Beyond the Kitchen: Discovering the Enchanting Residence of an Acclaimed Chef from Asia’s Top 50 Restaurants

When envisioning a culinary star’s residence, our minds often gravitate towards the kitchen as the focal point. For our client, an esteemed Chef of Asian’s 50 Best Restaurants, who has just been awarded One MICHELIN Star, his home is much more than just a kitchen. It’s a place where he and his wife have created a haven filled with their diverse passions, ranging from mid-century design pieces, Hi-fi equipment, to the love for tea art and yoga. We adopted vintage-style wood as the backdrop to creates a warm and inviting sanctuary for them to enjoy their precious moments.

U-shaped Tabletop: Maximizing the Kitchen Space

For a Chef of Asian’s Best 50 Restaurants, the kitchen in his home is unquestionably the heart and soul. Through our meetings, we discovered his unwavering dedication to source fresh ingredients in local markets every morning, which is a testament to his culinary passion. The kitchen also serves as his experimental lab for developing new dishes. To accommodate his needs, we crafted the kitchen in a U-shaped layout, ensuring ample space for trial and cooking.

The Gracefulness of 50s: Husband & Wife’s Personal Havens

Inspired by their various interests, we have created a space where they can enjoy each other’s company while indulging in their individual passions. To achieve this, we merged and reconfigured the two units, thoughtfully allocating spaces for shared and private purposes.

To fulfil their fondness for mid-century design and complement their choice of the Finn Juhl’s Panel System and Hans Wegner’s J16 Rocking Chair, we adopted teak and walnut, popular materials from 1950s, as the backdrop for the house. Together with the geometric artworks have transformed the living room into a mid-century haven.

The Men’s Cave: Immersing in the Rhythm of Music

For the chef owner, music is probably his second passion, therefore we created a men’s cave for him to immerse himself into music. We have invited a local wood-crafter Ken Chow from Yat Muk to custom-make wooden shelves for the owner’s cherish CD and vinyl record collections. With his choice of top-tier audio equipment, including the renowned JBL 4343 speakers, we knew that only professional acoustic diffusers and sound-absorbing curtains would ensure an outstanding audio performance.

A Passage beyond Ordinary: Tailored for the Needs of Two

Different private corners are catered for the couples’ individual interests, while a passage is formed to connect two spaces. In fact, this passage is more than just a passage, it serves as a bridge linking two activity zones. We also shaped it into a serene corner where the wife can engage in yoga and spend quality time with their beloved doggie. This area also features a wall storage system for shoes, as well as specially designed rack for the husband’s tennis rackets. These considerate designs perfectly align with the diverse needs of the couple.

Lady’s Exclusive Me-time Corner

The lady homeowner, who is engaged in the jewellery industry, possesses a keen sense for detail in both her profession and daily life. Knowing that her fondness of enjoying tea and cherish moments with her close friends, we have reserved a corner dedicated to tea brewing, where a pantry is installed for her to serve her guests. The tabletop of the pantry is crafted with Hardwood HK, a local woodworking shop, that radiates an inviting sense of warmth throughout the tea corner.




Serene Sanctuary in Mid-Century Aesthetics

In addition to their distinctive interests, the couple owners have preferences when it comes to their bedroom arrangement. In order to accommodate their occasional habit of rearranging their bed’s setting, we have chosen a loose bed frame from a Spanish brand Mermelada Estudio. What sets this bed apart is the intricately rattan headboard, which is complemented by the half-waisted olive-green wall, along with the accent of black-coated metal and walnut veneer, evoking a nostalgic mid-century aesthetic.

When Design harmonizes with the Flow….

We believe that a home is more than just a space to unwind, but also a reflection of our soul, revealing our preferences and taste through interior design. It brings us immense joy to craft a home that integrates with the lifestyle of the couple owners. We hope that they will be able to create countless joyful and precious memories within these walls, truly their own.

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Mid-Century Style will be the “New Black”?

Known as the name, the mid-century style originated during the mid-20th century, from 1945 to 1975. After World War II, a desire for rejuvenation and recovery was emerging, that led to a minimal approach towards interior and furniture design, while retaining the organic curves reminiscent of early 20th century, and juxtaposing with sleek geometric lines. Popular wood choices during this period included teak and walnut. Notable figures synonymous with this style include George nelson and Charles & Ray Eames. Curious to discover what a mid-century home looks like? The Eames House in L.A. would give the clue.

While in modern times, globally shaped by the pandemic, the world finds itself in a phase of recovery. Designs that are overly flashy and transient are being avoided, while timeless and minimal styles are gaining increased prominence. With a similar background and a growing concern of environmental problems, the mid-century style has a strong potential to become the next new black in the design landscape.

About Yat Muk Studio

Yat Muk Studio is a local carpentry workshop with whom we have collaborated on multiple projects. The founder, Ken Chow, has been involved in wood-craftsmanship for many years. He has received training from various masters in Jilin and Taiwan, accumulating over 10 years of teaching experience. Through his craftsmanship, Ken Chow has revitalized the woodworking culture in Hong Kong. I vividly recall visiting his workshop 3 years ago with our colleagues, where we have the opportunity to experience the meticulous process of woodworking, and the captivating aroma of the timber. I greatly admire the wood furniture crafted by Ken for our different projects, the exquisite craftsmanship and attention to details are evident, bringing subtle beauty to the space.