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How a 1980s Mid-Levels apartment became a chic family home
Despite the architectural constraints of the compartmentalised apartment, a designer managed to transform the space for an Aussie couple
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Australian couple Kwai and Jason Chang took a “when in Rome” approach to buying their Hong Kong flat.
Together with daughter Emily, 15, the family has “toggled” between Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia, since 2018, initially renting in Repulse Bay on the scenic south side.
“We felt we were living very much an expat life, and wanted to reconnect with the real Hong Kong,” says Kwai.
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The vibrancy of the city beckoned for Kwai, a homemaker, and Jason, a private equity investor, who settled on their 2,559 sq ft four-bedroom, three-bathroom (plus helper’s quarters) Mid-Levels apartment in 2022.
Kwai’s initial ideas to personalise the space were tempered by caution from their designer, Hintegro founder Keith Chan Shing-hin, who advised them not to stray into “grey area” alterations.
“We are a healthy family that loves to cook from scratch,” says Kwai. “I’d ideally wanted a butler’s pantry to display our ingredients and appliances – while also hiding mess – but the wall that had to go couldn’t legally be removed, so we had to settle for a deep cupboard.”
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