AWA - Home & Garden Tour 2012 - Magazine Insert

HOME & GArDEN {

∂

A special publication of the AWA 2012 annual charity Home & Garden Tour

{ 1

courtesy of Sue Bond

Contents Treasure Chest

“I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls….”

A field trip to Ap Lei Chau for home furnishing and more

We are thrilled to bring back one of the American Women’s Association’s most popular events, the Home and Garden Tour. Hearty thanks to Kirstin Punu, Candice Lee co-chairs, the event committee and everyone who opened their residences to us --I am certain we are all in for a rare treat!

Learn from a Pro

p.10

Young Designers

p.11

Ancient Chinese Furniture

p.12

Lighten Up

p.19

Make Your Home Green

p.20

Why you should hire a professional interior designer

Today we celebrate décor in many incarnations – inventive, classic, daring or bold -- each place on our tour is certain to impress.

And remembering that the funds raised today help to benefit the needy in our own Hong Kong community is truly the “icing on the cake” or should I say the Duponi silk on the chaise lounge?

In friendship, Susan

p.8

Let your children create their dream bedrooms

What to buy, and where to buy it

Designer tips for brightening up your home

How to enjoy some nature in the urban jungle

designed by Loraine Wong | project A printed by The Green Pagoda Press Ltd. www.greenpagoda.com For enquiry, please call +852 25611924 or email gpinfo@gpp.com.hk 1

Pacific place apartments

The World of Serviced Apartments Upon arriving in a new city the decision as to where to live is always a complex one. Do you choose a location close to your office, the airport, or the children’s schools? Close to shops, parks, public transportation? How long will you be on your assignment? These questions and many others are all valid points to consider when looking for a place to live.

Pacific Place Apartments offers what the expatriates need when choosing a comfortable home to live in at the heart of Hong Kong. Two design options are available in Contemporary or Oriental themes. Sizes range from 1,220 sq. ft. one-bedroom suites to 2,650 sq. ft. three-bedroom suites, with spacious rooms and gourmet kitchens featuring fully-equipped appliances that cater to every need. Adding to the quality lifestyle would be the Conrad health and leisure facilities including 24-hour fitness center and outdoor swimming pool as well as a 24-hour dedicated concierge service. Rental periods can be from one month and up.

Pacific Place Apartments is located in Admiralty; the hub of downtown Hong Kong, with direct links to the MTR and the Airport Express rail link. It is next to a luxury shopping mall, and nearby to Central Government offices. Adjacent to the apartments are eight hectares of nature right in the heart of Central. The Starstreet Precinct is located a block away where cozy cafes, chic eateries, art galleries and stylish bars are to be found.

4

We spoke to AWA members who have stayed in the Pacific Place Apartments and they have all raved about the facilities, location, and staff at Pacific Place Apartments.

Another AWA member Marina Malison added:

Jane Buck noted: “I lived at Pacific Place Apartments for 4 years. Our three bedroom flat had a wonderful view of the harbor. PPA is situated in the most convenient location in Hong Kong… The most incredible – fabulous thing about PPA is that they absolutely set the standard for service!”

“We chose Pacific Place Apartments because of its central location plus proximity to our children’s school. Our teenage children like being in the city, and the staff at Pacific Place make it “My Home.”

If you are considering a serviced apartment, please make an appointment with the staff at Pacific Place Apartments to preview the apartment and discover the ultimate in luxury and comfort.

5

Editor’s Letter It all started with a game of golf. It is the love of the sport that got the two co-chairs of the AWA 2012 Annual Charity Home & Garden Tour talking. It turns out golf was not the only thing these two had in common, but backgrounds in landscape architecture and urban planning as well as investment banking meant the conversation eventually came around to art, architecture, design and fundraising!

