hooLY KITCHEN
CONFESSION: We are not professional chefs.
We just design professional kitchens of various sizes for clients with different needs. Some like the streamline showroom aesthetics since they never cook. Some want it super durable for heavy duty usage. Some avoid clutter and keep everything concealed. Some just want to showcase all the kitchenware they have. After all, it’s a very personal choice.
Let’s take a look at some of our own kitchen designs since 2009. What’s your favorite?
Project Bridget
Project Eve
Project Gloria
Project Gloria
Project Ingrid
Project Jodi
Project Josie
Project Minni
Project Nellie
Project Nita
Project Olivia
Project Rose
Project Sophia
hooLY BATHROOM
Based on some bathroom studies, the average amount of time people spend in the bathroom every day is about 30 minutes. But one in four of us spend more than an hour. Some people like to meditate inside the shower. Some reads while taking a bath. And if you are a woman you are very likely to be spending well over an hour in the bathroom.
In other words, that’s really a significant amount of time in our busy everyday life.
To us, it means this holy secret place of yours better look good.
Over the years, we have designed more than 80 different bathrooms (and counting…) for different clients. Minimal and Contemporary. French. English. Rustic. Industrial. Scandinavian. Geometric. Eclectic. You name it. To start off this year of the Monkey, let us look back at some of our own favorite bathroom designs, since 2009.
Project Cheri: Master Bathroom
Project Bridget: Guest Bathroom
Project Bridget: Master Bathroom
Project Celine: Master Bathroom
Project Evelyn: Guest Bathroom
Project Evelyn: Master Bathroom
Project Gloria: Guest Bathroom
Project Jodi: Guest Bathroom
Project Jodi: Master Bathroom
Project Minni: Guest Bathroom
Project Minni: Guest Bathroom
Project Minni: Master Bathroom
Project Nellie: Master Bathroom
Project Nita: Master Bathroom
Project Nita: Master Bathroom
Project Olivia: Master Bathroom
Project Robyn: Master Bathroom
The Mecca of Design: Design Museum Danmark
On my recent trip to Copenhagen, I finally got a chance to visit the holy shrine: Design Museum Danmark.
To everyone in the interior design field, especially us who has been doing so many Scandinavian designs in recent years, it was a dream come true. I was basically like a kid in the candy shop, running around the museum, studying each and every piece, admiring these Hall of Fame original designs up close and personal. Looking at those thoughtful details, those forms and curves, those materials and structure, it’s easy to see why these designs never go out of style, after almost a century.
I can only wish everyone shares the same respect for originality and creativity as much as I do. And we can all create, and enjoy more timeless designs for years to come.
THE HOLY SHRINE
Recognize these pieces?
Love these kid-friendly furniture.
Timeless industrial design…
The Oriental Influence
Design is POP.
The Original Arne Jacobsen Collection
Hall of Fame
Their original hand sketches more than half a century ago, simply beautiful.
The 100 years-old Faaborg Chair
THANK YOU, CARL HANSEN & SON.
We recently got invited by Carl Hansen & Son, the all-time classic Danish furniture guru, to join their tour in Denmark. After doing (or we can proudly say “pioneering”) so many Scandinavian designs over the last few years, it was such an honor to finally get the chance visit the country, to experience it up close and personal.
AÂ small group of selected dealers and designers from around the world got together in Copenhagen for a 3-day private tour. We visited the factory where the world famous CH24 chairs and other furniture pieces are passionately handcrafted. We learned the history of Carl Hansen & Son and Rud. Rasmussens from the man behind all these, Mr. Knud Erik Hansen, understanding all the success stories of these world famous furniture brands over the last century. We got to share our professional experiences with each other. We celebrated originality and design. It sure was a memorable and valuable trip for everyone involved.
Once again, thank you Carl Hansen for the tour. Thank you Morten and Knud Erik. Thank you Katrina from Manks. If anyone interested in using Carl Hansen furniture in their homes or offices, just contact Manks, the official distributor in Hong Kong.
Good design lasts a lifetime. Please support original design as there is simply no soul in all those replicas.
Private tour to the factory where they make the iconic CH24
Mr. Knud Erik Hansen, CEO fo Carl Hansen & Son, gives us a passionate tour.
Passionate Craftsmanship Indeed
The CH24 lineup. Want one?
Benny, the Weaver
What is your favorite color?
Ready to ship to the World
The Fabric Station
CH07 walnut shells, ready for upholstery.
RUD. RASMUSSENS, another iconic Danish furniture brand owned by Carl Hansen & Son
The 100 years Faaborg Chair. Good design lasts a lifetime.
Another personal favorite, Safari Chair
The Wood Dungeon
Every piece is hand-crafted.
Carl Hansen & Son Flagship Store in downtown Copenhagen
How about this as a feature wall?
