A 2,800 sq ft flat in Hong Kong where a family of three have room to be themselves

It was up to interior design studio hoo founder YC Chen and senior designer Yannes Cheng to make the three-bedroom flat work.

Richard Charles is a business owner whose investment interests are in South America, so he operates across time zones. When he is not overseas, his study becomes his office. Daughter Gemma is an illustrator who also works from home in her own designated creative space. And wife Lyla runs the household. Important to her was a women-only en suite bathroom shared with her daughter, with a door in from both of their bedrooms.

Trusting the design details to the hoo team – who had been recommended by an associate of Richard – the trio got on with their lives while the 10-month renovation of the 40-year-old flat took place. The project was completed in mid-2024.

Capitalising on the light-filled interior and vistas, Chen and Cheng settled on a look emphasising modern sophistication and timeless elegance. A palette of warm neutrals anchors the scheme, enriched by layered textures in timber veneer and stone.