as a powerful reminder that innovative design isn’t about unlimited resources, but about ingenuity, thoughtful planning, and an open mind. Her philosophy extends to recognizing the importance of “blind space” as balance, ensuring that even in compact living, there’s room for visual calm and clarity.