A well-designed space should marry aesthetic and functionality, appeal to your senses and ultimately be a place where you feel comfortable in. To design a space as such takes someone with impeccable taste and talent. Living in a creative, enterprising city like Hong Kong, there is no shortage of design talents who are making their own mark in the creative world. Meet the six Hong Kong interior designers who are masters of their craft.
Rowena Gonzales
Founder, Liquid Interiors
Born in Montreal, Canada, with parents originally from the Philippines, Rowena Gonzales came to Hong Kong 14 years ago for adventure and to escape from the snow. She planned to stay only a year, but fell in love with the city in the process and even met her husband here. She eventually started Liquid Interiors, where she offers healthy and eco-conscious design services to her clients.
A key part of Liquid Interiors is sustainability. From renewable materials, water-saving, renewable energy, energy-saving techniques, growing food, recycling food waste, managing recycling, where to donate old furniture, Liquid Interiors carefully integrates this in every step of its process.
Read more: 11 ways to live more sustainably in Hong Kong
Oliver Corrin
Asia Regional Director, CADA Design
Oliver Corrin has been interested in design and interiors since he was 11 years old. Six years ago, he was asked to relocate to Hong Kong to oversee and manage the full renovation of the Hong Kong American Club for CADA Design. The project took two years to complete, and having taken a liking to Hong Kong during this time, Oliver decided to remain in the city, where he now works as the Asia Regional Director of CADA Design.
Established over 25 years ago in the UK, CADA has become one of the world’s leading F&B designers specialising in restaurant, food hall and supermarket design. It has worked with clients such as Fortnum & Mason, Dean & Deluca, Disney, Lotte and Pret a Manger.
Read more: The most Instagrammable cafés in Hong Kong
Britta Butler
Founder, B Squared Design
Britta Butler has a bachelor’s degree in Biological Anthropology from Harvard University and received her master’s degree in Architecture from MIT. She worked at a firm in Boston that specialises in building affordable housing for several years, before moving to Hong Kong from the US 14 years ago.
In 2014, Britta founded B Squared Design when she saw a gap in the market for a full-service, boutique, residential design firm that could handle an entire project from conceptual design through to construction administration. The company comprises a Cantonese-speaking project manager, trusted contractors and a full suite of handymen who work together to offer architectural and interior design services.
Emma Hurlston-Tseng
Founder, Hurlston-Tseng Designs
A Londoner originally, Emma Hurlston-Tseng graduated in Fashion from Saint Martin’s School of Art before moving to Hong Kong to work with factories in design and manufacture. From her job, she developed an invaluable understanding of manufacturing processes and a respect for the makers, soft skills which she transferred to her second career in interior design.
Hurlston-Tseng Designs started when a furniture shop in Horizon Plaza approached Emma for her background in textiles and colour to revamp soft furnishings and upholstery. This soon grew into buying accessories, designing furniture and travelling up and down to China for the workshop. Over time, customers and friends began to ask her to work on projects for them and from there, it gradually evolved into her full time business.
Read more: Your Horizon Plaza survival guide
Aaron Chin
Founder, The Editors Company
Aaron Chin spent his childhood in Hong Kong and moved to the US for high school and university. Upon graduating, he returned to Hong Kong and joined BoConcept to build their Hong Kong and Macau operation, which introduced him to the world of home design and furnishing.
The idea for The Editors Company sprung up when Aaron recognised that many people want design help but don’t necessarily need full-scale interior design or renovation. Along with his partner, he created an online home styling platform that helps design and furnish homes without making any structural changes. Customers can collaborate with a personal home stylist to furnish his or her home from more than 60 brands, all for the price of a night out.
Mary Wong
Founder, Haven Design
After graduating from architecture school at the University of Hong Kong, Mary Wong found herself working at international award-winning firms, meeting great mentors and taking on key roles in many prestigious interior projects. Eventually, she decided to branch out on her own and opened her design company, Haven Design.
Haven Design’s aesthetic style is versatile and flexible, concentrating on providing a personalised solution for its clients’ lives. Each space is designed and curated to reflect the character of its owners, creating custom areas that help their daily lives and grow with them, without compromising aesthetic qualities and functional concerns. The company’s projects feature non-toxic, environmentally-friendly materials, in response to sustainability trends.
All images courtesy of Graham Uden taken at Osteria Marzia.
