ROSE MARINDA WHITEHEAD’s expat experience began in childhood and she has been on the go ever since, growing up, living and working in multiple continents and countries. For now, though, Marinda’s character-filled three-bedroom apartment in Mid-Levels in Hong Kong feels firmly like home.
Tell us a bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?
My expat life started from a very young age. My parents are Dutch and moved to South Africa during their studies. They fell in love with the country and lifestyle and settled in Stellenbosch. My two older sisters and I were born and raised there for the first parts of our lives.
When I was 10, we moved to Germany. My parents threw us into the deep end; none of us spoke German, and instead of going to an international school, we went to German schools. It was hard work making new friends and learning a new language, but looking back, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have been raised in such different places. And because of my upbringing, I have always enjoyed change, exploring, meeting new people and cultures, and being on the go.
What did you do after school?
With these principles deeply rooted within me, I knew I needed to study something that aligned with them. So, for my studies, I moved to the Netherlands to study Hospitality Management.
I have since moved countries almost every two years. From internships in Kuala Lumpur to my first job in the Maldives, and placements in Dubai, I was fortunate to join a luxury hospitality company (One&Only Resorts) right after hotel school, which saw potential in me and developed me. It was my goal to move back to Cape Town, and in 2017, I was able to do so, also with One&Only.
At the One&Only Cape Town, I met my now husband, Robin, who is also a hotelier through and through. When he received the opportunity to move to Hong Kong in 2019, to be part of the pre-opening team of Rosewood, we packed our bags and came to this bustling city we still call home. In 2024, we dipped our toes in Singapore, but we were soon pulled back to Hong Kong.
What do you do here now?
When we first moved here, I worked as the Director of Guest Experience for a restaurant group. Having worked only within luxury hotels, it was an insightful change and incredible learning experience. During these years, external circumstances had severely changed the way of dining in the city and being adaptable and innovative was key.
These skills enabled me to develop a more entrepreneurial mindset, laying the groundwork for my current role as owner and founder of RMW Luxury, a high-end travel company. We curate bespoke travel experiences for guests based all over the globe, organising everything from accommodation and detailed itineraries to flights, restaurant bookings and VIP access to coveted places.
Tell us about where you’ve lived in HK and why.
We haven’t spread our wings very far here. When Robin and I moved to Hong Kong, we started in Poho, just around the corner from Man Mo Temple – such a vibey part of Sheung Wan with many little shops and restaurants. We loved the Spanish Iberico place on one of the side streets of Tai Ping Shan; unfortunately, it closed down.
We then moved up to Prince’s Terrace, into a fifth-storey walk-up building with a brilliant rooftop overlooking some trees, the Jamia Mosque and some of Hong Kong’s famous buildings. It was an excellent flat for our needs at the time, being close to work, super central and right next to the escalators, which is a massive bonus if you live in a walk-up.
When we moved back from Singapore last year, we got really lucky in finding this gem of an apartment in Mid-Levels on Conduit Road. We have always preferred unique homes with character over modern, newly built flats. This one has a stunning little balcony that looks onto a beautiful abandoned coach house. It’s set in the middle of Mid-Levels, yet it still feels very peaceful, and looks onto so much greenery. And especially now with a baby on the way, we are super close to parks with The Peak around the corner and the Botanical Gardens down the road.
Give us a snapshot of how your Conduit Road home looks.
Being in the hospitality industry, moving every couple of years comes with the territory, and what most would perceive as straining and exhausting, I find exhilarating. I enjoy interior design a lot – in fact, my dream is to grow a lifestyle and interior arm within my company.
Each item in our apartment comes from places we’ve lived or travelled in, and they all hold a special story for us. I love fitting back together all the pieces and furniture we have collected over the years – it’s a wholesome process that brings up many memories and makes each apartment feel like home. You’ll always recognise a mix of Dutch, South African and Asian designs in the places we live, either in the art pieces, through decoration, or simply the way things are styled.
Have you made any significant changes to the apartment in Mid-Levels since moving in?
