How Atelier Shan transformed this gloomy Hong Kong village house into a chic minimalist home

A gloomy and obscure Lamma Island cottage served as the perfect archetype for a minimalist, contemplative escape from the tumult of urban living.

Located with breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains, the original property was in a dilapidated condition, lacking air conditioning, an unusual layout and an out-of-date electrical system that could only support basic functions, rendering it incompatible with the use of multiple appliances simultaneously or providing hot water.

Although the house required a significant amount of work to bring it up to date, the couple saw this as an opportunity to start fresh without any guilt. Their goal was clear: strip the house down to its most basic elements and create a harmonious connection with its surroundings. Architect Ketty Shan, founder of Atelier Shan design studio, led the project with her team, collaborating closely with her colleagues, clients, a team of skilled craftsmen, and a contractor from Lamma.

I have no design background, but I developed a strong interest in the project,” the owner states. “I created most of the floor plans and became meticulous about every single detail. I had over 200 PowerPoint pages of ideas. It was brave of Ketty to accept our project. It was challenging to find a designer willing to visit us initially, not to mention the difficulty in getting all the materials, furniture, and everything else delivered as there is no regular transportation on the island, except for [the contractor’s] small truck.

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In spite of the challenges brought on by the pandemic, among others, the two-bedroom, three-bathroom house was finished within a year. This home stands out for its unpretentious elegance, reflecting a style that Shan dubs “quiet design”. This minimalist aesthetic succeeds in creating a visually striking atmosphere without the need for bold decor, instead allowing the architecture to take center stage.

We decided not to overpower the environment with our home’s design, instead letting it blend in with its surroundings,” the owner explains. “Our passion for gardening has grown into a lush oasis, filling the empty yard, kitchen patio, bedroom balcony, and rooftop lounge with the beauty of nature,” she continues. “Our goal was to create a home that combines modern conveniences with a simple, uncluttered style – a rare approach in densely populated Hong Kong, where every inch of space is usually maximized.

She redesigned the layout, setting aside areas for spiritual mindfulness and meditation, as well as for everyday needs. A large open space on the ground floor was designated for activities like yoga, dining, and socializing, while the previously restricted mezzanine level was transformed to provide an unobstructed view of the space. There, a library was created with separate areas for reading and studying that flow into a traditional Japanese-style tatami room.

Since ornamentation was restricted, every interior detail, including switches and outlets, had to be carefully thought out. Tactile materials like French linen drapes and handmade tiles deliver subtle visual interest while the imperfections in reclaimed wood used on the library floor, stairs, and main bedroom ceiling were seen as a reflection of the house’s character.

Following the principles of minimalism, lighting was also designed to be discreet. Downlights appear only where necessary; in other areas, lighting at different levels is used to create warmth and a sense of closeness.

The house may appear quiet and unassuming at first glance, but it offers a striking contrast on its upper floor, where vibrant colours dominate the maintained decor of the stories below. The green-themed guest bedroom and accompanying en suite bathroom, the only room in the house to maintain its original size, pay tribute to the lush surroundings outside, while the sleek, smooth oxblood Veneziano plaster adorning the walls and ceiling of the main split-level suite creates an unexpected striking visual effect.

“Warm colors typically make rooms appear smaller, especially if they cover the ceiling. However, in this design, the color amplifies the space. This effect is achieved by applying a plaster containing marble chips to a very high-gloss finish, which is not only waterproof but causes light to bounce off all surfaces, making the room appear more spacious. The plaster has a subtle sheen that looks especially beautiful when the sun hits it,” says Shan.