The tour, limited to 200 participants, was the impetus and inspiration for this publication. We wanted to share our excitement and knowledge gained in organizing the event with all of our members and their families. It is unlike any other magazine that features Hong Kong’s numerous interior design resources, in that ALL NET PROCEEDS from advertisement sales go toward helping Hong Kong’s underprivileged and needy. Please learn more about AWA’s Charitable Donations and Education Grants at our website: https://www.awa.org.hk/achieve_charitable.php Kirstin Punu, co-chair AWA 2012 Annual Charity Home & Garden Tour, is in her sixth year in Hong Kong and has volunteered on AWA fundraising committees for the past four years. She has a degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University, N.Y. and earned a Master in Urban Planning degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Prior to Hong Kong, she spent six years in Tokyo, Japan. Despite having a deep love and appreciation for an organic landscape, Kirstin was the biggest proponent of keeping the tour on Hong Kong Island, where, unfortunately, gardens are not commonplace. (However, look for a lovely article on “Making Our Lives More Green” on page 20.)

Candice Lee, co-chair, has her roots in Korea but after living in Amsterdam for years she found her third home in Hong Kong. She retired from a career in International Private Banking in 2010 and went on to found an organization that focuses on “Art, Culture, Education and Philanthropy for the Next Generation of Hong Kong.” The organization organizes events, workshops and competitions for university and college students. In addition, Candice advises companies on art collection and installation and writes an art column.

It has been our tremendous pleasure to work with an extremely talented and motivated group of ladies on this special publication of the AWA 2012 annual charity Home & Garden Tour. A special thank you goes out to our editorial contributors, without whom this publication would not have been possible.

Barrie Jansen has been an AWA member since 2010. She studied writing at Columbia University, interior design and earned a Masters in Architecture from University at Buffalo, N.Y. Barrie is currently a stay-at-home mom, but she has stayed involved in design through commissions for home renovations and interior design. She loves to travel and collect interesting objects from around Asia. The Home and Garden tour combines her favorite things - appreciating and writing about great design!

Hildy Karev is truly a citizen of the world, calling both Hong Kong and Israel “home”. She writes on this dichotomy in her many published articles in local newspapers and magazines including AWAre Magazine, and Ezra Magazine in Israel. She also publishes a blog: www.travellingagain.com. She has three adult children, all living in Israel, and a husband who is an avid cyclist like herself.

Many other individuals also contributed to the organization of the tour. Sarah White is no stranger to Hong Kong, making her the perfect candidate to head up our transportation efforts. She is a Hong Kong native but has lived in China and the U.S., returning to HK in 2008 along with her husband Patrick, CEO Asia of Santa Fe Relocation Services. Annie Fifer assisted with home selection. Michelle Hoover and Izumi Ikeda dove right into ad sales. Charlotte O’Malley recruited and provided coordination for our bus volunteers. Last, but certainly not least, Loraine Wong, provided the creative direction.

Happy Decorating!

Candice Lee Kirstin Punu

Co-Chairpersons, AWA 2012 Annual Charity Home & Garden Tour 6

Porcelain Table Lampat Oriental Home

Fauteuil Direction aluminium

Antique Candy Box Oriental Home

Antique Hat Box Antique Budda (wooden)

Oriental Home

Oriental Home

Antique Tibetan Chest, Tibet

Wedding Cabinet

Oriental Home

Oriental Home

7

Treasure Chest Tired of a certain Scandinavian furniture store?

Ready for a special piece of furniture - a souvenir of your life in Asia?

It might be time for Horizon Plaza on Ap Lei Chau.

Horizon Plaza is a twenty-eight floor warehouse building on Ap Lei Chau Island near Aberdeen. It contains home furnishings, accessories, outdoor furniture and grills, pet supplies, people food, clothing, baby supplies, carpets, beds and bedding, lighting, and even a Toy’s Club toy store. It is easy to reach by taxi and has parking available. And, most of the stores offer delivery, sometimes even same-day.

Start your tour on the top floor at Tree, an eco-friendly home furnishings store whose style tends towards rustic contemporary.

Working your way down, visit Oriental Home on the 20th floor for their huge selection of Chinese antique and new furniture in a range of styles, from traditional Chinese wedding chests to painted Tibetan side tables. Ask for Mary Lau or Elaine Chau, both of whom will provide great information about the history and styles of Chinese furniture.

