00:02The reason we chose to live in the center of Hong Kong
00:06mainly depends on our lifestyle and the proximity to our family.
00:14It allows us to stay closely connected to our parents who live in Kowloon,
00:20as well as the convenience of transportation to all parts of Hong Kong that save lots of time.
00:28The apartment is 24 square meters.
00:32We've created functional furniture suitable for our daily life,
00:37like dressing up and cooking rather than just maximizing storage space.
00:46I'm Alice Zhang, an interior designer and co-founder of Up Design Studio in Hong Kong.
00:53I live here with my husband Brian, who's also an interior designer and we moved in around three years ago.
01:09The apartment is located in the north corner of Hong Kong.
01:16The building is situated at the start of the bustling marble road.
01:21It's located next to the Renault Chengyang Street Market, where trains pass through the middle of the market.
01:34This is a boutique residential building completed in 2018.
01:42There are 22 floors and 13 units on each floor.
01:50The apartment was sold with a completed bathroom and open-plan kitchen.
01:56It's a decent floor plan, but not very much flexibility for us to arrange the furniture in the living area.
02:05What we loved about the apartment was the ceiling height.
02:10It is around 3 meters tall, which makes the area feel large and spacious.
02:15We prefer not to dismantle the walls and equipment in order to reduce wastage in this newly built apartment,
02:23so the layout was left the same.
02:25We utilize the height ceiling by installing full height cabinets and incorporating attic storage both in the living area and
02:35bedroom.
02:36In the bedroom, we convert a storage unit into a platform for the bed.
02:42This allowed us to maximize the storage space around the bed without compromising the room's spaciousness.
02:53Upon entering the apartment, there is a cabinet serving as a welcome area that comes with the apartment.
03:01However, it is not suitable for placing suits due to its deep depth.
03:07Instead, we use it for our kitchen utensils and a place for a bin.
03:14We couldn't find any ready-made products that would fit the space,
03:19so we custom designed a shoe cabinet with rotten embossing to allow for ventilation.
03:28The shoe cabinet also doubles as a kitchen counter with its concealed bar table.
03:38Above the shoe cabinet, there is a walnut shelf displaying precious items and a delicate cloth with burst stages,
03:46which are bought in Taiwan a long time ago.
03:51A glass panel lamp was added above the counter to help illuminate the entrance and the swivel bar table.
04:02The kitchen is L-shaped and is a part of the open living area.
04:07It's compact but functional with a built-in washer, a hidden fridge and an induction cooktop.
04:15These all come with the apartment.
04:19We kept the original kitchen cabinets because we didn't want to waste any of it.
04:25It has grey-pinked cabinetry, which is a neutral color that works with our new water cabinets.
04:36The living room is a nice, cozy, relaxing corner with natural light coming from the large windows.
04:46Next to the fridge, we install a full-height cabinet for storing the large appliance like our vacuum cleaner and
04:54a leader to help us access the upper storage in the apartment.
04:58A set of lattice cabinets has been placed above the sofa, intended for storing slags, books and small objects such
05:08as craft tools and stationery.
05:14We also create an attic storage, which is a false ceiling space above the living room.
05:22Since the ceiling has been lowered, we chose wooded glass doors for the attic storage to help reflect the light
05:30in this place.
05:35We opted for a cozy fabric multi-solver.
05:38It provides ample seating space with a depth of only 60cm, so it doesn't take up too much room.
05:48A small flexible desk, which can be height-adjusted, was selected to create a professional study area that pairs nicely
05:57with the sofa.
05:58It is developed by a local lifestyle brand, Kanbin, and a Japanese furniture brand class.
06:08A wall mount cabinet was designed as an entertainment unit when combined with the TV.
06:16And this on the wall, it allows for air and lights to pass under and over it, creating a lighter
06:23feeling.
06:27We have our plans here on the balcony, and sometimes take a seat for sun-buffling and relaxation.
06:35From here, we can see the bustling movement down in Cheongyang Street.
06:44The double bed is placed on a tailor-made platform storage, which comes with an electric hydronic system.
06:52It makes it easy to access our suitcase and seasonal clothing underneath.
07:01As we step into the bedroom, we can see a bespoke cabinet that I use as my makeup corner.
07:08It provides handy storage for cosmetics and skincare products.
07:14This tiny cabinet also acts as a separation between the bed and the rest of the apartment.
07:23A rolled-up line was installed to light in some natural light while still maintaining privacy in the room.
07:34There is plenty of storage space in the bedroom for the two of us.
07:38At the end of the bed, there is a wall mount closet and a full height closet which helps to
07:45visually divide the sleeping area and the bathroom.
07:50The steps leading up to the bed also hides drawers for our personal items.
08:00There is another attic storage above the bed that not only stores our daily supplies but also plays an important
08:08role in hiding the structured beams.
08:15The bathroom can be accessed through a sliding door in the bedroom.
08:21It is compact but has everything we need.
08:27There is a simple shower, a toilet and an integrated vanity.
08:36In densely populated urban areas like Hong Kong, small living spaces have become increasingly prevalent due to the continuous growth
08:47of the population
08:49and changes in the financial environment.
08:53With the increasing pressure of living in such spaces, the focus has shifted towards improving the existing space to be
09:03a more liveable place.
09:05The importance of transforming the space to be a neat and comfortable living space with practical functionality has become more
09:16significant.
09:23I have a good feeling.
09:26Thank you so much.
09:29I hope you enjoyed this video.
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