Home & living

Refresh your space

Nikita Agrawal discovers the coolest homeware stores to spruce up your home this summer

Thorn and Burrow

Take a trip over to the up-and-coming Sai Ying Pun neighbourhood to pick out interesting interiors inspired by worldly travels. Thorn and Burrow is a boho chic lifestyle store that stocks a diverse selection of houseware, decor and even Hong Kong artwork. Its themed products make for great gifts, souvenirs and original additions to your humble abode. 1/F, 30 High Street, Sai Ying Pun. thornandburrow.com

Indigo Living

If home is where all the nice furniture is, invest in Indigo Living’s homeware items to add a touch of sophistication to your interiors. Its modern yet elegant pieces will complete visions of your dream house, and if you’re looking for a little more help, the store offers design services as well. Shop B2, G/F, 69 Caine Road, Central. indigo-living.com

Homeless

Pay this home decor shop a visit if you’re looking for eclectic pieces to liven up your living space. You’ll find a unique selection of furniture and home accessories like neon light fixtures, side tables that take the shape of monkeys and skateboard decks for your walls. With shops dotted all across the city, shopping for stylish homeware that brims with character has never been easier. 29 Gough Street, Sheung Wan. homeless.hk

Tree

Tree is a homegrown Hong Kong brand born out of a vision to bring together an eco-conscious ethos and timeless design. The shop delivers show-stopping statement pieces and nature-inspired furniture without uprooting the environment. Its signature collection of eco-wood furniture is crafted from recycled teak and sustainably sourced oak and walnut. 28/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau. tree.com.hk

Inside

Inside offers a range of artisanal furniture and accessories for your home decor needs. Through working closely with skilled craftsmen in India, the shop produces handcrafted wood furniture and soft furnishings that are one of a kind. Sourcing its products from around the world, Inside also offers vintage furniture made with upcycled materials to bring depth and sophistication to your space. G104, The Repulse Bay, 109 Repulse Bay Road, Repulse Bay. inside.com.hk

Stylish summer hacks

Alvin Cheng, the Creative Director of MADesign Studio Limited, shares his top tips for prepping your home for summer. Alvin graduated from the University of Bath with a Masters in Architecture. He specialises in residential and educational design and his best works include Victoria Kindergarten in Shanghai and many stylish residential units in Hong Kong.

Go bold

Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold colours and patterns. The Pantone colour of the year, Classic Blue, is a great place to start. Match your new wall colour with an oriental rug and play around with different geometrical patterns with your cushions, throws and decorative wall art.

Grow, baby, grow

Adding plenty of green always does the trick. For summer, choose plants that have long broad leaves like Birds of Paradise and Monstera. If you are feeling creative, a DIY plant pot like a simple weaved basket will complete the look. Hanging planters also adds a nice decorative touch.

Light it up

Nothing beats good old natural sunlight when it comes to lighting. Leave your curtains open to let the sunlight in. Your plants will be thankful. Wall finishes like spatterdash plastering looks great under natural light and will give you that effortless Mediterranean resort look that is perfect for summer.

Rustic chic

It’s time to put away your fancy porcelain plates to make space for some artisanal hardwood tableware. This will bring that outdoor picnic vibe into your dining room. Pair them with a tartan tea towel and tea is served.

Stay dry

This is both a practical piece of advice and a stylish one. Summer in Hong Kong can be wet and wild with torrential rain and typhoons. Spice up your entrance with a bespoke stand for your raincoats and umbrellas.

Hit snooze

Leather is reserved for the winter. Invest in some light colour fabric sofa for your lazy summer afternoon naps. A casually placed beach throw and some bright colour cushions can also be stylish additions to your lounge.

Take it outdoors

It is the BBQ season. If you are one of the lucky few in Hong Kong with a nicely sized patio or garden, we’d like to see that you have fully utilised that space with a proper barbecue set, hardwood lunch table, benches and chairs. Did someone just say hammock?

Visit madesign-studio.com to learn more about Alvin’s work.

G.O.D.

Nothing screams Hong Kong home like one titivated with G.O.D.’s products. The iconic homegrown lifestyle brand captures the essence of the east-meets-west ethos in everything it produces – from cushion covers featuring hand-painted Hong Kong skyline to bath mats featuring Chinese lucky cat caricatures. Pick up a thing or two at the shop to deck out your place like a true Hong Konger. 48 Hollywood Road, Central.

god.com.hk

Tequila Kola

For new home-owners in city, don’t miss out on this emporium of furniture and accessories for the home. With a flagship showroom set

How to upgrade your home office

With more people working from home, Kei Kei Chan, Founder of EKOBOR, reveals her home office design tips to maximise wellness and productivity.

Kei Kei started EKOBOR after having suffered severe back pain during her pregnancy with twins. She realised the importance of having good working posture and decided to pursue further studies and obtained the Certificate of Occupational Ergonomic training under the Colorado State University. She is also a certified fitness personal trainer. Kei Kei’s mission is to bring health and wellness into the workspace through EKOBOR.

What are the latest trends in office furniture?

Working from home has become more popular in 2020. This means we are spending more time at home, making it harder for us to separate our work life and off time. Since sitting in front of a computer for virtual meetings all day long is not the healthiest thing to do, more people are thinking about upgrading their home office set-up and getting height adjustable desks that allow them to have some movement and alternate between sitting and standing while working.

How do you find the perfect balance between your workspace and living space?

You can easily change the mood of any space using different styles and tones of lighting. Your living space should be an environment

at Horizon Plaza, browse through endless displays of homeware products at this interior decorator’s heaven. 1/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street. tequilakola.com

Habitat

Originally from London, UK, Habitat has been transforming living spaces for over 50 years. With a focus on creative design and youthfulness, shop for any home-related product at this stylish furniture store to upgrade your interiors. 118 Hollywood Road, Central. habitat.eu

designed for comfort and relaxation, while your home office should resemble a professional setting. To help yourself be more productive, it’s important to find an area that allows you to focus at your work and remove yourself from distractions.

Any tips for our readers on how to make their home office more comfortable?

We offer a range of work desks and chairs in different colours and textures to help our customers create a cosy, yet motivating, work

environment. Aside from your furniture, it is just as important to build healthy work habits at home. Remember to take a break and recharge from time to time. Place a plant on your tabletop, get a coffee, water or some snack, stop for a minute and look out the window. Walk around and stretch it out before diving back into your virtual conferences and business phone calls.

Visit ekobor.com.hk to learn more about EKOBOR’s office furniture collections.