Beware the tempting clothing stores on 19, which could seriously derail your home shopping expedition.

b

Head down to The Birdcage on 16 for beautifully restored Chinese antiques that can fit easily into a contemporary home.

Stop and chat with

b

g

a

g

8

g

owner Clarence Chan, who has dealt in antique furniture for almost twenty years, and learn about the different pieces and their original uses. Clarence is so popular that his pieces often sell months before they even reach his showroom. A wealth of information regarding the authenticity of Chinese antiques, Clarence will happily share before and after pictures of his restored furniture. Clarence has a great eye, and The Birdcage offers stylish antiques that are becoming increasingly rare in the market today.

Shopping List Horizon Plaza 2 Lee Wing Street Ap Lei Chau a/ Artura Ficus b/ The Birdcage c/ Bumps to Babes d/ G.O.D. e/ Indigo Living and Kids f/ Monde Café g/ Oriental Home h/ OVO studio i/ Pacific Gourmet j/ Shambala Furniture Warehouse k/ Sift l/ Tequila Kola m/ Toys Club n/ Tree o/ Whiskers N Paws

Moving down the floors of Horizon Plaza, on 15 and 18 you will find the two large stores of Artura Ficus, which feature lighting, artwork reproductions, furnishings and custom furniture and upholstery. Horizon Plaza also contains Indigo, Ovo Studio, Shambala, Tequila Kola, and G.O.D. as well as numerous smaller outlets. If you take your hubby, consider leaving him at the cosy Monde Chocolatier, a café on the 10th floor with delicious coffee and tea. Or, the new pastry shop, Sift, on the 22nd floor. He can rest happily while you shop ‘till you drop.

While in Ap Lei Chau, be sure to visit Chapin House, the new business of AWA member Phillipa Haydon. As you exit Horizon Plaza, head further along Lee Wing Street until you reach the Oceanic Industrial Centre building at 2 Lee Lok Street. Located on the second floor, Chapin House has a huge inventory of reasonably priced furniture, lighting, and gorgeous blue and white porcelain featured at the AWA Bazaar.

15/F & 18/F 16/F 21/F 4/F 6/F and 18/F 10/F 20/F 26/F 12/F 2/F 22/F 1/F 19/F 28/F 10/F

Oceanic Industrial Centre 2 Lee Kok Street Ap Lei Chau p/ Chapin House

With Hong Kong’s tight living spaces, it is important that you really enjoy the pieces that you buy for your home. Why not give the shops in Ap Lei Chau a try?

An alter table at The Bird Cage BEFORE

2/F

An alter table at The Bird Cage AFTER 9

Learn from a Pro

Are you considering making some changes to your Hong Kong home?

Consider hiring an interior designer to help with your project.

From full home renovations to a single room “redesign,” the services of an interior designer can help you turn your apartment into a home.

Renovation “We finally bought our own place in Hong Kong. It has a great view, but the bathrooms and kitchen are a mess…”

Facing a major renovation? Hiring a designer is an essential piece of the construction process. From brainstorming, planning, sourcing products, scheduling and dealing with contractors, your interior designer can act as project manager. His experience, industry contacts, and eye for detail will help ensure that your project has the creativity, budget and quality you desire.

Design

“My real estate agent kept saying how much potential my apartment has, but I don’t know where to start to furnish it…”

Are you sitting in your apartment facing a blank white wall? A designer can turn an empty room into your dream room.

Beginning with a review of your current home and a thorough discussion, your designer will help identify a style and function for your space. Then she can finish the look by sourcing furniture, artwork and accessories from local stores or through a custom builder.

courtesy of Leigh Chiu

10

courtesy of Sue Bond

Redesign “My things have such sentimental value! I can’t bring in a designer who will want to start over…”

Does this sound like you? Many homeowners have never heard of “redesign,” but it is a great way to make your home more polished without the expense of new furnishings.

