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Home ยป Homes ยป See inside this stylish Stanley home

See inside this stylish Stanley home

18 May, 2020 by Melissa Stevens, Photography Hayley Nash 6 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/where-to-live-in-hong-kong-expats-stanley-home/

Aussie expat VICTORIA ALLEN has taken inspiration from her hometown in Western Australia in the design of her Stanley home.

In the course of her work as a luxury property specialist, and founder of Habitat Property, Victoria developed such an affection for one of the homes she listed in Stanley that she ended up buying the house herself! The home has proven to be a great choice for Victoria and her two sons, aged three and five, and their new dog, Spike. Since buying the house seven years ago, she has renovated the property, turning it into a functional, light-filled home.

Stanley Home - view of bay

Why did you come to Hong Kong from Western Australia?

I had a great friend from school who had been living here and she kept asking me to come and visit. Finally, I did, and when I was visiting I decided to do some job interviews.ย I was offered a job so I moved up three months later, and Iโ€™ve been here ever since! Iโ€™ve lived all around the world โ€“ during the five years before moving to HK, I lived in Vancouver, Chicago and Sydney.

I set up my business in 2001 as I saw there was a gap in the market to provide a boutique property service in Hong Kong โ€“ so few property agencies offer unique properties with interesting design features. When Iโ€™ve been looking to buy a home myself, these are always the type of properties that stand out to me.

How did you end up in your current Stanley home?

I had the house listed for sale, and probably showed it to around 40 different clients. No one liked it and they couldnโ€™t see the potential. The more I went to the house, the more I liked it, and I started to visualise how I would refurbish it, if it were mine. Eventually I decided that enough was enough! I called the owner and offered to buy it at theย price he wanted.

Stanley Home - pergola

What inspired you to renovate?

The house was really ugly so it needed a total renovation. It was a terrible 1970s brown house with a spa bath on the roof โ€“ you truly needed vision to see the potential! It has great views over Tai Tam Bay, but the windows were small and so I moved the living room upstairs to connect with the water and I now have a window running all the way along the living space that opens everything up and gives us a great view out across Stanley. I pretty much turned the house inside out with a major renovation.

I spent a lot of time maximising space and ensuring everything was very efficient.ย Thereโ€™s no wasted space โ€“ I have very effective storage and all the cupboard space was maximised. My kitchen is a really small space (it used to be the bathroom) but I viewed the layout like a kitchen on a boat and itโ€™s super-efficient โ€“ you can still have three people in there comfortably.ย  I also made the most of my rooftop and set it up with built-in furniture and a barbecue/bar area so itโ€™s easy to use and is an extension of my living space. I entertain outside regularly

How long did the renovation take and how have you customised your home to suit your tastes?

It took seven months in total. My main goal was to make the house feel open and relaxed, like an Australian beach house โ€“ I took a lot of inspiration from Western Australian home design. I love to spend time outside, so we created a beautiful rooftop terrace with lots of space to have guests over and entertain โ€“ we have a barbecue area with big comfy sofas where friends and family can relax and admire the views across the bay.

I wanted my house to be different from everything you typically see in Hong Kong. Itโ€™s unusual toย begin with, as itโ€™s a small house, so I took a lot of inspiration from Australia โ€“ especially beach areas like Camp Cove and Byron Bay. I want to reflect a casual yet stylish interior. My outside space is very considered; everything is built-in, so itโ€™s easy to use and a real extension of the living space.ย I moved the living space up to the first floor so that it connected better to the roof space and the kitchen was closer.ย I have a built-in bar area with barbecue, wine fridge and fridge.ย The seating is all built-in as well; it works really well and the whole space takes advantage of the view over Stanley Bay. I use it all the time for barbecues and I hold a big dragon-boating party every year.

Stanley Home - outside area

Tell us a little bit about the art youโ€™ve collected.

