Name: Cristina
Location: Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Size: 450 square feet, 1 bedroom rental
Years Lived In: 2 years
Cristina is an adventurous soul. She's traveled to countries across the globe and lived in more than a few of them. For the last couple of years, she's 'settled down' in Hong Kong, in an industrial district transitioning into a very hip neighborhood.
Cristina, an architect, was lucky enough to find a sublet that had been totally pimped out by its owner, also an architect. Such attention to detail transforms what could be a very claustrophobic apartment over an auto repair shop into a cozy home with romantic views from every window!
Corky, a contemporary artist and Christina's long-distance fiance, is based in Los Angeles but comes to stay with Cristina for long periods of time. He is also responsible for a lot of the great art that personalizes this already uniquely personal space.
It's very common to see utilities exposed on the outside of residential buildings as well as inside apartments. Here, the electrical piping is embraced and made an integral part of the design of the space. The walls are stuccoed. The doors are formed from raw ironwork and the countertops are granite. The purity and simplicity of the materials help to unify the space. It feels very cohesive and incredibly cozy. For sure, an excellent home away from home — wherever that may be!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Style: Modern.
Inspiration: I'm a daylight addict. I get a good amount of light through the day, and it brings the apartment to life with the different patterns it creates.
Favorite Element: The unsealed ironwork — because of the humidity it weathers and looks very cool. I also love the feel of the unfinished hard wood floors.
Biggest Challenge: Small closet and I have too many clothes.
What Friends Say: Sooo cute and modern and cute, I love it!
Biggest Embarrassment: The laundry basket near the kitchen — it's close to the washer but unsightly in the kitchen.
Proudest DIY: Decorating to make it homey and modern. The art that I chose was symbolic. It makes me happy. Corky's art especially — he is an amazing painter and you can stare at the pieces forever.
Biggest Indulgence: My bed is absolutely delicious!
Best Advice: Buy yourself a dehumidifier.
Dream Source/Resources: We love postmodern furniture or Danish furniture. LA has some great flea markets and bazaars like the Rose bowl or some boutique stores along La Brea. My favorite kitchen supply store in Hong Kong is Pantry Kitchen, or Surfas in LA.
Resources:
BEDROOM
- • Sheets with high thread count and yummy duvet (no idea about brand) Ikea
• Barometer side lamps, Arper
• Catifa 80 red lounge chair
LIVING ROOM
- • Leather Coach Arper
• Catifa 80 Red Lounge Chair
• Black Mies bench
• Ikea, Barometer floor lamp
• Bose MP3 Player Speaker (most important), LCD Flat Screen
• Wrought iron case work — unsealed
• Artemide Tolomeo Lamp
BATHROOM
- • Black flamed finish granite top
• Axon Fixtures
Thanks Cristina!
(Images: Jill Slater)
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This makes great use of a small space. I especially love the smart upholstered furniture, and that great artwork in the bedroom! It looks like giant insect wings! Who is the artist?
Three words... Fab. U. Lous.
Never would have guessed this was a woman's home if I hadn't been told. Looks like a stylish bachelor pad, definitely enters the realm of "man cave." I hope it's not really as dark in there as it looks from the pictures.
I love this. There's a noirish mood here that strikes me as sort of Blade-Runnerish, but not to the dark, depressing, noirish extremes in that movie. Just some of the details, esp. the grating across the windows, the blinds, the concrete, the leather couch. Being in Hong Kong probably adds to that, too!
When I move to HK, this is the type of apartment (and location) I'd love to find! The windows!!
That leather chair is AMAZING. Can't find it on the arper website, but I LOVE it!
450 square feet of absolute STYLE! I must have that brown leather chair.
I see a lot of IKEA but it still looks unique and interesting, nice job.
Im not sure that Sheung Wan is ''Industrial" lol.
I like the dark palette. I think it looks very chic, like the owner.
Too much clutter. Some nice elements.
I don't understand the point of some of the pictures.
love seeing an apartment where all the stuff of daily living is left out!
Did we really need 6 or so pictures of a bed? It just emphasized that a queen or king size bed monopolized the room - great for a young couple - but hard for a bigger man to walk around. Corky's art work does brighten the space above the TV and the concrete or gray walls. The main living/kitchen/work area is perfect. Modern AND untypical. Brava Diva!
"love seeing an apartment where all the stuff of daily living is left out!
Clearly you didn't look at the pictures of the bathroom. Time for a product cull, I think...
Other than that, I love the vintage/industrial vibe. The grilles on the windows are wonderful, as are the lights and the glass doors. Cristina's style suits this apartment perfectly, resulting in a VERY cool space.
The walls are stone clad? marble/ granite?
I love this place except for the art over the tv just does not fit.
If you keep them on that wall I would hang them vertically. Yes you can, just enjoy for the color, believe me, try it and see.
Bedroom feels like a prison cell but love the glass doors.
Bathroom is way too cluttered but love the lay out.
Too dark for me.
Love the orange seat/sofa. (?)
Great backsplash in the kitchen
Beautiful smile.
Loved the sofa. What model is it? I tried searching for arper, but come up with nothing.
"a sublet that had been totally pimped out by its owner " ~ what does this mean?
Above a car repair shop? What about fumes?
the leather sofa is from G.O.D. in Hong kong...
I am currently living in Hong Kong with my husband. I love Sheung Wan. It is my "go to neighborhood" when I want to escape Central.
Your apartment looks terrific. We left our country home in the US, and are learning to make do in our 650 sq. ft. contemporary. Still decorating!
Super classy!! I've lived HK for the last 5 years and I'm always on the hunt to find these special gems in this city. It' so hard to find unique homes/spaces here. This place deserves to be showcased!! Recently, I've been finding awesome places on Airbnb.com. Check them out when you get a chance.
Beautiful use of space and choice of art! Cristina has impeccable taste.
The "Wings" at the bedroom are from artist Maria Garcia-Ibanez and are available at www.puerta-roja.com.
I have no idea what the space looks like as a whole based on the pictures posted.