Redesigners work with the existing furnishings in your home, finding the best placement for your furniture and accessories. They often work by either the day or the room, and can create a cohesive, functional layout while showing off your best stuff. Best of all, the fee is often less than a single piece of new furniture.

The AWA has a number of members who are professionals in the design industry. And Hong Kong is full of interesting and inspiring design stores. Look for them in this magazine. It’s time to love your Hong Kong home!

Read all the reports telling you to encourage creativity in your children’s lives? Here’s your opportunity to practice what you preach by giving your child creative reign in their bedroom.

Bedding A child should get a good night’s rest, and what better to encourage them to stay in bed than to let them choose their own bedding? Bedorable (Stocked at Petit Bazaar – now in Stanley Market!) creates custom made bedding sets which include sheets in various sizes and blankets in an array of fabrics, designs and colors. The online shop Hip Little Bubba (www.hiplittlebubba.com) stocks gorgeous Australian-made 100% cotton ‘Red Plum’ sheet sets, all made to order in about 10 working days. Indigo Kids

by Indigo Living also features a variety of duvet covers, bed linens and even antiallergy and anti-bacterial mattresses!

Cutting a Rug

Art Displays Children love to admire their handiwork and here is a great way to foster their creativity. Ikea carries a nifty DEKA ‘curtain wire’ system which screws into any wall and includes clips to hang those lovely masterpieces in a clothes line fashion. You could also purchase some durable yet funky photo frames (we love the ones found at G.O.D.) and rotate out drawings as fast as your little one can create them.

One of our fellow AWA members recalls the joy her children displayed after seeing their custom-made American football field rug, “They literally leapt with joy, and then proceeded to tackle each other on the 50-yard-line!” For fabulous quality and hand-tufted custom rugs made from imported New Zealand wool, look no further than Kids by Red Cabinet, in the trendy Wong Chuk Hang district.

Shopping List Bedorable www.bedorable.com

Hip Little Bubba www.hiplittlebubba.com

Ikea www.ikea.com/hk

Petit Bazaar 9 Gough Street, Central tel. +852 2544 2255

Indigo Kids Suites 1817-20, 18/F Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau tel +852 2552 0545

G.O.D. www.god.com.hk

11

Kids by Red Cabinet 2/F One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang tel. +852 2868 0681

Ancient Chinese Furniture The development of antique Chinese furniture went from simple to intricate as their lifestyles changed throughout the dynasties. In early years, the Chinese used to sit on straw and bamboo mats on the floor. After the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.) and the introduction of Buddhism to the Chinese culture, platforms and beds were introduced. The platform was adopted as an honorific seat for special dignitaries, officials and guests. Longer versions were then used to recline and lie down which evolved into beds and daybeds. Taller versions were also designed and evolved into tables. By the next two dynasties (the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties) the use of varying types of furniture, including chairs, benches, and stools were common throughout Chinese society. From this point on, Chinese everyday living began to be conducted from chairs rather than sitting cross-legged on the floor. Straw mats came to be used as coverings for beds and couches.

It was during the Ming and Qing Dynasties when import bans on various construction products were lifted, and new varied types of woods were allowed to be imported. Woods employed include red sandalwood, pear wood, padauk, ebony, and nanmu. Of these, red sandalwood is the most highly valued material for use in furniture making; it is dense, hard, and resistant to decay. The use of denser woods led to finer work and more elaborate joinery of the furniture. The use of thick lacquer finish and detailed engravings and painting became more common. Significant foreign design influences began to appear on many of the pieces produced in the beginning of the 19th century due to increased trade and additional contact with the western world.

While some styles of Chinese furniture are quite simple, others feature intricate inlay and carving. In addition to shells and enamel chips, brilliant, colorful, and artistically grained jade, stones, ivory (and other animal teeth), were all used for inlaid designs. Inlaying of different colors and types of woods were also very popular as were various methods of carving, engraving, and usages of marble in their furniture.

