In the lively heart of Hong Kong's Mid Levels neighbourhood, a spacious 2,328 square-foot apartment stands as a captivating expression of the inherent duality of the Gemini zodiac sign. Designed by the renowned JJ Acuña / Bespoke Studio, this home was commissioned by a newlywed couple, both of whom are Geminis.
The Gemini sign is represented by the celestial twins, and individuals born under this sign are often described as possessing a personality with two distinct facets - one that is intellectual and reserved, and another that is outgoing and talkative. This intriguing duality is embodied throughout the residence's interiors.
In space-starved Hong Kong, the conventional approach to residential design is often to maximise the number of bedrooms, as the belief is that more bedrooms equal a more valuable home. However, these homeowners dared to depart from the norm, instructing Acuña to reconfigure the original five-bedroom layout into a plan featuring just two bedrooms, with the addition of a dedicated office space.
"The couple's original idea was to have a versatile guest bedroom that could eventually convert into a nursery when they decided to start a family," Acuña explains. But life had other plans, and the wife found herself expecting during the renovation process, swiftly altering the spare room's intended fate as a guest bedroom and transforming it into a nursery instead.
The trade-off for fewer bedrooms proved to be a blessing. It allowed the design team to incorporate a wealth of luxurious touches elsewhere, such as the show-stopping bespoke wet bar in the living room. This stunning feature boasts a copper sink sourced from Morocco and a beautifully stained vintage mirror, complemented by a matching bar table that evokes the sophisticated charm of a bygone era.
According to Acuña, residential bars have seen a surge in popularity, especially since the pandemic, as more people have grown accustomed to entertaining and hosting guests at home rather than going out. Having a dedicated bar setup within one's own residence makes it significantly more enjoyable to bring people over and host gatherings.
The clients wanted a refined, minimalist aesthetic with a muted colour palette of black and white, minimal additional colours, to allow for the integration of various feng shui elements according to the year and season. This was a stark contrast to the design studio's signature vibrant and patterned aesthetic.
To bring the design to life while still honouring the clients' preferences, the creative team drew inspiration from the captivating black and white photography of early 20th century Manhattan. This served as the conceptual foundation, enabling them to realise the clients' desired restrained, monochromatic style. Integrating the studio's trademark approach of enhancing architectural features through the thoughtful application of colour and material, Acuña's team cleverly introduced splashes of blue and gold to avoid a monotonous palette. Meanwhile, the nursery was designed with a calming green hue for the little one.
Feng shui principles were very important to the newlyweds, so the designer was faced with the challenge of striking a balance between stylistic considerations and spiritual equilibrium. “The Feng shui demands were so crazy, my lighting consultant wanted to raise her fee. It was insane,” Acuña recalled with a chuckle.
One of the most memorable hurdles was the feng shui master's request for nine sources of light, which left Acuña utterly perplexed. But fate intervened in the nick of time, as a serendipitous email suddenly landed in his inbox, offering a solution to this problem. Natural Evolution, a stylish furniture store situated near the Tate Dining Room in Sheung Wan – a space he had previously had the pleasure of designing – announced that they were now stocking a stunning 9-ball chandelier, a timely and elegant solution to his dilemma.
This Gemini-inspired home is a harmonious fusion of creative elements, where contrasting textures, colours, and styles seamlessly coalesce to cultivate a space that is both stylishly captivating and warmly inviting. The deft blending of disparate yet complementary motifs gives rise to an environment that is at once visually striking and impeccably functional.
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