Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i Home Journal

1. MOODBOARD OF THE MONTH In our newly launched, web-exclusive series, we sit down with creatives across the globe to find out what’s inspiring them right now. This month, we speak to Kallista designer Laura Kirar. 2. ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS Creations by some of the world’s best known architects, from I.M. Pei to Zaha Hadid, can be found right here in Hong Kong. 3. CONTINENTAL LIVING Russia-based interior design firm Oleg Klodt Architecture and Design created a private retreat in Moscow with a contemporary Parisian touch. 4. TO THE SKY Summer is the perfect time to enjoy night time views while sipping a cocktail at one of Hong Kong’s stunning alfresco bars. 5. BEST BITES Our picks for the most eye-catching designs among new restaurant openings in the city in 2016.…

An elegant family home bathed in natural light and brimming with treasures collected on their travels – that’s the space one couple has cleverly created in Stanley. After moving from London to Hong Kong, entrepreneur Melissa Bacani and her husband, banker Steve Phan, chose the location because their eldest son was suffering from asthma at the time; concerned friends recommended the south side of the island for its comparatively better air quality. "We immediately liked the feel of the area. We love being so close to the beach, and being able to walk to Stanley Market and along the promenade – and it’s only 30 minutes by car to Central," says Melissa. "With three young children, we wanted a place where the kids could just go out of the door…

The most majestic mountaineering photos are snapped as a climber reaches the summit and poses with a beaming, triumphant smile – one that hadn’t emerged on the excruciating climb up, nor the inevitably long journey back down. This state of euphoria also comes over us as we reach the top of Mount Kuromidake, a dormant volcano rising 1,831 feet above sea level on the remote island of Yakushima, an hour off the coast of Kyushu via a high-speed hydrofoil ride. Along with my companions for the journey – five Australians and two Singaporeans, along with Walk Japan tour leader Takuya Ugajin and assistant tour leader Mayumi Yoshida – we’re ecstatic to pose for photos at the peak of our highest hike after spending the past three days charting across Kyushu,…

A ALAPE | available at colourliving, 333 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai; tel 2295 6263, colourliving.com ALTFIELD INTERIORS | Room 1101, 9 Queen’s Rd Central, Central; tel 2524 4867, altfield.com.hk ANGLEPOISE | anglepoise.com ARCHETYPAL | G/F 15 Moon St, Wan Chai; tel 2320 0580, archetypal.hk A.STYLE | G/F 48 Tung St, Sheung Wan; tel 2803 0642, astyle.com.hk AXOR | 347 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai; tel 2575 0200, ebon.com.hk B BACCARAT | baccarat.com BAKER | 19-27 Wyndham St, Central; tel 2960 0071, bakerfurniture.com BLUM FURNITURE HARDWARE HONG KONG LTD | Unit 2505, 25/F Nanyang Plaza, 57 Hung To Rd, Kwun Tong; tel 2572 2816, blum.com.hk BOCONCEPT | 73 Wyndham St, Central; tel 2668 0027 or Shop 118, Level 1, HomeSquare, 138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Rd, Sha Tin; tel 3468 7102, boconcept.hk…

While sports fanatics are gearing up for the Summer Olympics held in Rio this month, design lovers are also looking back at the works of the late architect Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012) – famous for his mid-century modern creations which embraced abstract shapes inspired by his beautiful homeland. "I am not attracted to hard and inflexible elements created by man. I am attracted to free-flowing, sensual curves. The curves that I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuousness of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean, and on the body of the beloved woman,"Niemeyer once revealed. "I consciously ignored rational architecture in order to wholeheartedly enter the world of curves and new shapes." This month, we take inspiration from Niemeyer’s thinking with pieces that convey his unique…

"The empty vessel makes the greatest sound," Shakespeare once wrote. Judging by how private the family-owned Austrian company Blum is, and bearing this quote in mind, one can deduce that the brand has plenty of substance. The reluctance to intentionally hop into the spotlight or overstate its achievements isn’t because the brand doesn’t have anything to say – it's because Blum’s products just tend to speak for themselves. If you’ve ever opened a kitchen drawer or a wardrobe door, you’ve most likely experienced the magic of Blum’s products. Remember how fascinating the soft-close function was when it first came out? This kind of innovation keeps the company and its engineers busy, constantly improving the actions we take for granted, such as opening, closing and organising. For more than 60 years,…

THE SOFT BATIK-PATTERNED CARPET UNDERFOOT, THE CARVED WOODEN SCREENS AND THE CHINESE ANTIQUES THROUGHOUT ALLUDE TO A DISTINCTIVE SENSE OF PLACE Edging up the steep, winding road in a taxi is a journey in itself, but climbing a flight of metal stairs on an unmarked path through dense trees and wild foliage makes getting to this home a true adventure. As soon as we arrive at the wrought iron gates, however, we’re greeted with fertile gardens and an ancient banyan tree that frames an impressive two-storey building – and we immediately understand this house’s secluded, otherworldly appeal. On a sunny day, the heritage home looks out onto the entire city, yet it feels about as far away from Hong Kong as one can get. EVERY SEAT IN THE HOME IS…