Jointing, the connection of various parts of a piece of furniture without nails, was uniquely developed at the time. It was a signature skill used by highly talented craftsman to distinguish the more intricate pieces built at that time.

A reconstructed bed with a rattan seat Courtesy of Oriental Home

The most popular categories from this era are:

1.Beijing region

characterized by its simple lines, directly developed from Ming Dynasty furniture.

2.Guangzhou region

incorporated western influence, characterized by decorative usage of marble, shells and inlays.

3.Shanghai region

There are different ways to categorize antique Chinese furniture of various periods.

One way to categorize 19th century Chinese furniture is by regional style.

12

characterized by its decorative sculpture and sculptured paint.

4.Suzhou region

quite the opposite to the Beijing category, this furniture was characterized by its elaborate design and decoration, developed in the Qing Dynasty.

Close-up of wedding cabinet unity circle Courtesy of Oriental Home

Interested to learn more about antique Chinese furniture? Visit the Altfield Gallery on the second floor of Prince’s Building, Central. Gallery Manager Cindy Lee has twenty-seven years of experience in antique Chinese furniture and works of art. Having worked for antiques dealers in both the United States and Hong Kong, she will happily share her extensive knowledge with visitors to the Gallery. Even without Cindy’s help, a customer can easily learn about materials and provenance from the informative tags attached to each piece. During a recent visit, she gave an in-depth tour of the different specialties within the gallery.

The main focus of the Altfield Gallery is on Chinese furniture in the timeless style of the Ming Dynasty (14th to 17th century), known for its clean, simple lines and refined craftsmanship. In addition to the utter beauty and elegance of the Ming style, this furniture is versatile and can easily fit into a contemporary décor. Some of the design elements to look for in cabinets are the 90 degree angles of the “square corner,” a very old form which remains clean and contemporary, or the “round corner and splaying side posts ,” which features a slightly protruding top lip and subtle craftsmanship details . Alter tables and meditation stools, featuring S-curved or humpback structural braces, are now often used as console tables, side tables and coffee tables. Popular leg styles include the scroll and horse-hoof feet.

According to Cindy, another fashionable motif of the time, bamboo, was prevalent because the literati of the Ming dynasty would gather in bamboo groves – which symbolized resilience -- to discuss philosophy and literature. The well-to-do of the Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty (L.17th – 18th century) often commissioned solid wood furniture made to mimic bamboo, with the connotation of wisdom coupled with endurance.

Close up of auspicious motifs on the old Tibetan wall carpet Courtesy of Altfield Gallery

Other functional pieces from the Gallery’s collection include painting tables, which make excellent desks and dining tables, and daybeds and meditation stools which can be used as coffee tables.

The square dining tables known as 8-immortals tables, despite popular misconception, are not mahjong tables; and the couch beds, known as louhan beds, are actually scholarly day beds and not opium beds. The Gallery also has small cabinets and low tables, which would have been placed on the heated bed platforms known as kang beds in Northern China.

As much of the Gallery’s furniture, including the beautifully painted lacquer pieces, comes from Shanxi province, Cindy explains the history of this region.

Shanxi, which means “hilly west,” was a very prosperous region during the Ming Dynasty. Inaccessible from other regions due to its mountains, its people favored traditional styles in furniture. In the 19th century, when many of its merchant residents traveled to the coast to trade, they maintained their large houses for their families in Shanxi. They commissioned locally or sent Ming style furniture back to their homes in Shanxi to show their success and wealth. And when the rest of China began to embrace the more ornamental Qing style being influenced by the Qing imperial court, Shanxi, largely separated from other areas of China, continued to favor the austere Ming style. As the remaining Ming style pieces from other provinces are becoming increasing difficult to find, Shanxi, with its longer history of Ming furniture, still provides a source for collectors.

For further information about the many specialties at Altfield Gallery (and its Altfield Annex in Aberdeen), go visit the Gallery. Cindy and the knowledgeable team of staff are happy to explain the different woods and the care of antique furniture, as well as the history of their beautiful Chinese and Tibetan rugs, antique Asian maps and prints, old Burmese silver, and more. Altfield Gallery brings you treasures from the past, and many stories to tell.