The large blue piece (opposite page) is by Tanya Ling who is London based and used to be a fashion illustrator.ย I love the depth of colour and the way it connects to the water outside. The photograph (first page) is by Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde; itโ€™s calledย โ€œNimbus Power Stationโ€ โ€“ he creates these amazing clouds in all sorts of spaces.ย  I chose this work as it was done while he was an artist in residence in Perth (where Iโ€™m from), so I really like that connection to Western Australia. I also recently purchased a small light box by Shanghainese artist Yang Yongliang; his work is intricate and beautiful.

You obviously love mid-century furniture โ€“ is it easy to source in HK?

Iโ€™ve recently been able to source two Clam chairs from the 1940s that were designed by Danish architect Philip Arctander. Theyโ€™re hard to find and I managed to find someone in Sweden who was restoring a pair so I grabbed them immediately. I love mid-century furniture and hunting down unusual pieces.ย Itโ€™s very hard to find in Hong Kong, though, so I generally source it from overseas. The Cherner dining chairs I purchased years ago in London and the Serge Mouille light is still in production; I bought this one in Paris.

You come from a part of the world with a lot of space and light; does this influence your taste?

Absolutely! This is clear not only in the design of the house but also all the furnishings, which I like to keep simple and relatively neutral in tone. My design choices are minimalist and youโ€™ll notice a real lack of clutter in the rooms. I also make sure to let in as much natural light as possible; this is particularly important in the living/dining space. On the ground floor, the ceilings are 4.5 metres high. This is unusual for Hong Kong and also helps a great deal in keeping the house feeling light and airy!

Stanley home dinning room

Any advice for people who are renovating?

I think itโ€™s important to keep renovations simple and not have too many built-in features as this tends to make space feel smaller and more cluttered. Also, Iโ€™ve really tried to maximise the outside space so that itโ€™s connected to the house and set up to use easily.

Victoria’s Recommendations

Wine & Dine

  • โ€œI love the Tai Kwun development; itโ€™s across from my office and I particularly like the bar and restaurant at Old Bailey. Itโ€™s a cool spot.โ€ taikwun.hk
  • โ€œThe bar at Otto e Mezzo is also good for meeting for drinks. I always book a table behind the bar and not in the restaurant.โ€ ottoemezzobombana.com
  • โ€œChino in Kennedy Town has fabulous food and great cocktails. Erik Ikos, the chef, is originally from LA and previously ran Nobu in HK, so the food quality and presentation are very good.โ€ chinorestaurant.com
  • โ€œOne of my favourite hidden spots is Ronin, run by Matt Abergel (also of Yardbird fame). Itโ€™s a small space but the food and drinks are fabulous.โ€ roninhk.com

Shopping

For Victoria:

  • Isabel Marant โ€“ Shop D, G/F, 42-48 Paterson Street, Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay
  • Yves Saint Laurent โ€“ Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
  • J Crew โ€“ jcrew.com

For the kids:

  • Pottery Barn โ€“ potterybarn.com
  • Amazon โ€“ amazon.com
Stanley home bathroom
Stanley home living room artwork
Stanley home boys bedrooms
Stanley home - artwork
Stanley home dining room table
Stanley Home - porch
Stanley Home - home decor mountain
Stanley Home - yard

See more in our Homes section

Inside a chic beachside home in Repulse Bay
Where to buy fab outdoor furniture

Categories: Homes Readers Homes Tags: Home Home And Decorating Ideas Home Decor Stanley

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Thanks Julianna for this delicious 
Easy Blueberry Oreo Cheesecake to start the weekend!
Serves 4, or 2 if you're hungry๐Ÿ˜‰

Preparation time: 15 mins Ingredients:
โ€ข 6 digestive biscuits
โ€ข 50g butter 
โ€ข 250g cream cheese (1 brick) 
โ€ข 6 Oreo biscuits
โ€ข 125g blueberries (1 box)
โ€ข 100g milk or whipped cream 
โ€ข 5 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:
For crust:
1. Crush digestive biscuits in a big bowl and add melted butter.
2. Press together at the base of the cake mould.
3. Set aside to cool.