My latest project was turning my office into a nursery – lots of fun! While I got most of the furniture for the nursery in Hong Kong, the smaller items I got in the Netherlands. Apart from at Petit Bazaar and Retykle, I struggled to find cute, quality items. IKEA has the basics, but my mother ended up bringing a lot over from Amsterdam. I bought the rest online on Amazon, and I also found some items on Facebook Marketplace or through various pregnancy WhatsApp groups. In general, the second-hand market in Hong Kong is really good, especially with the high turnover of expats here. It takes time to recognise what is good and who to buy from, but once you get the hang of it, you can pick up some incredible pieces.
Is there a spot in the home you enjoy the most?
I work from home most of the time, and love sitting at the dining room table, especially early mornings when the sun shines straight into the apartment and brightens everything up. I then often enjoy a cup of coffee on the balcony in the sunshine too.
As the founder of a luxury travel company, we’re guessing you have some interesting items from around the world. What are a few favourites?
The last time I was in South Africa, I got this stunning art piece from an up-and-coming artist in Cape Town, Ruan Jooste. The colours and soul of the piece just fit so perfectly into our home, especially when combined with my lamp from The Ginger Jar Lamp Co. Other items I brought back include beautiful linen tablecloths from Indonesia, my little Bordallo Pinheiro collection from Portugal and silverware from the antique markets in Provence.
What are a few things you like to do in Hong Kong when you’re not working?
Being outdoors is key; we love to hike and be active. We have recently re-discovered Big Wave Bay, which has become more accessible since we bought a car. Having a car honestly changed our lives here. We would often find ourselves “stuck” within a 3km radius before, as jumping in a taxi every time began to feel bothersome. So, when we moved back from Singapore, we decided to do things differently this time and have access to different areas of the city.
Being a tourist in the city is also great; we recently had a lot of friends and family visit us for the first time, and showing them around was refreshing. Instead of just walking from destination to destination, you look up and explore different shops, alleys and areas.
What’s your favourite travel destination in the region and further afield?
In Singapore, we loved travelling the neighbouring Indonesian islands, including almost untouched places such as Moyo, Bawah, Sumba and Bintan. We also recently had the opportunity to stay at Four Seasons The Nam Hai in Hoi An, which was incredible, especially now that the resort has had a complete renovation.
When we travel further away, we always love to go back to Africa. Even after spending so much time there, we still want to discover many places, such as Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana. Let’s be honest, nothing beats the beauty of an African sunrise, the wild and untouched coasts, or the thrill of a bush experience with wild animals roaming around!
Marinda’s Recommendations
Shopping
- Jane Eve Interiors (“for the most beautiful soy wax candles”) | janeeveinteriors.com
- The Ginger Jar Lamp Co. (“I love all of Kate’s original designs”) | gingerjarlampco.com
- Rituals (“for my Dutch cravings”) | rituals.com/en-hk/stores
- Thorn and Burrow (“a good mix of decorative items and the best selection of postcards”) | thornandburrow.com
- Indigo Living (“for bigger furniture pieces”) | indigo-living.com
- Cat Street, Sheung Wan (“for antique gems”)
- Retykle (“recently discovered for excellent second-hand but high-end kids’ and baby clothes”) | retykle.com
Restaurants
- Primo Posto | primo-hk.com
- Francis | francis.com.hk
- LALA | lalahk.co
- Bayfare Social, Rosewood Hong Kong | rosewoodhotels.com/en/hong-kong/dining/bayfare-social
- Popinjays (“the rooftop is a special place for us as we got married there”) | instagram.com/popinjayshk
- The Dispensary Bar (“for unlimited aperitivo, 5pm-7pm on Fridays”) | cantina.com.hk/thedispensarybar
- Man Mo Dim Sum | manmodimsum.com
Places to meet guests
- The Continental | pacificplace.com.hk/en/taste/directory/the-continental
- Ralph’s Coffee | ralphlauren.com.hk/restaurants/ralphs-coffee-hong-kong
- Louise | louise.hk
- The Upper House | thehousecollective.com/en/the-upper-house
- Pedder Arcade | thepedderarcade.com
Cafés for working
- Elephant Grounds (Caine Road) instagram.com/elephantgrounds
- South Lane Mid-Levels | southlane.co
- Halfway Coffee Mid-Levels | instagram.com/halfwaycoffee
Travel
- RMW Luxury | rmwluxurytravel.com | @rmwluxury
This article on the RMW Luxury travel company founder and her apartment in Mid-Levels in Hong Kong first appeared in the Autumn 2025 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