Pair of compound cabinets, Walnut (Hetao mu), E. 19th century, Hebei, China Courtesy of Altfield Gallery Altfield

13

In Ap Lei Chau, a wonderful source of a large variety of antique and reconstructed Chinese furniture is Oriental Home in Horizon Plaza. Both Mary Lau and Elaine Chan provide a wealth of information regarding the background of various pieces and the intricate symbolisms on many of the different pieces. During a recent visit, Elaine explained how the Chinese may buy a wedding cabinet as the first piece of furniture for a new couple. Using a beautiful black wedding cabinet as an example, she showed the important

symbolic elements, or “wishes,” for a

newlywed couple. Representing unity and love, the cabinet had intricate

love birds carved

into the piece

to symbolize the engagement of the couple. Flowers symbolize prosperity, while lotus flowers and seeds are for many sons, showing continuity of generations. Many cabinets have the double fish, double-your-savings baskets, and all have a large brass or metal circle for unity of the family.

Elaine explained the differences between the store’s different wedding cabinets and their origins. The more elaborate ones were from upper class, well-off families from the Fu Jian region, while an equally magnificent wood cabinet that highlighted the wood grains but was simple in presentation was from the Beijing category of Chinese furniture.

Lately, painted pieces from Tibet and Mongolia have become very popular in many of the antique furniture stores.

These pieces for the most part are not very old, but have unique characteristics that add to the beauty of the piece. For example, the Tibetan pieces will have a more complicated story painted on them, while the Mongolian pieces will be painted with more nature scenes, flowers or symbols of good wishes; paint brushes for education, a chess set to represent strategy and knowledge, peaches for long life, and a peacock feather symbolizing honor and high position.

The hardware on antique Chinese furniture has an interesting history; in WW II, the government demanded from the people to remove their hardware off their furniture and donate it to the war cause. The metals were then melted down and used in construction of weapons and bullets.

This has caused a huge demand for pre-war pieces with the original hardware, and for a very brisk business in selling and replacing the hardware from many of the pieces on the market. Original hardware is very hard to find and, when intact, increases the value of the piece significantly.

Conservation is of importance to the people dealing in antique furniture; many of the pieces sold today are recycled with new and used pieces of wood. Pillars from old houses may be used to build parts of tables and cabinets. Beds are converted into coffee tables, door shutters into works of art.

The Chinese furniture dealer today is about continuity, and preserving a culture that is quickly being lost to the modern world.

SHOPPING LIST 1/ Altfield Gallery 248-9 Prince’s Building Central 2537 6370

4/ Altfield Home 1207, Nine Queen’s Road Central 2524 3066

2/ Altfield Gallery Annex 9F Gee Chang Hong Centre 65 Wong Chuk Hang Road Aberdeen 2537 6370

5/ Oriental Home 2010-2015, Horizon Plaza 2 Lee Wing Street Ap Lei Chau 3542 5336

3/ Altfield Interiors 1102 Nine Queen’s Road Central 2525 2738

Mongolian cabinet Courtesy of Oriental Home

DEALERS IN FINE ANTIQUE CHINESE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART ANTIQUE JAPANESE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART SOUTHEAST ASIAN SCULPTURE AND SILVER, CHINESE AND TIBETAN CARPETS

ALTFIELD GALLERY

ALTFIELD GALLERY ANNEX

248-9 Prince’s Building, Central, Hong Kong Tel: 2537-6370 Fax: 2537-6433 Open: MON–SAT 10–7 SUN 11–5

gallery@altfield.com.hk

9th Floor, Gee Chang Hong Centre 65 Wong Chuk Hang Road Aberdeen, Hong Kong by appointment

www.altfield.com.hk

Inspire, Invite, Indulge is the catchphrase for the new Culinart private dining room of Chef Stanley Wong. Located in rapidly-changing Aberdeen near the future MTR station, the new Culinart is on the 22nd floor of a converted industrial building. This cooking studio offers private dining, catering and cooking classes, and it is the hot new location for private events, both personal and corporate.