For filling: 
1. Beat cream cheese, sugar and milk or whipped cream on medium speed in a bowl until it is smooth and creamy. 
2. Add crushed Oreos and beat until they mix evenly. 
3. Pour the filling over the cooled crust.
4. Freeze for two hours and top with blueberries!๐Ÿซ
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#1 Decide on a Theme:
Every momentous Christmas feast begins with a stunning table-scape. Whether youโ€™re going for the classic red and green pairing or a contemporary setting, pick a theme that you can go all out with! 
 
#2 Organise Your Linen:
Generally speaking, a crisp white linen table-runner will do. But if youโ€™re looking to up the ante this year, go for one with subtle prints on it. 
 
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Whatโ€™s a Christmas dinner without some good old-fashioned crackers? Sure to put a smile on anyoneโ€™s faces, theyโ€™ll also ensure your party goes out with a bang! ๐Ÿ’ซ
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Less than five days left to vote for your favourite businesses! You could win fun family staycays and dining vouchers, so make sure to vote today by visiting ๐Ÿ‘‰ expatliving.hk/readerschoice

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#expatlivinghk #hkbusiness #hongkongbusiness #elhkreaderschoice #hkexpats
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Companies tagged in the photos for more details๐Ÿช‘
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Get ready for Christmas, CNY and beyond with these fab treatment packages now available at @amooma.spa โœจ

#1 BUBBLE & SPARKLE
A package for two, including an aroma steam shower, deep sleep tourmaline crystal massage, sparkling champagne facial and a glass of champagne ๐Ÿฅ‚

#2 HO! HO! HO! ITโ€™S ME-TIME!
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How good do these look ๐Ÿ˜ New recipe from @charissa_and_co_wellness. You can try a free sample by scanning the bar code on our online articles ๐Ÿ’œ

Recipe: Flourless Pecan Cranberry Brownie

Ingredients

Brownie base:

2 servings of Nuzest Clean Lean Chocolate Protein
1.5 cup of pumpkin puree
1 cup of hazelnut butter or almond *
1/2 cup of raw dark cacao powder
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
1/3 cup of dehydrated cranberries
2 teaspoons of Manuka honey ** Optional
White chocolate drizzle:

1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
2 tablespoons of cashew nut butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons of Erythritol
Dark chocolate drizzle:

1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
2 tablespoons of cashew nut butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
3 tablespoons of raw dark cacao powder
1 teaspoon of Erythritol
Instructions

Brownie base:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Grease a square baking tray with coconut oil and line tray with parchment paper.
In a large blender, mix all the brownie ingredients together until smooth.
Pour the brownie mix into the pan and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
Once cooked, allow the brownies to cool on a rack.
Chocolate drizzle:

You will need two separate mixing bowls for the white and dark chocolate drizzle.
Melt the cacao butter at low temperature and mix with the rest of the ingredients.
Pour the chocolate drizzle over the cooled brownies.
Pop them in the fridge to set or enjoy them as warm brownies.**
Optional: Sprinkle some fresh pomegranate and dried cranberry seeds onto the brownies (after cooling in the fridge for 20 minutes).
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TGIF ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ

๐Ÿ“ท @lailasophiashah
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Good morning! Weโ€™ve got another delicious recipe from @charissa_and_co_wellness ๐Ÿ’•

Recipe: Persimmon Vanilla Chia Porridge

Serves 2

Ingredients

PERSIMMON-VANILLA-CHAI-PORRIDGE.jpg
Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

1/2 cup of chia Seeds
1.5 cup of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 servings of Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Vanilla 
1 tablespoon of tahini paste
2 Medjool dates
2 slices of fresh persimmon
Persimmon Coconut Porridge Layer:

1 whole persimmon chopped
1/2 cup of coconut yoghurt
2 tablespoons of coconut flakes
1 teaspoon of almond butter
Instructions

Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together apart from the chia seeds.
Once the mix is well blended, add the chia seeds and mix well. Place in a glass jar and leave overnight in the fridge.
Persimmon Coconut Porridge Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together until creamy and smooth. Place in a glass jar, leave overnight in the fridge.
The next morning you can enjoy your porridge by layering your chia porridge with the persimmon porridge.
Optional: Add in between crunchy texture by sprinkling some raw buckwheat groats already activated or quinoa puffs
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