Yearning for a quiet life away from the bustling city, George Hang chose to make Yuen Long’s Park Villa his weekend home. “I started working in interior design when I was 24, and I have been working for 20 years. I did not realise how exhausted I was, both physically and mentally. So I hoped to build a home where I could truly rest, where I could take a break from work and enjoy life in peace. What attracted me to this house was its built-in elevator and the sheer size of it, about 3,500 square feet.” Since buying the house around three or four years ago, Hang has been working on its design on and off for over a year. Hang not only paid attention to the sense of space but also chose to anchor the design in a neutral palette comprising beige, earth and wood tone to create a more relaxing environment.

Stepping through the door, guests will be met by scattered pieces of wood that form an idyllic path leading to the house. It has a high ceiling, and its uneven stone wall easily catches the eye. “I wanted to incorporate stone elements into my home as it goes well with the rustic  exterior and lush garden, and I wanted to bring nature inside the house”, explained Hang. “It took three weeks to complete this wall. I wanted the stones to create an uneven surface, so I had to build it with stones that varied in thickness.” The nine tons of stone that make the front and back of the wall placed a heavy load on the foundation so Hang was close to giving up. But he persevered and felt a huge sense of accomplishment when he saw the finished product in its magnificence. Towards the end of the renovation, Hang planted trees and built a pool outside, “The trees are lit at night. Sitting by the pool you will feel peaceful while looking at the trees, and if you sit at the dining table, the picturesque scene will feel like a painting. This is exactly what I wanted to create.”

The second floor is equally spacious. Hang opened up the whole place and created a lot of hidden storage space to accommodate miscellaneous items from his company in Happy Valley without sacrificing aesthetics. The table can be raised or lowered to serve as a coffee table or conference table. The guest room is nearby, and at the other end of the floor is a gym with a granite TV wall and louvre blinds that let natural light into the room. The blinds “increase the brightness of the room and the privacy of the house by covering the windows on the floor.” To elevate the space, Hang put a lot of thought into designing the ceiling. “I chose to use thin lights and added V-shaped, slightly sloped air vents to make the space more interesting.”