Inside a Five-Star Home in Repulse Bay Informed by Mandarin Oriental
A family of four brings their fond memories of the Mandarin Oriental to their new home in Repulse Bay.
Many globetrotters look for homes that differ from the standard hotel aesthetics they are used to when travelling. However, this well-travelled, art-loving family of four had a different view.
“The couple was looking for a style reminiscent of the Mandarin Oriental,” says YC Chen, founder of hoo. “Their many stays at the hotel around the globe left them desiring a similar sense of luxury in their own home.”
The result is a serene, well-appointed home, in what Chen calls a contemporary Chinese style, courtesy of a judicious selection of Asian-inspired furniture, and a line of artisanal hand-painted wallpaper.
Spanning four levels, the residence is designed with different purposes per floor. It includes the basement, where the dining area claims prominence; the ground floor, home to the entrance, foyer, and living room; the upper floor, reserved for the master suite and two children’s rooms; and the rooftop, outfitted with an exercise area and storage space.
Upon entry, you’re greeted by a wooden panel that takes its cues from the moon gate, a common transitional feature in Chinese gardens.
“This design element allows visitors a glimpse into the living room, while enhancing the overall sense of openness in the space,” says the designer.
The ceramic stool by Artemest, and console table by Porada, punches up the Chinese influence even further. The oriental influence continues into the living area, where a pair of antique walnut Chinese chairs takes pride of place.
“These twin chairs were the starting point of the living room’s aesthetics, we then designed the room around them,” Chen says.
The chairs echo beautifully with a landscape painting from the couple’s own collection, which mingles with a decorative ceiling lamp by Catellani & Smith, a rounded coffee table from Poliform, and a floor lamp by Artek.
On the opposite wall, behind a Giorgetti three-seater, a full-length wall panel of wooden strips, custom-crafted by hoo, overlays landscape-themed wallpaper by Tat Ming, setting a refined and sophisticated tone for the living quarters.
“Few clients are open to the idea of having significant amounts of wallpaper in their homes. However, it could be instrumental in setting the mood of a room, especially when it’s customised to fit a specific space,” Chen says.
A case in point being the bespoke feature wall by Tat Ming in the dining lounge on the basement floor.
“The botanical patterns on the wallpaper are tailored to the contour of the wall, bringing the entire dining room to life,” Chen explains.
Taking centre stage here is a dining table by B&B Italia, flanked by chairs from Carl Hansen & Søn. Suspended from above, ceiling lamps by Apparatus reinforce the spatial perception that adds to the room’s expansive feel.
The meticulous play of wallpaper is also front and centre in the master bedroom. Here, a soothing wallpaper featuring Chinese landscape-inspired prints echoes harmoniously with a bespoke rattan cabinet, together setting a tranquil backdrop for a restful sleep. The bed is by André Fu Living, available at Lane Crawford, flanked by bedside tables from Molteni&C, and lamps from Bert Frank.
The floors are connected by a stairway featuring suspending pendants from Giopato & Coombes. This is accompanied by oversized ink wall art – custom-crafted by hoo – that channels the tranquillity of a full moon, adding an extra layer of serenity to the home.
“This is so far my favourite project,” Chen concludes. “Our client granted us the creative freedom to realise our vision to meld oriental and contemporary design elements, something we’ve long been eager to achieve.”