This travel-inspired 600 sq. ft. Hong Kong apartment is transformed into an exotic oasis

Iman El Zeky Studio has transformed a 600-square-foot apartment in Hong Kong into a dreamy, exotic oasis for a young couple who love travelling, drawing inspiration from sandy destinations like Hawaii beaches and the Arizonian desert.

A young expat couple's first home, this 600-square-foot apartment overlooking Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour was inspired by their favorite sandy travel destinations such as Hawaii beaches and the Arizonian desert. Iman El Zeky Studio transformed this Hong Kong high-rise apartment unit into an exotic oasis for its travel-loving owners with sand, ochre, gentle blues, warm terracotta and wood, as well as art from around the world.

To maximize functionality in this compact apartment with only 400 square feet of indoor space and a 200 square foot patio, every square foot needed to be well thought out. The 65-square-foot living room was visually expanded and brightened with full-height windows that draw in sunlight during the day and give the space the atmosphere of a Mediterranean solarium. In collaboration with a local decorative painter, the Studio designed a custom sand-textured paint for the walls.

A small window that wasn't needed was hidden by a painting of Joshua Tree created specifically for this home by French artist Ingrid Winkler. By utilizing this painting, the ceiling is visually expanded, giving the room a more spacious look. The furnishings are bespoke from the Studio. A sofa upholstered in brushed ochre linen, a travertine and walnut coffee table, handmade cushion covers by UK textile artist AE& Studio, and vintage décor hung on the walls add rustic textures to this relaxing gathering space.

A marble and tile island serves as a bar for entertaining guests in the open plan kitchen, while also separating the living and dining areas. With hidden drawers, a bespoke banquette with burnt orange velvet upholstery was constructed in the dining area. An oversized, floating paper lamp is hung above this banquette, along with a framed picture of the husband's favourite car – a vintage Mustang. This communal space was repainted in a soft olive green that evokes the freshness of nature.

Designed to feel like a cabin in the clouds, this bedroom has dramatic curtains and a bed with hidden storage, giving it plenty of space. To make the most of tight corners and awkward angles, a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe was built into the recessed walls. This intimate part of the house is filled with Moroccan lighting, Spanish textiles and French bed linen evoking the enchantment of faraway lands. Kuba cloths from the Congo serve as wall hangings.

“Our inspiration came from our clients’ favourite sandy travel destinations. The apartment is composed of rooms that each have a distinctive atmosphere that evokes the experiences of these destinations. The sand of the beaches and deserts around the world that the owners love guided the concept. We used textures and colours to create a feeling of a space surrounded by sand dunes or clouds. By designing tailor-made furniture, we could free up enough space within the compact property to display carefully curated objects from around the world,” says the interior designer El Zeky.