The challenge was therefore “more meaningful than just designing a house with everything nicely decorated,” he added.
There's a cat runway overhead. Photo: Tracy Wong
Chan loved the clean Japanese aesthetic and the functionality of Yu's smart home, and his suggestions for incorporating both resulted in minimalist, open-plan interiors with plenty of storage solutions.
The original two-bedroom, two-bathroom layout remained largely unchanged, but removing a few walls completely changed the flow.
For example, the kitchen is open to the dining area, so the spatial arrangement had to be rethought, and the second bedroom, which is now a study, visually faces the living area and therefore needed to function as a working office and look good too.
All of this is what you see when you enter the apartment, so it was important to stick to a cohesive design language, and this extends to the overhead cat runway and climbing frame that's integrated into the light oak joinery.
Visitors may not realize that the custom cat furniture is merely decorative, but the cats “quickly get it,” Chen says. “When they find out what it's for, they're a bit surprised.”
The second bedroom is now a study and is visually connected to the living area. Photo: Tracy Wong
Flooring is also a practical consideration: Rather than wood, which could be scratched by playful paws over time, Cheng opted for luxury vinyl tile, which is durable and feels good to the touch.
The clients wanted an open-plan kitchen, but also the option to keep the cats out of certain areas of the home. To achieve this, Chen designed two shoji-style sliding doors made of clear glass in black aluminum frames, allowing the kitchen to be completely closed off while still maintaining a visual connection.
He designed a matching fixed screen between the living area and the study, in this case using a frame to hide the audiovisual and internet cables, eliminating the risk of them getting tangled while the cats play.
Storage space was lacking in the original floor plan, so Chen suggested raising the floor in the study to create a platform.
Accessed by a lift-up hydraulic panel, the 40cm deep compartment can store bulkier items such as suitcases, and the platform stops just short of a bespoke work desk, which also doubles as seating, without the need for a chair.
The study's raised floor creates a platform with storage space underneath, which also doubles as a seat when the desk is in use. Photo: Tracy Wong
The sound-absorbing and air-purifying diatomaceous earth wall finish adds texture.
Strangely, the master bedroom had no wardrobe and with only two doors (one to the hallway, one to the en-suite) and a sliding door to the balcony, we couldn't see where to put one.
Chen made the most of the narrow remaining wall space by designing a hanging space and drawers that stretch to the end of the bed, each with their own storage space for essentials.
The owners didn't need the existing helper's room (which was essentially a small bedroom and toilet), so Cheng used the space to create a larger guest bathroom.
The wet room, where the couple wash and groom their cats, also doubles as a laundry with a combined washer and dryer.
Behind the scenes, motion-sensor lighting switches on as passengers move around, projector screens pop up on request and automated curtains add a warm feel to the interior at night.
The wet room also doubles as a laundry room, with a combined washer and dryer. Photo: Tracy Wong
Creative décor and smart home functionality come together to make life comfortable for a family of five.
For Chen, the project, which is due to be completed in 2022, is about more than just decorating a home.
“It's a stylistic combination of functionality and beauty,” he says.
dining room
The dining room's cabinetry, with its cement-patterned Formica and black aluminum handles, was designed and built by MAD Studio (madstudiohk.com), as were the light oak shelves (featuring photos of zebras) and slatted wood backdrop.
To the right of that is a Steampunk wall lamp from Dekorfine (dekorfine.com). The dining chairs, bench, and console with bookshelf and drawers were all purchased from Muji (muji.com).
Homeowners David Yu and Amy Chan sourced the cat furniture, including a Chopin cat tree from Taobao (taobao.com) and a dining table with cat hammock from closed Hong Kong store But Yet (IG @butyetcom).
The flooring is Floover, a luxury vinyl tile product from Karlian International (karlianintl.com).
There's a shoe rack and shelves next to the entrance. Photo: Tracy Wong
Dining room, kitchen, entrance
A sliding screen in black aluminium frame and clear glass, designed and fabricated by MAD Studio, can enclose the newly opened kitchen if required. The kitchen itself, in Elemental Ash Formica with Corian worktops, was provided by Cleanup (cleanup.jp).
Next to the entrance there is a shoe rack and a shelf (hidden behind wooden slats).
The overhead strip lights are smart LEDs from Aqara (aqara.com) mounted on a custom track, and the pendant lights above the kitchen bench are from Artek (artek.fi).
kitchen
Two sliding doors allow the kitchen to be completely enclosed when required, whilst still maintaining a visual connection.The terrazzo floor and wall tiles were purchased from Sam's (LapShun) Material Supply (Lucky Horse Industrial Building, 64 Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok, tel: 2114 3344).
Two sliding glass doors allow the kitchen to be completely enclosed when required. Photo: Tracy Wong
Living Area
Separated from the dining zone by handy storage, the living area features Japanese-inspired panelling that creates a visual connection to the study. The Puro sofa (with the top part visible) was purchased from ALOT Living (alot.com.hk).
A cat ladder and running platform designed by MAD Studio extends into the dining area, and a box beneath the LG TV houses a motorised Vividstorm projector screen (vividstorm.com.au), with a black metal frame around the screen concealing audio-visual cables and protecting them from the paws of playful cats.
Bathroom
The expanded guest bathroom is finished with quartz worktops and wood-grain laminate from Kwong Tai Marble (29 Mong Kok Road, Mong Kok, tel: 3428 2118). MAD Studio also designed the black aluminium-framed mirror and open shelving unit. The two round wall lights were purchased from Taobao.
The floor and wall tile was purchased from Sam's (LapShun) Material Supply, and because the guest bathroom doubles as the couple's laundry, they also installed an LG washer/dryer.
In the bedroom, the hanging space and drawers extend to the end of the bed. Photo: Tracy Wong
Bedroom
The bespoke bed has fitted wardrobes on either side and has built-in recesses that act as bedside tables. The bedhead is also part of the MAD Studio design and is upholstered in light grey fabric. The wall lamp was purchased from Taobao.
Study/Home Office
A platform on the study's floor that provides storage and doubles as a desk seat was designed by MAD Studio, who also designed the desktop and bookshelf in a marble-effect plastic laminate. The walls are finished in a diatomaceous earth finish from Titus (titus-diatom.com.hk).
study
Light oak wood, white ceilings and grey marble-look finishes reflect the homeowners' love of Japanese interior design.
A custom cat ladder is integrated into the light oak joinery. Photo: Tracy Wong
Tried and Tested
In this apartment where there are more cats than people, MAD Studio's creative director Alvin Cheng Ka heng built a custom cat ladder into the light oak joints of the Japanese-inspired décor. To add variety to the movement, the shelves are all different, some with rectangular openings, some triangular, and some facing in different directions.
The shelves are removable so you can change the aisle if your cat gets bored.