Chef Stanley Wong, who has worked at leading hotels and restaurants around the world (including the Mandarin Oriental HK and Jean-George Vongerichten’s Spice Market NYC), recently hosted a welcoming party at the newly opened studio. Party guests sipped wine and ate delicious hors d’oeuvres while lounging on leather loveseats flanking a contemporary gas fireplace. Displays of antiques and tableware all sparkled under halogen lights, creating a warm intimate glow, making the room and the guests beautiful.

Seen on The Martha Stewart Show, Chef on a Shoestring and Go Ahead, Make my Dinner, Chef Wong has also been featured in Gourmet Magazine, Travel & Leisure, and Bon Appetit. He is handsome, fun and a great chef – what more could you want in the host of your next dinner party?

To learn more… www.culinart.com.hk

Photography: Leongwoo from BlissJournal 16

Tabouret Solvay $8999

Tabouret 307 $9999

Table S.A.M Tropique $49,999 (200cm version) $54,999 (250cm version)

AVAILABLE AT ALUMINIUM CENTRAL SHOP 36 COCHRANE ST, CENTRAL, HONG KONG TEL 2546-5904 17

Cité $44,149

Altfield

Gallery Interiors Home

Offer exquisite antique Chinese furniture, Asian works of art, furnishings and home accessories

Located on the second floor of the Prince’s Building in Central, Altfield Gallery offers superb antique Chinese furniture and Asian works of art such as antique Japanese hibachi, boxes and trays, antique South-East Asian sculptures, old Chinese and Tibetan carpets and old Burmese silver, selected to complement the contemporary home and decor. The gallery also sells fine hand-knotted reproduction carpets based on traditional motifs as well as contemporary silver especially designed and commissioned for Altfield. With items ranging from significant antique furniture to small silver gifts, Altfield Gallery should be on everyone’s shopping list.

1

Standing Buddha, Gilt lacquer over wood, 19th century, Burma

2

Old carpet, Ningxia, China

With authentic antique furniture and home furnishings and accessories usually available only to designers and architects, the businesses of Altfield Gallery welcome you to visit them for your interiors needs.

Old silver bowls and boxes, Burma

3 5

Many top-quality upholstery and interiors businesses are only available “to the trade,” but Altfield Interiors and Altfield Home, who have worked on major hotel, restaurant, and residential projects, offer retail home furnishings and accessories to individual customers. Located on the 11th and 12th floor at Nine Queens Road next to the Galleria, they feature exclusive fabrics by Altfield and famous brands such as Colefax & Fowler, transforming them into luxurious curtains and upholstered furniture, using local and European frames. They also sell contemporary furniture

by Altfield and other fine European and American makers, wallpaper and paint by such European brands as Cole & Son and Farrow & Ball, home accessory hardware, lightings and carpets. Altfield is the exclusive Hong Kong agent of carpets by Tufenkian as well as a number of fine names in the home furnishings and interiors industry.

Fine flush-sided table with corner legs and foliage spandrels, Elmwood (Yu mu), 19th century, Shanxi, China

4

Works of art displayed on a tansu chest, Meiji period (L.19th –E. 20th century), Japan

Pair of wall paper panels, hand-painted reproduction of Chinese export painting

6

7 18

Wall paper & fabric, Spring 2012 collection, Manuel Canovas

Lighten Up! When you walk into a professionally designed home, what makes it look so cohesive and “right?” In addition to style, colors, and function, most professional designers also pay close attention to the lighting of the home. In fact, lighting is one of the most overlooked design aspects by homeowners, and one of the easiest problems to fix. To make your home radiant, consider using the following designer tricks.

Don’t rely on your overhead light fixtures to light your home.

