Chatting to Happy Valley resident MAWGAN BATT, founder of marketing and communications agency Bespoke Consulting, you immediately get the sense that she is, above all else, a pragmatist at heart. The busy mum of two lives in the heart of Happy Valley with husband Tom, who works in banking, sons Caleb (9) and Isaac (6), and family dog Wilbur. And while the family loves the Valleyโs village vibe, Mawgan is refreshingly frank about its limitations.
Overcoming challenges
โThere are frustrations with life here, as there are everywhere! Living amongst so many people in such a small space brings challenges. None more so than the compromise on living space.โ She adds that the major downside to life in Happy Valley is transport. โItโs quite poorly connected to the rest of Hong Kong, with limited public transport โ and the congestion can be a nightmare.โ Her solution? Regular tram rides, which, while time-consuming, offer the perfect opportunity for people watching.
For all the challenges of city living, the family have allocated the space in their 1,300-square-foot apartment wisely, fitting in three bedrooms, one of which doubles as Mawganโs home office, along with that rarest of Hong Kong commodities โ a walk-in wardrobe, which is tamed with regular decluttering. The childrenโs storage needs are met by good old IKEA โ โtheir storage solutions for small spaces are ideal for HK apartmentsโ โ paired with good-quality bunk beds by Okooko in Horizon Plaza, which are durable enough to withstand life with active kids.
Longevity is key
Speaking of furniture, Mawgan explains that longevity is key to the retail choices theyโve made. โWe invested in some great furniture when we bought our first apartment in London in 2004. And we still have the same dining table, bed, chest of drawers and bedside tables; we donโt believe in throwing things away for the sake of it, and we try to keep things for as long as theyโre useful.โ Still, she doesnโt shy away from adding carefully considered pieces to the home where necessary โ the L-shaped sofa finished in soft grey leather, for example, was custom-made in Shenzhen to free up space in their living room.
Artwork inspiration
While what Mawgan accurately describes as โthe typical Hong Kong off-white wallsโ might discourage some renters, the Batt family have taken the opportunity to use this as a backdrop to their collection of artwork acquired over the years during their many travels. Mawgan explains: โWeโve collected quite a few pieces in the last ten years that have featured on our walls in many different homes. We arenโtย โcollectorsโ in the true sense of the word, but luckily Tom and I share similar tastes.โ
One striking example, and one of the most meaningful pieces for keen rider Mawgan, is David Chancellorโs Koroo Horseman photograph. โWe saw it in a gallery in Cape Town on our honeymoon in 2009 and I loved it instantly. Everything about the picture makes me happy; from the bridle held together by bits of string, to the slight smile on the riderโs face as he sits casually holding on to his hat. We didnโt buy it at the time, but Tom managed to track it down over a year later and had it shipped to the UK and framed for my 30th birthday. Since then, itโs been pride of place in every home weโve had.โ
A more recent purchase saw the Batts invest in two pieces by US-based artist Albert Delamour. โThe first is titled Wonderland, and we picked it up at the Affordable Art Fair here in 2014. It was the most expensive piece weโd ever bought, and still is, but we love it.โ
The couple were so smitten with the photograph on lacquered tile accented with silver leaf that they ended up buying a companion piece. โWe were fortunate to have a long chat with the gallery owner who called us after the fair to let us know about another piece by the same artist. She brought it for us to see, and we fell in love with it too! Itโs a similar style to Wonderland, but features a photograph of bamboo on a lacquered tile with gold leaf. The reflective nature is ideal in a small room.โ
Pragmatic Style
Reflective materials are a key theme throughout Mawganโs home, with the recent acquisition of a circular print by Chinese photographer Zhang Wei continuing the motif. โIt has a reflective surface that bounces light around the living room. Itโs also very striking โ weโve received a lot of compliments on itโ. Another key piece is the less pricey but equally well-loved hand-painted Buddha. โWe found this in a gallery in Siem Reap in 2003 when we were poor backpackers and I remember the protracted discussion about whether we should buy it as it was around US$100, but Iโm so glad that we did! We had it properly mounted and framed when we got back to London, and itโs always featured on our walls.โ
Even Mawganโs office plays host to original artwork, along with the ultimate pragmatistโs office essential โ a wine fridge! And despite the limitations of living in a Hong Kong rental, Mawgan continues to embrace the benefits of city living in her trademark pragmatic style, creating a cosy, welcoming home that fits her family.
Mawganโs Recommendations
IKEA: ikea.com.hk
Bricks and Stones: G/F, 97 Queenโs Road East, Wan Chai | 2520 0577
Okooko: 13F The Plaza LKF, 21 D’Aguilar Street, Central. Hong Kong | 2870 1132 | okooko.com
Red Cabinet: 11/F, Horizon Plaza | 2536 0123 | red-cabinet.com.hk
Affordable Art Fair: affordableartfair.com
Camerich Furniture Red Star Store: 1/F, Century Centre, Xiangmi Lake Road, Shenzhen | +86 755 2381 3485 | camerich.com
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