For many Hongkongers, Hoi An appeared on our collective travel radar when Cathay Pacific first started offering direct flights to neighbouring Da Nang three years ago. Since then, we can’t help but return to the charming coastal town in central Vietnam, drawn in by its irresistible cuisine and powder-sand beaches. Many stay close to the Ancient Town – a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site – so they can peruse its winding lanes and French row houses, which have been adapted into charming cafes, restaurants and boutiques selling local fashions and homewares, all sitting along a picturesque canal. Others make their holiday base where they can savour the best of both worlds: steps from a sandy beach and a short car ride away from the best regional tourist attractions. UNIQUE FEATURES…

HOLIDAY VIBES Sometimes all you need are a few leafy plants to feel as if you’re back in nature. Enjoy your summer read in a cosy nook at home by creating a corner with a comfortable armchair and plenty of potted palms and cacti. The black-and-white carpet is by House Doctor, the vase on the stairs is from Tine K Home and the wicker basket is from Afroart. For your flooring or backsplash, bring in colour by mixing and matching patterned tiles in eye-catching motifs. SOUTHERN EXPOSURE Earthy terracotta hues form a warm base to anchor vivid colours; bring them all together for a potent tropical punch. The red and blue ceramic bowls, indigo jug and green cups are from Kähler, and the terracotta bowls are from Jamie Oliver. The…

While the Republic of Fritz Hansen is internationally known for its furniture offerings, it hasn’t stopped the Danish brand from taking its creativity to a different dimension by moving its focus from macro to micro – Jaime Hayón’s Ikebana vase and Arne Jacobsen’s Vertigo cushions are among the first 12 items from the newly launched accessories range, the Objects collection. The brand takes a look back at its tradition through top-notch materials and craftsmanship, and continues the journey via collaborations with both Danish and international designers. Each design object is special, with a statement and story to tell.…

Just add sunshine – this was the caption of a photo I posted on Instagram of the stunning Festspielhaus and Lake Constance in Austria. Somehow, even if a place is already beautiful, the addition of blue skies and sunshine makes it all the more impressive. And that’s probably the best thing about summer – the longer days and the persistence of the sun to add warmth to everything around us. As you settle into your villa this summer, we thought we’d entertain you with a lineup of relaxing spaces. There are holiday homes from the Hamptons to Hoi An, as well as architectural abodes in South Africa and Sweden. Given the limited space there is in the city, it’s only natural that many of us dream of having a second…

After supervising luxury hotel projects with notable design firms in the US, Teo Su Seam returned to her homeland in 1993 and became a partner of Singapore-based LTW Designworks – a studio that specialises in hospitality interiors. With projects including the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, the Hylandia by Shangri-La in Yunnan and The Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong, the firm has delivered commendable results with a guest-centric approach. Su Seam shares her passion for interior design and the studio’s winning formula for luxury hospitality design. Growing up, I always an eye design. I rearrange at home to create a better layout. What intrigues me most about designing luxury hotel interiors is that we are often challenged to come up with innovative ideas while being guided by specific parameters. It’s an opportunity…

Unlike the middle latitudes and the polar regions, countries near the equator enjoy balmy weather for most of the year and architecture and design has evolved to match, developing into a broad vernacular known as "tropical style" – an aesthetic that alludes to a leisurely, carefree and often eco-friendly way of life. Comfortable and with strong links to nature, tropical style is often characterised by the use of natural materials such as vegetable fibres, including cotton, hemp, rattan, linen and jute; bamboo or tropical woods like mahogany and teak; textural weaves and organic forms; and designs that favour natural light and ventilation. Elora Hardy of sustainable architecture and design firm Ibuku built Green Village – a residential community in Bali along the terraced slopes of the Ayung River, with stunning…

Pick! FALPER'S COCO VANITY UNIT 01. AXOR Luxury lies in the smallest of details, like the Citterio E faucet collection. With the sleek single-lever joystick or classic cross-handle mixer designs available in 15 different scratch-resistant surfaces, these are the ultimate finishing touches for any bathroom. 02. FALPER Black and white is always a marriage made in heaven, so it's easy to add some monochrome magnificence to your bathroom with the Coco vanity unit. Crafted from polished lacquered wood, it’s the epitome of contemporary storage. 03. FIRED EARTH Indulge in sophisticated metallics with the Aphrodite copper basin. The Kythera features a classical stepped base with a lipped rim whilst the Cyprus boasts a smoothly tactile curve. 04. KOHLER Kohler’s Beitou faucet collection draws its inspiration from the tranquillity and movement of…

JAZZ YOUR LIVING AREA UP WITH PLAYFUL STATEMENT PIECES 01. PRIMO LIVING Primo Living’s L’Objet decorative dice box comes in either a crocodile-embossed black, or a classic gold finish to suit any sophisticated home. Crafted from Limoges porcelain with 24ct gold accents, this talking-point piece adds a humorous touch. 02. LG LG’s OLED television represents the forefront of home entertainment, with a pioneering "Picture-on-Glass" concept that displays stunningly high-definition images on the slimmest of screens. Crystal-clear visuals combine with top-quality audio to deliver a truly immersive viewing experience. 03. FORBIDDEN CITY Bringing a dash of contemporary verve to Asian tradition, the Double Happiness table would make a striking centrepiece in any room. Its red lacquer high-gloss base created from the Chinese characters for "double happiness" is certain to catch the…