They are usually either so dim that you stub your toes on the furniture or bright enough for surgery. If the lighting in your room is too gloomy, explore if you can install a ceiling fixture with more bulbs or one that can take a higher wattage. If your overhead lighting is too harsh, there are several ways to soften it. It can be covered with a shade, but for best results, install a new fixture, such as a chandelier that creates diffuse lighting or a directional lighting fixture aimed at a feature item such as artwork.

After solving the overhead lighting problem, the next step is creating pools of light in your home. In contrast to the unvarying effect of overhead lighting, table and floor lamps can create warm, cozy areas for different activities. Some great places for table lamps are on a buffet or sideboard near the dining table, on

side tables by the sofa and chairs, and on any occasional tables by the entry to your home. To keep the look cohesive, place table lamps so that their shades are roughly the same height as others in the area. If you don’t have side tables, place a pair of floor lamps on either side of your sofa.

Don’t forget your cabinets and bookcases. They are another great venue for lighting. Ikea has several low cost light fixtures designed to be placed on the top of the bookcase, sending light down the front of the shelves. This is a great way to highlight your many treasures bought while exploring Asia.

The type of bulb you use is also important. While considered energy efficient, fluorescent lights can cast a sickly shade of light.

Incandescent bulbs are a warmer alternative. And halogen spotlights have the quality of “sparkle.” This means that they make the items around them livelier – you may notice that most diamond displays are lit with halogen lamps. In Hong Kong, halogen lamps are available as spotlights and traditional screwin bulbs.

The secret weapon of interior designers, good lighting will give your home the professional touch.

Love it!

Fandango

Danny Fang

Danny Fang

Checkmate

Danny Fang www.fangstudio.com 20

Making Our Lives More Green Living in the urban jungle of Asia, it is sometimes very hard to bring some nature into our lives. We are less mobile and able to bring home large plants due to limited space for planting gardens. There is also the expense of having fresh flowers in our homes every week. To help solve these problems, we have come up with a number of solutions:

Indoor Gardens It’s very easy to start an indoor herb garden. All you really need are six medium sized ceramic pots, a small bag of topsoil, and small seed packets of herbs. If you can find them, you can also use small starter plants. These can be found in some of the markets (Wan Chai, Stanley or in Kowloon). The best herbs to grow are: Chives, Thyme, Tarragon, Marjoram, Basil, Mint, Parsley and Sage. You will need a windowsill that gets at least six to eight hours of light per day, and a small spray bottle to keep the plants moist. Micro-managing an herb garden in your apartment is a great project to do with your children, and can bring you many health and beauty benefits.

The Flower Market Steps away from the Prince Edward MTR station, there is a large garden market. It provides most of the wholesale plants to retail stores around Hong Kong, but it also has a large retail market. There you can buy cheaply, small potted orchid plants (3 for HK$100), garden supplies and cut flowers for as low as HK$20. Orchids are a wonderful addition to your home, and they love the humidity of Hong Kong. Many of the larger stores will deliver your plants for an additional fee if you choose to purchase large floor plants.

Flower Arrangements There are many floral retail providers in Hong Kong, but one stands out above them all. Pacific Petals is Hong Kong’s flower specialist. They offer delivery of flowers on a subscription basis or for a one-time event. Their aim is to “bring muchneeded nature into people’s busy lives.” They have all types of magnificent floral arrangements at reasonable prices. Pacific Petals also offers flower arrangement classes – the first will be taking place in May. If you are interested in learning how flower arrangements can enhance your life and your home, call them for more information: +852 2151 1151

20

Your Best Printing Partner

Print-on-demand

PhotoBook

A well known printer in Hong Kong with over 50 years experience in commercial printing, The Green Pagoda Press Ltd. strikes to meet customer needs and offers quality services for both local and overseas customers. We make the difference for our clients. GPP is your best printing partner for promoting your business in China and Asia.

For detail products and services, please visit our web site http://www.greenpagoda.com For enquiry, please call 852

Partner with Fuji Xerox (Hong Kong) Limited

- 25611924

or email gpinfo@gpp.com.hk

13/F, Block A, Tung Chong Fty Bldg, 653-655 King's Road, Hong Kong

(source: Expat Living)