All the timeless classic pieces in one room
Black Chair Exhibition
RUD. RASMUSSENS flagship store right opposite to Carl Hansen & Son
The signature Faaborg Chair
They said it takes about 20 hours to weave one of these……
Tarnet Restaurant, featuring CH88 as dining chairs
Thank you Carl Hansen & Son, for inviting all of us over from around the world.
Our Stay: SP34 Copenhagen, one of the Carl Hansen featured design hotel
Industrial Style Guest Room
How about these CH88?
And these OW149?
TO THOSE WHO STOLE OUR WORK
Given the seriousness of the situation, we have already handed this case to the police and our legal advisors, and informed our clients accordingly. We hereby reserve the rights to further legal actions if necessary and are determined to do whatever it takes to ensure justice is served.
Hinley Lam Kai Hin of Deux Creative (Hong Kong) & Koodos Design (Macau), if this is your own twisted way of showing your “admiration” for us, we absolutely don’t appreciate it whatsoever. It’s ok to look up to us, but it’s DESPICABLE to steal from us. REMOVE those project images you stole from us IMMEDIATELY. And we urge you to come forward and issue a PUBLIC APOLOGY in a professional manner, for the theft you have committed over the years. Now it’s time to come clean. And maybe when it’s all said and done, you can officially apply for a trainee position at hoo and learn from all of us here, on how to actually “Be Original Be Creative”.
Scandinavian Design? Yes. And we also do French, Industrial, Minimal and so much more.
I recently did quite a few interviews (Property Times, U Magazine, South China Morning Post, Southside Magazine…) on Scandinavian design in Hong Kong. It’s good to know we are getting more and more appreciation for our focus and promotion on this particular style in recent years. And as every journalist asked me, why Scandinavian? Here is what I think:
1. It’s clean, stylish, and not as cold as minimal.
2. It’s suitable for the limited space in Hong Kong.
3. It has a strong heritage from the good old mid-century modern days.
4. It is flexible.
5. It feels human.
6. And, it’s very affordable.
Let me show you some of the previous Scandinavian projects we did and you can get a feel of how Scandinavian style looks in real life.
And of course, we don’t restrict our work to Scandinavian style only. As I believe everyone is different so every home should have its own character, we also do other designs like French, Industrial, Minimal, so on and so forth.
Just tell us about yourself, and let us create HAUTE COUTURE homes for you.
Project Evelyn: Mid-Century Danish
Project Celine: Contemporary Scandinavian
Project Sophia: Rustic Nordic
Project Jami & Jami: Scandinavian Kid
Project Sheryl: Feminine Scandinavian
Project Vicky: Industrial
Project Megan: Art Deco
Project Nellie: Colorful Minimal
Project Gloria: Contemporary French
Project Bridget: Rustic European
Project Giselle: Contemporary Minimal
Interior Styling: Langham Place Xiamen
In addition to interior design, we also do a lot of interior styling projects.
Recently, I got invited to work on the interior styling for Langham Place Xiamen, a very nice contemporary design hotel. I had to style 20+ different venues in the hotel, for professional photography. Pick the fabrics. Set the tables. Design the flower arrangements. Decorate the spaces. And sometimes, move the sofas and tables.
We were scheduled to take over 20 nicely set-up shots within a week. Very tight timing. Very limited local sourcing options. Very challenging to the creative mind. Yet a very interesting experience.
Once again, thank you Langham for the invitation. Guess the final photos won’t be ready until the end of this year. So, let me share some snapshots here.
Enjoy.
Western Banquet
Chinese Banquet
Private Lounge
Concierge
Reception
Lobby
Beautiful Islands of Xiamen
Color Magic: Paint Graphic
Instead of making some totally out-of-place and unnecessary feature walls, sometimes your paint can do the magic. All you need to do is to pick your favorite colors, use your creativity in the graphic treatment and combinations, and see how that goes! Our suggestion would be to try it on a particular wall, but don’t do it all over the place. And you can definitely make that simple piece of art stand out. It will become the personal signature of your home.
Hopefully, we can finally get to do this in one of our projects this year. Anyone?
Steel Stool by Noon Studio: A Stool. A Table. A Bookshelf.
Recently saw this Steel Stool designed by Noon Studio.
It can be used as a magazine rack or side stool for your sofa or bed. It’s stackable to become a coffee table or bookshelf. It can match any contemporary home perfectly. Very simple and clever design indeed.
Want one? or four? or eight?
Play It Like LEGO: Bloc’d Sofa by Scott Jones
Bloc’d Sofa is a smart modular seating solution designed by US designer Scott Jones.
It reminds me of LEGO. It’s simple, flexible and playful. Just use your creativity and have fun with it! You can easily come up with many combination possibilities, offering multiple seating arrangements. It’s made of steel, soft maple and upholstered foam. With its contemporary look, it’s just the perfect option for the compact homes in Hong Kong.
I wonder when it will be available in Hong Kong and how crazy the dealers will mark it up for?
Like LEGO?
1 Seater
2 Seater
2 Seater with Armrest
1 Seater/Daybed
Daybed
2 Seater Back-to-Back
hoo 