Bedroom terrace

The main bedroom opens up onto a spacious outdoor terrace, which boasts a luxurious outdoor seating set from Nassau and a Tribal side table, both of which are designed by Timothy Oulton (timothyoulton.com). Additionally, the space is furnished with a Gioi table and chairs from InternoItaliano (internoitaliano.com) and a stylish lantern from Zara Home (zarahome.com). Plants are presented in flowerpots from Italy’s Deroma (deroma.com) and Denmark’s Bergs Potter (bergspotter.com). A reclaimed wood ceiling from Wood-Ideas (wood-ideas.com) and Terra Crea floor tiles by Kronos (kronosceramiche.com), supplied by Anta Building Material Supplier (antahk.com), seamlessly link the interior and exterior spaces.

Staircase

The stairs feature Beige Marmorino walls made from limestone powder, which were installed by skilled plasterer Poise HK (poise.com.hk). The original banisters were preserved, but now have a customized solid wood handrail that complements the curved design. The stairs themselves are covered with engineered wood from Oak Cloud by Imondi (imondi.com), sourced from Arnhold (arnhold.com.hk), and have risers finished in Marmorino plaster. Additionally, the Soul Story wall lights from DCWeditions (dcw-editions.com) were used for the space.

Mixed-use Room

The doors from the garden lead into a spacious multi-purpose area dedicated mainly to activities such as yoga and meditation. The floor tiles were installed from Kronos and acquired from Anta Building Material Supplier, while the handmade rug comes from Casegoods in India (casegoods.in). A traditional, handcrafted bench from Yunnan province is adorned with a singing bowl from Meinl Sonic Energy (meinlsonicenergy.com). The sofa bed is from the company Gervasoni (gervasoni1882.com), and the standard lamp, Captain Uplight, is from By Rydens (byrydens.com).

Tatami room

Screen doors in the Japanese style designed by Atelier Shan, featuring rice wallpaper from Japan sourced from Altfield, separate the library from the tatami room. The tatami mats are from Ito Futon, while the low table and floor seats are all provided by Mumo. The Kuulto Small 9101 ceiling lamp is from Secto Design.

Main bedroom/bathroom

In the main bedroom, the bed, customized by Atelier Shan, was ordered and installed by Charming Furnishings. The bedside tables were crafted by Fleur Studios (fleurstudios.com.au) and the TTM Corta bedside floor lamps were by Santa & Cole (santacole.com). The GD5610-WH cylindrical white ceiling lights were sourced from TP Lighting (tplighting.hk). Red ceramic tiles by Omega Tiles covered the bath and shower in the adjacent bathroom while the red Veneziano finish with fine marble powder was supplied and applied by Poise. The vintage console table originated from Yunnan province and the w163 Lampyre t2 table lamp by Inga Sempe from WAstberg Lighting (wastberg.com) came from Sweden.

Library detail

In the home office/library, the furry chair and wooden stool (used as a side table) were from InternoItaliano. The luxurious Oak flooring with a herringbone pattern and oil finish is by Imondi, a product of Arnhold. The shelving and sink unit, featuring a distinctive hammered brass sink, were crafted by the designer Atelier Shan and expertly supplied and installed by Charming Furnishings.

Guest bathroom

In the guest bathroom, you’ll find Japanese unglazed ceramic wall tiles from Inax, which were provided by Welltiles Building Materials. Additionally, the Beijmat Biscuit Matt floor tiles were supplied by Wow Design, a company that sourced them from Kokocolor. The bathroom’s fixtures include sanitaryware from Brodware, while the sink unit was custom-designed by Atelier Shan and installed by Charming Furnishings. Rounding out the décor is the Traffic wall lamp by Toscot.

Kitchen

The kitchen was designed, supplied, and installed by Wincci Holdings (wincci.com) in collaboration with Schüller (schueller.de) to provide the cabinetry and exceeding with a striking backsplash consisting of radiant white gloss tiles by Wow Design from Kokocolor.

Breakfast nook in kitchen

A Tekio Circular pendant light by Santa & Cole hovers above a Togrul marble table by Tacchini (tacchini.it) in the breakfast nook. The banquette was designed by Atelier Shan, and installed by Charming Furnishings. The small bench is by Timothy Oulton.